Castlight Health and Vera Whole Health are now apree health.

In our new blog series, Meet Castlight, we’re featuring some of the best hearts and minds that drive our business. In this Q&A, we learn more about Vice President and General Manager Peter Hegi.

What’s your role? How does it support Castlight’s mission?

As VP and general manager, my role is to help Castlight further define, build, and deliver our next generation healthcare navigation solutions — especially as they relate to continuing to marry our best-in-class digital platform with the empathetic, human support provided through Castlight Care Guides, our team of highly experienced and trained clinical and benefits experts.

Ultimately, our goal is to meet members where they are by providing digitally-enabled self-service when they want it and human-to-human interactions when they need it, all so each person can shape their unique health journey on their own terms. It’s this comprehensive high-tech, high-touch approach that will help our customers engage their entire population in improved health and wellbeing, reduce overall healthcare spending, and create an overall benefits experience people rave about.

What led to your decision to join the Castlight team?

The mission, the people, and the platform — full stop. I’ve always sought out purpose-driven companies that tackle important problems in disruptive ways and leave positive, long-lasting marks on the world. Through my work with other companies in the healthcare navigation space, I’ve come to realize there’s a simple two-part formula for helping employers bend the healthcare cost curve:

1. Improve employee health so there’s less need for them to access the healthcare system
2. When care is needed, help them find options that are higher quality and lower cost

I was drawn to Castlight because it’s the only player in the industry that has a single platform to solve for both sides of this equation. But what really sealed the deal was the team. The new leadership team has put together an incredible group of selfless, high-integrity, wicked-smart, purpose-driven individuals who are maniacally focused on making it as easy as humanly possible to navigate the healthcare system and live happier, healthier, more productive lives.

What’s your mantra?

Leave the world better than you found it.

To me, this means making each day matter, working for purpose-driven companies, truly caring about others and striving to make their lives better, focusing on my family, and making sure my most important “product” — my kids — have a positive impact on the lives of others.

What’s your go-to quarantine activity?

When the pandemic began, I started searching YouTube and Instagram for at-home workout ideas. I came across an old Stanford gymnastics buddy who was working towards holding a super-long handstand. Thus began my go-to quarantine activity: The journey to holding a 90-second free-standing handstand — with no wall to help!

Though my wife didn’t love when I almost knocked the TV off the wall during a few attempts, this ultimately turned into a family activity. Each Saturday, they’d cheer me on to see how long I could go. I’m happy to report that we toasted success on June 10, 2020.

What are you most excited about as the next innovation in digital health?

I truly believe Castlight is at the leading edge of digital health innovation. It’s one of the many reasons I decided to join the team. So, much of what I’m excited about is either what Castlight already does or plans to build upon in the very near future — leveraging big data, machine learning, a high-tech and high-touch platform, and deep integrations with best-in-class clinical point solutions to shorten the patient path from sick to well.

These days, the healthcare journey is too long, too expensive, and too frustrating for many people, so I’m thrilled that Castlight is able to make it much shorter and more clear-cut.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

In my office, I have a sign that reads, “Give Something Back,” as a constant reminder that to whom much has been given, much is expected.

Outside of work, I’m committed to serving my community. Two organizations near and dear to my heart are Interfaith Family Services, which helps families in crisis break the cycle of generational poverty, and The Senior Source, which helps individuals and families navigate aging, whether that’s protecting at-risk older adults, supporting caregivers, or helping isolated adults find companionship. My grandmother had a huge impact on my life — when I’m working with these two organizations, I feel like I’m honoring her and paying her legacy forward.