Elizabeth Holmes and the Rise and Fall of Theranos
Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the blood-testing start-up Theranos, was once one of the most celebrated and visible female CEOs in the world. Her company had a valuation of $9 billion and she was worth $4.5 billion, making her the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world. However, it all came crashing down when The Wall Street Journal published an investigation into Theranos, questioning the efficacy of its labs and technology, which resulted in a 15-week trial and her eventual conviction on fraud charges.
I had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Holmes recently, in what can only be described as a surreal setting: the San Diego Zoo. As we walked through the zoo, surrounded by caged animals, Ms. Holmes spoke in a soft, unremarkable voice about her impending prison sentence and her regrets about the mistakes she made at Theranos. She spoke about how she had created a public persona that was not authentic, in an attempt to be taken seriously and be seen as a serious businesswoman.
It is hard to believe that just a few years ago, Ms. Holmes was a rising star in the tech industry, with her innovative blood-testing technology that promised to revolutionize healthcare. She founded Theranos at the age of 19, and by the time she was 30, she was at the helm of a multi-billion-dollar company.
However, as it turned out, the technology behind Theranos was not as effective as Ms. Holmes had claimed. The Edison, the sleek, boxy device
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