Best Manager Ever: Amit Shah - Harnessing Energy, Gratitude & Learning
05/21/25 • 47 min
Amit Shah is the COO of Virta Health, where he’s built the company from ~30 team members to over 800 colleagues working to reverse obesity and diabetes. Amit has 10+ years of experience in building and scaling entrepreneurial and high-growth healthcare organizations, with a focus on delivering financial and operational results while aligning on mission and values.
Amit’s direct reports praise his ability to balance the needs of Virta’s members, business, and staff, describing him as incredibly kind, caring, driven, and a fierce protector of his team. He is celebrated for his passion, structured thinking, dedication to his own growth and development, and continuous improvement in leadership.
In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Amit, and they cover:
- How to build a gratitude practice that supports your team– and yourself
- The importance of emotional awareness and regulation in leadership
- Energy management habits and practices
- A process to take charge of feedback, learning, and growth
- The relationship between execution and strategy in startups
Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills
Connect with our show’s producer Alexis Ramdaou
Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast
This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Amit Shah is the COO of Virta Health, where he’s built the company from ~30 team members to over 800 colleagues working to reverse obesity and diabetes. Amit has 10+ years of experience in building and scaling entrepreneurial and high-growth healthcare organizations, with a focus on delivering financial and operational results while aligning on mission and values.
Amit’s direct reports praise his ability to balance the needs of Virta’s members, business, and staff, describing him as incredibly kind, caring, driven, and a fierce protector of his team. He is celebrated for his passion, structured thinking, dedication to his own growth and development, and continuous improvement in leadership.
In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Amit, and they cover:
- How to build a gratitude practice that supports your team– and yourself
- The importance of emotional awareness and regulation in leadership
- Energy management habits and practices
- A process to take charge of feedback, learning, and growth
- The relationship between execution and strategy in startups
Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills
Connect with our show’s producer Alexis Ramdaou
Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast
This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Best Manager Ever: Liz Ludwig - Leading with Momentum and Empowerment
Liz Ludwig is the co-founder of Takes, a game for sports fans. Liz started out working in Fortune 500 companies, before moving into the startup world. She had a successful career building and scaling marketing functions at Sungevity, OhmConnect, and more.
Liz’s direct reports describe her as a high-energy manager who builds momentum, trusts her team quickly, empowers them, and balances results with human connection. They appreciate her transparent communication, ability to align teams, and willingness to mentor and support even past their tenure.
In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Liz,
and they cover:
- Approaching the ambiguity of early-stage building as a management advantage
- The importance of hiring and firing fast – especially at the early stage
- How to help direct reports find their best role
- Tactics for smooth team transitions
- Communication tips
Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills
Connect with our show’s producer Alexis Ramdaou
Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast
This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Best Manager Ever: Leanna Nazzisi - From Part-Time to Power Player
Leanna Nazzisi is the Senior Direct of Customer Experience at Victoria Beckham Beauty, a clean beauty, cruelty-free, digital-first makeup and skincare brand. Leanna launched her startup career as a seasonal contractor with Birchbox, where she rose through the ranks to become a senior CX leader as the company scaled. She also had a chapter as a customer success leader during Zendesk’s growth stage.
Leanna's direct reports praise her for fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute, highlighting her willingness to embrace change and focus on both personal and professional growth. They describe her as knowledgeable, communicative, in tune with everyday situations, truthful, caring, authentic, and confident.
In this episode, show creator and Fort Light founder Annie Riley sits down with Leanna, and they cover:
- How to manage peers and friends-turned-direct reports
- Proactively eliciting ideas and really listening
- Matching the business needs with the strengths and needs of the individuals on the team
- Creating a culture of transparency, honesty, and clarity
Check out Fort Light to level up your leadership skills
Connect with our show’s producer Alexis Ramdaou
Nominate your Best Manager Ever for the Podcast
This is a Production of Fort Light and Now it’s Hear
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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