Spotlight interview with...
Lauren Romanish
Founder & CEO, apo
Spotlight interview with...
Lauren Romanish
Founder & CEO, apo
Tell me a bit about you and your career history.
My career has always been driven by a deep desire to innovate, break barriers, and create meaningful impact. But if I trace it back, my journey into entrepreneurship started long before apo – it started with resilience.
I grew up in Boston, where I faced challenges that forced me to develop a strong sense of purpose early on. When you grow up navigating adversity, you learn to turn obstacles into opportunities. That mindset shaped the way I approach everything: I don’t just accept the status quo- I challenge it.
Before founding apo, I worked across multiple industries, from hospitality to the nonprofit sector. When I moved to London, I had no network, no family, and no roadmap- but I knew how to build from the ground up. I joined a B2B company as Head of Marketing while pursuing my Executive MBA at Warwick Business School, where I was the youngest person ever admitted to the programme at just 25. That experience refined my ability to scale for impact and think strategically, but the real catalyst for apo came from something deeply personal.
I live with a chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) condition- and like millions of people, I’ve experienced firsthand how fragmented, outdated, and ineffective MSK care can be. Too often, patients are handed a prescription or an inconsistent physiotherapy routine that doesn’t address the bigger picture. MSK health is about so much more than just movement. It’s about how you fuel your body, how you recover, how you manage stress. And yet, care pathways fail to reflect that reality.
I knew there had to be a better way. So, I built apo.
What has been your experience with thought leadership in healthcare?
Thought leadership has been a natural extension of my work with apo.
We’re redefining how musculoskeletal (MSK) care is delivered, accessed, and understood. And that shift requires more than just technology, it demands conversation, education, and advocacy.
I frequently speak at industry events, where I discuss the intersection of innovation, healthcare, and accessibility. I also mentor early-stage founders, guest lecture at universities, and contribute to health tech discussions that push meaningful conversation forward. My focus isn’t just on what’s happening now, but where we need to be headed.
One of my biggest passions is amplifying voices that don’t always get a seat at the table. I know what it’s like to feel words such as “founder” and “CEO” weren’t meant for someone like me. That’s why I’m committed to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs, particularly women and those who come from underserved environments, and ensuring the next generation of leaders knows they belong in this space.
Do you think thought leadership should only come from CEOs and founders?
Absolutely not. Thought leadership isn’t about titles. I work with incredibly talented individuals at apo who bring firsthand insights into MSK care, health tech, and patient experiences. Some of them are practitioners, some are patients, and some are simply passionate about improving healthcare. Their voices matter just as much.
The best thought leaders aren’t just the people at the top of an org chart. They’re the ones who can bring clarity, authenticity, and storytelling to complex topics. That can be anyone- from an engineer solving a technical challenge to a clinician shaping how care is delivered.
At apo, we encourage thought leadership across the team, but in a way that feels natural. Not everyone wants to be in the spotlight, and that’s okay. Thought leadership isn’t just about speaking on stage or writing op-eds- it’s also contributing to discussions, mentoring, or simply leading by example.
How can startup founders stand out in thought leadership when competing with big brands?
Startups actually have a huge advantage in thought leadership because they’re not weighed down by bureaucracy, slow approval chains, or overly polished corporate messaging.
Big brands have entire teams crafting narratives, but that often means their messaging is sanitised, risk-averse, and focused on mass appeal rather than real engagement. Startups, on the other hand, have the ability to be agile, transparent, and genuinely authentic. People connect with startups because they offer fresh, unfiltered perspectives, and that’s a massive differentiator.
The key for founders is to lean into what makes them unique. Their insights, lived experiences, and the bold ideas that led them to start their company in the first place. The best thought leadership isn’t about polished PR soundbites- it’s about honest, informed perspectives that challenge the norm.
The best way to stand out? Own your voice. Share real insights, not just marketing fluff. Engage with people instead of broadcasting at them. Say what you truly believe- even if it’s not the ‘safe’ take. That’s what makes startup thought leadership powerful.
What does authenticity mean to you in thought leadership?
Authenticity in thought leadership is about bringing something real to the table- real insight, real experience, and a real point of view. It’s not just about saying what sounds good; it’s about speaking from a place of conviction, lived experience, and expertise.
I was having a conversation the other day about a study on 100 unicorn startups, and one of the findings really stuck with me: Two-thirds of the founders had first-hand experience with the problem they were solving. The other third had been working on the issue- perhaps within a corporate environment, saw a better way to do things, and decided to leave to build something new.
That says a lot. Lived experience is a competitive advantage. Investors may not always put the same weight on it as they do on traditional credentials, but the data shows just how critical it is.
How important is consistency in thought leadership?
Consistency is crucial, but it doesn’t mean showing up every single day just for the sake of it. It’s about having a clear, intentional presence in the conversations that matter.
I’ll admit, I could be better at it! But what helps is having clear content pillars- the core themes you consistently speak about. For me, that includes:
It’s also important to mix up your formats. I recently pushed myself out of my comfort zone and did my first podcast interview. This was something I was nervous about but knew would help me grow. The key is to experiment, see what resonates, and lean into what feels both natural and impactful.
Ultimately, consistency isn’t about frequency, it’s about presence. Show up where it matters, contribute meaningfully, and over time, you’ll build a thought leadership voice that people genuinely trust.
How has your personal journey shaped your approach to thought leadership?
My personal journey has shaped my thought leadership in two key ways: credibility and perspective.
When you’ve lived the problem you’re solving, people recognize that. I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to work in MSK care. I’ve experienced firsthand how fragmented and ineffective traditional care pathways can be. That gives me a deep understanding of the challenges patients face, but also a strong conviction about what needs to change.
At the same time, working in a highly regulated industry like health tech means balancing compliance, innovation, and business realities. Navigating that complexity has given me unique insights, not just into healthcare, but into the startup ecosystem, AI ethics, and scaling a business in a space where speed and regulation are constantly at odds.
How does human-to-human connection factor into thought leadership?
It’s everything. Thought leadership loses its impact when it becomes too polished, distant, or overly curated.
I’ve seen this firsthand. When I share my personal background, the way I’ve navigated challenges, or my lived experience with MSK care or my upbringing, people open up. The conversation shifts from abstract ideas to something real, relatable, and meaningful.
At apo, we build technology, but at its core, it’s about people. That same principle applies to thought leadership. You can’t just talk at people- you have to connect with them. That means being willing to share personal experiences, be vulnerable where it makes sense, and create space for real dialogue.
Even at scale, maintaining that human connection is critical. People don’t engage with brands- they engage with people. And the best thought leaders aren’t just the ones with the biggest platforms; they’re the ones who make others feel seen, heard, and part of the conversation.
Do you think apo would have had the same impact without thought leadership?
Probably not. Thought leadership has been instrumental in establishing apo’s credibility.
In a space as crowded as health tech, you can’t just rely on a great product. You need to be part of the conversation shaping the industry. Thought leadership has allowed us to do exactly that- to position apo as more than just another startup, but as a driving force in MSK care innovation.
It’s also helped build trust. Healthcare is deeply personal, and people- whether they’re patients, clinicians, or investors- want to believe in the people behind the company. By showing up, sharing insights, and engaging in meaningful discussions, we’ve been able to establish apo as a thought leader in MSK health before even going to market.
About Lauren Romanish:
Lauren Romanish, driven by her personal battle with chronic pain, founded apo to democratise access to holistic, AI-powered treatments for Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. After conventional treatments failed her, she explored natural remedies, transforming her well-being and fuelling her mission to make integrated care accessible.
With experience leading mission-driven ventures and serving as a mentor and charity board member, Lauren blends empathy, innovation, and advocacy for patient-centric care. She was recently named among Business Elite’s 40 Under 40 and recognized as the ‘UK’s Most Influential Female Founder in Healthcare to Watch’ by InsightsCare.
News & Views

