In healthcare technology, leaders who can adapt and grow while staying true to their values are rare gems. Irene Froehlich, Chief Brand Officer at DrFirst, embodies this ideal balance through her remarkable 25-year journey from graphic designer to executive leadership. Her story is one of continuous growth, adaptation, and the courage to embrace vulnerability in leadership.
A Legacy of Innovation and Determination
Born to immigrant parents from Taiwan and Cambodia, Irene’s foundation for success was built on her father’s entrepreneurial spirit and her mother’s high expectations. “My dad is a serial entrepreneur… he always believed that I could do anything,” she reflects, “he didn’t let all those challenges or barriers prevent him from being successful.”
Her entry into healthcare technology was inspired by her mother’s experiences as a nurse, where she witnessed firsthand the inefficiencies plaguing the healthcare system. “Twenty-five years ago… they didn’t have Internet in the practices…patients didn’t have access to their records,” she recalls, highlighting the motivation behind her work to integrate and streamline healthcare technology.
A Multi-Faceted Career Journey
Irene’s path at DrFirst has been an impressive feat. She has held numerous leadership positions, including head of sales, head of account management, and oversight of talent acquisition and marketing. “I have worn almost every hat at DrFirst for a period of time,” she notes, attributing this versatility to her strength as a “crisis fixer.”
Her current role as Chief Brand Officer encompasses not just brand management but also cultural leadership, particularly crucial in today’s remote workplace environment. “I am still in charge of the company’s vision and the brand, but I also help with the culture to ensure that the entire company, especially in a remote workplace, is still connected and gelling together,” she explains.
Making an Impact in Healthcare
At DrFirst, Irene leads initiatives that address critical healthcare challenges. “We work with patients, hospitals, doctors, pharma,” she explains. Her work focuses on making specialty medications more accessible, improving patient education, and creating more affordable healthcare options.
“We look at where all the holes are in healthcare and we fill them up,” she explains. “A lot of other companies do one or two things, but we do the holistic thing because we look at the big picture and we say, ‘Okay, where are all the places not working well together? And how do we unite those things together?’”
Overcoming Challenges and Learning to Lead
Irene’s journey wasn’t without its struggles. Early in her career, she faced significant opposition as a young woman in a male-dominated industry. “I was a little bit of a bulldog,” she admits. “Here I was, 24 years old, 23 years old, basically telling everybody where they needed to go… it caused a lot of friction.”
Over time, Irene developed a more collaborative approach. “When you ask questions, you understand their perspective… assuming positive intent, people will see that you’re really trying to get on the same page with them and they become a lot more open and vulnerable,” she reflects.
Personal health challenges further aligned Irene with the mission of DrFirst: “I myself have chronic health conditions and I’ve seen how difficult it is for patients…We can be a part of helping to make that much more seamless and much more efficient.”
Redefining Success and Balance
These health challenges also prompted Irene to reevaluate her approach to work-life harmony. “When I was younger, all I cared about was getting to the next level. I was working 80-hour weeks,” she shares. Her health conditions taught her the importance of delegation and trust, leading to a more sustainable leadership style.
“I say harmony instead of balance because I think balance makes people feel guilty,” she explains. “If you’re an executive, you are typically very passionate about the work you do… it doesn’t feel like work.” This perspective has led her to embrace a more holistic approach to success, including community involvement and charitable activities.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Irene is passionate about encouraging women to pursue leadership roles in healthcare. “I really want to inspire women in healthcare to break through barriers and do it without sacrificing authenticity,” she says.
She particularly emphasizes the importance of taking risks: “Women have a tendency to not apply for those jobs unless they’ve done it and then done it exceedingly… I would encourage them to pursue leadership roles, lean into their intuition, and try things that they’ve never done before.”
Advice for Future Leaders
Her advice to aspiring leaders is deeply personal and practical:
- Embrace vulnerability: “The more you say, ‘Hey, I don’t know this. Can we collaborate?’ the more that you say, ‘You have a strength in this area. Can you educate me?'”
- Take care of your health: “Your health is your most valuable asset. If you don’t have that, it doesn’t matter about anything else.”
- Ask for help: “Trust is actually from asking for help. When you ask people, they feel good about themselves.”
- Stay authentic: “Don’t allow success to rob you of your peace of your joy.”
Looking Forward
Irene Froehlich’s approach to leadership, combining technical expertise with emotional intelligence and authenticity, represents the future of healthcare technology leadership – one that values both progress and human connection.
“Think about success from the standpoint of what is the ripple effect that you are doing to create a way or pave the way for compassionate leadership for inclusivity,” she concludes, embodying the kind of leadership that will continue to shape and improve healthcare technology for years to come.