Are you secretly running on empty, wondering if burnout is targeting you next?
In this episode, Alen Voskanian, COO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network and author, pulls back the curtain on the raw realities beneath operations leadership. From the constant grind of clinical environments to the personal toll of endless firefighting, Voskanian exposes why burnout hits high performers hardest and how ignoring your creative side can quietly sabotage your impact. This isn’t just about wellness platitudes. It’s a real-world look at chasing fulfillment, designing systems that beat chaos, and the unexpected arts that make leaders resilient.
If you’re a COO (or run with one), you can’t afford to miss these insights. The game has changed. Listen now or risk staying stuck in cycles that will bury both your team and your spirit. This is the side of leadership nobody else is showing you.
Sponsored by
Genius Network - An exclusive community for highly successful entrepreneurs, connecting you with top-tier leaders, strategic insights, and powerful relationships to help you grow your business faster and smarter.
Learn more: https://www.geniusnetwork.com/
Timestamped Highlights
00:25 – The real reason burnout is rampant among COOs and physicians
04:12 – The under-the-radar roles that secretly prepared him for operations
07:29 – Three unconventional ways to master leadership fast
12:18 – Why stand-up comedy became his secret tool for resilience
15:57 – The hidden danger in neglecting your creative life as a leader
19:53 – Brutal realities of burnout nobody is willing to admit
29:55 – How lean principles are quietly transforming healthcare operations
39:09 – What people on their deathbeds taught him about fulfillment and regret
About the Guest
Alen Voskanian, MD, MBA, is the Vice President and COO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Network. A board-certified physician in Family Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine, he’s also an author and sought-after keynote speaker. Alen is known for transforming healthcare to improve access and quality. He holds degrees from UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and an MBA from Indiana University. He’s a former innovation advisor for CMS, a Cunniff-Dixon/Hastings Center Physician Award winner, and a Health Innovators Fellow with the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
🔗 LinkedIn | Website
Mentioned Resources
About the Co-Host
Sivana Brewer is a Fractional COO for Remote Teams and former COO at Closers.io, where she helped scale the company to multiple eight figures and built over 500+ sales teams in just 2.5 years. She specializes in leadership development, remote operations, and systems that empower teams to grow sustainably.
🔗 Connect with Sivana on LinkedIn
Important Links
The Second in Command Podcast is an original production hosted by Cameron Herold. Brought to you by COO Alliance. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
Sponsored by
Genius Network - An exclusive community for highly successful entrepreneurs, connecting you with top-tier leaders, strategic insights, and powerful relationships to help you grow your business faster and smarter.
Learn more: https://www.geniusnetwork.com/