Get to Know: Alice Down, Content Executive
By Tom Webb, CEO In our Get to Know blog series, I’m posing a few questions to the Element team. Next up, we have Alice Down, Content Executive. What drew you to content and communications? What drew you to content and communications? After College,

Writer’s Toolbox appoints Element Communications to champion the future of how writing is taught in schools
Woking, UK – 9th July 2026: Writer’s Toolbox, the fast-growing EdTech company pioneering evidence-based writing improvement programmes that help schools transform literacy outcomes, has appointed Element Communications as its PR partner to support its next phase of growth and influence. At a time when schools continue to face

bit.bio appoints Element Communications to power global growth story following $50m raise
London, UK – 27 May 2026: Cambridge biotech company bit.bio has appointed Element Communications to lead an ambitious international PR campaign at a crucial stage of its growth journey. Earlier this year, the company raised a $50m Series

Get to Know: Alice Down, Content Executive
By Tom Webb, CEO In our Get to Know blog series, I’m posing a few questions to the Element team. Next up, we have Alice Down, Content Executive. What drew you to content and communications? What drew you to content and communications? After College, I started a Child Nursing degree. However, I

Writer’s Toolbox appoints Element Communications to champion the future of how writing is taught in schools
Woking, UK – 9th July 2026: Writer’s Toolbox, the fast-growing EdTech company pioneering evidence-based writing improvement programmes that help schools transform literacy outcomes, has appointed Element Communications as its PR partner to support its next phase of growth and influence. At a time when schools continue to face a writing crisis despite significant progress in reading attainment,