22: Solo Ep. 3: They Built Empires With Bipolar Disorder and ADHD

What do the founder of JetBlue, the co-founder of Kayak, the founder of Bonobos, and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles have in common? They have each spoken publicly about living with ADHD or bipolar disorder while achieving extraordinary success. In this solo episode of *Success Rewritten*, Emily explores what their experiences reveal about mental health, entrepreneurship, achievement, and the assumptions we make about successful people. These stories are not meant to frame ADHD or bipolar disorder as automatic superpowers. Both diagnoses can bring serious challenges. Instead, the episode looks at how people can better understand how their brains work, create systems that support them, and find success without hiding or feeling ashamed of their diagnoses. **In this episode:** - Billion-Dollar Founders with ADHD and Bipolar Disorder - Emily’s Diagnosis and Return to Work - What We Assume About Successful People - Andy Dunn and His Hidden Bipolar Diagnosis - *Burn Rate* and Building Bonobos - How Hiding a Diagnosis Can Affect Healing - Paul English, Bipolar Disorder, and Kayak - The Benefits and Risks of Intensity - David Neeleman, ADHD, and JetBlue - When ADHD Challenges Became Visible at Work - Building a Company Around How Your Brain Works - Why a Diagnosis Is Not Always a Superpower - Simone Biles, ADHD, and Mental Health - Success Without Romanticizing a Diagnosis - When Mania Resembles Startup Culture - Disclosure, Support, and Finding Balance - Resources and Closing Thoughts **Find me:** Success, Rewritten | Website | Instagram Emily LoMenzo Washcovick | LinkedIn | Instagram Bipolar Brought Balance | Instagram To go deeper on my experience with bipolar disorder, visit bipolarbroughtbalance.com