Brian thought he would pursue a path in healthcare but instead chose to serve in military special operations. From training through active duty service, he was fortunate to be a part of an “enlightenment in human factors” where massive investments were being made in understanding the science of human performance, stress, sleep and recovery. Brian reflects that his experience as a Navy SEAL, allowed him the gift of a glimpse into a culture and tools designed to unlock the most extraordinary capability of the human mind and body under pressure.

As Brian transitioned out of the military, he found himself in the operating room he once heard his Mother speak about: he had the opportunity to spend a day at the Cleveland Clinic Heart + Vascular Institute. As he observed the top heart surgery teams in the world, Brian was struck by how similar the OR was to the high-stakes, high-consequence environment of special operations and some of the elite athletic cultures he had observed. Yet these other high-pressure disciplines where performance tools were ingrained in daily training, healthcare professionals had none of these resources at their disposal. The people responsible for saving lives were given little to no training in medical school or nursing school to safeguard their own well-being.

In 2017, Brian founded Arena Labs to bring the same tools, coaching, and data used in elite military units, world-class athletics, and the performing arts into the sacred world of healthcare. Arena Labs was born out of the belief that healthcare professionals—what we call the Service Archetype—need the tools and resources to protect against the better angles of their nature and give until there’s nothing left to give.

Our name, Arena Labs, is inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s famous “Man in the Arena” speech. The speech speaks to the spirit of those who step into the arena, who face challenges head-on and strive valiantly in pursuit of a worthy cause. As Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again… but who does actually strive to do the deeds.” This spirit of striving, of being committed to service no matter the hardships, is at the core of our mission.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the world of healthcare was thrown into unprecedented turmoil. Arena Labs adapted, developing Arena Strive—a remote performance coaching platform that could reach clinicians without the need for in-person workshops. Arena Strive provided personalized coaching and data-driven insights to help healthcare teams manage the immense stress and pressure of the pandemic, even when in-person support was impossible. Strive is time agnostic, geography agnostic, and meets clinicians where they are—no matter where they are.

Today, Arena Labs continues to evolve, working with thousands of clinicians across the country to introduce a new era of healthcare: The Era of Predictive Performance. By blending cutting-edge technology with human-centered coaching, we empower healthcare professionals to thrive, ensuring that those who care for society can also care for themselves. Arena Labs is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, equipping healthcare teams with the tools they need to flourish in their calling.

Welcome to Arena Labs. Welcome to a Higher Standard.