"Mentorship investment in your team paves the path to organizational triumph."
As the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Wellin5, William Masih’s focus has been on creating a leading online platform connecting clients with qualified therapists, offering personalized and accessible in-between session support and mental health care.
With a robust background encompassing over 15 years of experience in vision-casting, fundraising, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions, William successfully scaled Wellin5 from a mere concept to achieving a $1M ARR in just two years, with a limited initial capital of $3M, marked by strategic acumen and determination.
This growth trajectory has not only seen the expansion of the team, network, and market presence across Canada and the US but has also deepened the commitment to enhancing mental well-being.
The driving force behind the launch of Wellin5 in 2019 stems from William’s passionate dedication to improving the mental well-being of individuals and communities, inspired by personal experiences with the benefits of counseling.
In 2020, orchestrating the acquisition of Therachat, a Silicon Valley-based startup boasting $7M in equity and a vast network of 7,500 therapists, was a pivotal move, marking the entry into the US market and enriching the suite of product offerings.
Presently, preparations are underway for the rollout of the second product, designed to empower therapists in tracking client progress between sessions, poised to elevate the client-therapy relationship to new heights.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
William Masih: I am the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Wellin5, a leading online platform that connects clients with qualified therapists and provides them with personalized and accessible in-between session support and mental health care.
With over 15 years of experience in vision-casting, fundraising, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions, I successfully scaled Wellin5 from a concept to a $1M ARR in two years with a limited amount of capital ($3M) and expanded our team, network, and market presence across Canada and the US.
My passion for improving the mental well-being of individuals and communities drove me to launch Wellin5 in 2019, after experiencing the benefits of counseling myself.
In 2020, I led the acquisition of Therachat, a Silicon Valley-based startup that had raised $7M in equity and had a network of 7,500 therapists, to mark our entry into the US market and enhance our product offerings.
Now, we are getting ready to roll out our second product, which will help therapists track their client progress in between sessions and take their client-therapy relationship to the next level.
Can you share a time when your business faced a significant challenge? How did you navigate through it?
William Masih: In the year 2023, we faced strong headwinds due to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) as well as due to the high-interest rates and economic downturn which created big ripple effects in the capital markets.
This resulted in layoffs, deferred payments to our vendors/lenders, and outsourcing of some of our services.Fortunately, being part of a Christian faith-based round table CEO group helped tremendously which acted as a sounding board.
I was also able to tap into the lifetime experience, wisdom, and insights of our group leader as well as of the group collectively that provided emotional and mental support to navigate the tumultuous waters.
How has a failure or apparent failure set you up for later success?
William Masih: During my teenage years in India, my parents purchased a video game console during one of my Summer breaks. After enjoying it for many days, I tried to start a video game shop with one of my friends to begin charging neighborhood kids.
Due to the peer pressure, I decided to give up on the idea and regretted it in my later years. I came to the conclusion had I moved forward with my idea, I would have discovered my call in life sooner.
Fast forwarding to my late twenty’s in Vancouver, BC (Canada), I decided to mix two of my passions (technology + psychology) and bootstrapped and launched Wellin5 – an online virtual therapy tech platform in 2019.
Despite the odds, I began to seek out experienced advisors and moved to Silicon Valley to acquire the mindset of building a global tech company as well as learn how to capital raise.
Despite getting numerous “No’s”, we continued to move forward and then went on to raise $4M in capital and acquisition of an early-stage startup company to expand our market share.
How do you build a resilient team? What qualities do you look for in your team members?
William Masih: To build a resilient team you need to show that you value, recognize contributions, and support your key team members.
The best way to communicate that is through example which then can be fostered within the company culture. As a mental health-focused company, we are open to asking questions related to employee mental wellness and its impact.
Qualities we look for include:
- Someone who is hungry for growth
- Self-motivated
- Transparent
- Accountable
- Adaptable
- Open to trying new things
- Handles pressure well
- Loyalty
How do you maintain your personal resilience during tough times?
William Masih: My faith in God and convictions, cultivating a positive mindset, surrounding myself with a large support network, and loving family and friends.
In addition to that self-care is critical. Starting and running a company is a huge feat so exercising (whatever that is for you either walking, swimming, playing sports) etc.
What strategies do you use to manage stress and maintain focus during a crisis?
William Masih: Breathing exercises, meditation/prayer, therapy, talking to family/friends, traveling, seeking new experiences.
Seeing crises as temporary while remaining focused on your goals can help tremendously.
As you go through your journey, it’s important to recognize small wins and enjoy those victories.
How do you communicate with your team during a crisis?
William Masih: It’s important to communicate frequently and be transparent about the tough times while offering a solution.
It’s also crucial to offer them options so they can choose for themselves based on their individual circumstances.
What advice would you give to other CEOs on building resilience in their organizations?
William Masih: To invest in your team (either that by providing a strong mentorship or support group), implementing the right technology, cultivating agile mindset, and providing strong leadership and open communication.
How do you prepare your business for potential future crises?
William Masih: In addition to having a strong and robust contingency plan in place, we learned some valuable lessons from the impact of the events that unfolded last year.
Some of the measures that we implemented include cost-cutting measures (outsourcing), pivoting to prioritize high-margin products, employee training, leveraging the support of advisory groups, and communicating effectively with the team members, stakeholders, vendors, etc.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about leadership in times of crisis?
William Masih: Managing fear and uncertainty with relying on your faith and staying focused on the long-term vision is the key.
Being calm under pressure and prioritizing mental and physical wellness is also important. Maintaining frequent communication internally and externally is vital.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank William Masih for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with William Masih or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
