Navin Goyal, MD shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Navin, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I feel like I’m being called to step into a much bigger responsibility, to help shape the future of healthcare and leadership. For a long time after pivoting from anesthesiology to venture capital, I thought my role was just to build companies, invest in founders, and see where that journey took me. But now, with the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve been fortunate to work alongside, there’s this sense that my voice and perspective carry weight in a bigger conversation. The truth is, fear has always been with me, and it still is. But I’ve learned not to see it as an enemy. Fear reminds me that what I’m doing matters. It forces me to move forward with care, with humility, and with respect for the people and systems I’m trying to impact. I used to think the goal was to eliminate fear, but now I realize the goal is to walk with it and to let it sharpen me, not stop me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I spent 13 years as an anesthesiologist and medical director, and while I deeply valued that work, I eventually realized I was being pulled toward something bigger, building companies and movements that could change systems, not just treat patients one at a time. That’s what led me to co-found companies like OFFOR Health, which brings anesthesia care directly into underserved communities, and LOUD Capital, a venture firm built around the idea that investing should be about relationships and people, not just financial returns.
Most recently, I co-founded LOUD Collective, which integrates capital, data, and operational leadership to help founders grow with more clarity and purpose. But beyond the ventures, what drives me is helping people, whether they’re physicians, founders, or leaders, see that they can design lives rooted in freedom, purpose, and impact.
I’ve written about that reinvention in my book Physician Underdog, and I continue the conversation through my newsletter Underdogs Don’t Stop and my podcast Made to Rise, which are two things I’m very passionate about right now. Those platforms are really about sharing the messy, vulnerable side of leadership. The doubts, the imposter syndrome, the pivots, and showing that those things don’t disqualify us, they actually connect us.
At the core, I want people to know I’m not just building companies; I’m trying to build movements around authentic leadership, healthcare innovation, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. My work is not prestige-driven; it’s people-driven.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Today, I am who I was always meant to be. I am not defined by a title, a degree, or an accomplishment anymore. I am defined by my ability to grow, to take risks, and to help others rise with me despite challenges and fear at times. Before the world tried to shape me, I was someone who believed in possibility and impact. Now, I embrace that mindset fully, stepping into challenges with clarity and confidence, and shaping the kind of future I want to see. For myself, for others, and for the systems I care about.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been many moments when the path wasn’t clear and decisions were heavy. I questioned leaving anesthesiology. I had invested over a decade into a career that was stable, respected, and rewarding, and walking away felt like stepping off a cliff. The fear was real, and the vulnerability of starting over was undeniable. But I reminded myself why I was making the leap; to build something bigger, to create impact, and to trust the process. Those risks taught me resilience, the value of great people around me, and that moving forward, even with fear, is the only way to grow.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to building a personal brand and movement unapologetically my way. Through my podcast Made to Rise, content creation, and every platform I touch, it’s about inspiring and empowering others to take action while staying real and responsible, and doing it all with confidence and energy that feels fresh and relevant. This isn’t just influence to me, it’s a long-term mission and commitment to show others that vulnerability, courage, and leadership can coexist, thrive, and make a real impact, one that my peers and parents can be proud of.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes, I have. I achieved things I thought would define success—a respected medical career, stability, prestige—but I quickly realized that none of those things alone could satisfy me. What I wanted evolved as I did, and I learned that fulfillment isn’t a single achievement or milestone; it’s the journey of growth. Leaving medicine was one of the hardest and riskiest decisions of my life, but it taught me more about purpose, resilience, and clarity than any title ever could. Today, I find satisfaction not in checking boxes but in building, learning, and helping others rise with me because that is the work that actually matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.navingoyalmd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navin.g.md/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/navingoyalmd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/navingoyalmd/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNwcegK7uLw-vDuZyfrXchA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@navingoyalmd
https://underdogsdontstop.beehiiv.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/made-to-rise/id1825490855
