We recently connected with Kari Cao and have shared our conversation below.
Kari, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
You see, my Toastmasters icebreaker speech was exactly about this. It started with a knock-knock joke—because imposter syndrome often feels like an unwelcome guest, constantly knocking at the worst times.
Early in my career as a primary care provider, I was convinced every knock on the door meant I’d made a mistake or that someone had finally figured out I didn’t belong. Even as I became one of the top-performing providers with over 1,200 patients requesting me, I still felt like a fraud. Then, I burned out.
Motherhood brought a new, even tougher challenge. I felt like I was failing at motherhood—juggling a newborn, sleepless nights, and returning to work at six weeks postpartum, seeing 20-30 patients a day while trying to pump between visits. But then I realized—I got this. Just like in my career, I kept showing up, figuring it out, and proving to myself that I was more capable than I believed.
Then, a new opportunity knocked—one that allowed me to step out of the clinic and into patients’ homes. Seeing new mothers and their babies in their own environment opened my eyes to the bigger picture—how circumstances, support systems, and daily life impact health in ways that a clinic visit never fully reveals. I met people at their most vulnerable moments, learned more about their struggles, and discovered new ways to help moms and newborns thrive.
That experience shaped my journey to launching RenewRx, a platform that blends medical care, technology, and nutrition to support pregnant patients, starting with gestational diabetes.
So, how did I get over imposter syndrome? I didn’t—I just stopped letting it stop me. Now, when I knock on the doors of the medical establishment with my ideas, I do so with confidence. Because imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you don’t belong—it just means you care.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m Kari Cao, the founder and CEO of RenewRx, a healthtech company dedicated to transforming maternal health through technology, lifestyle medicine, and real-time coaching. As a medical provider and a professionally trained chef specializing in nutrition, I’ve always been passionate about bridging the gap between clinical care and daily life—especially during pregnancy, when women need the most support but often feel the most alone.
RenewRx is more than an app—it’s a companion for expecting moms, offering personalized health tracking, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and one-on-one coaching to help manage pregnancy-related conditions like gestational and type 2 diabetes. What makes it unique is that we work directly with doctors and medical teams, providing real-time insights and structured accountability so women can take control of their health with confidence, reduce the doctors workload and generate a significant ROI for the office.
Right now, I’m focused on scaling RenewRx nationally following the success of our pilot with Obstetrix (Pediatrix), where we saw a 95% retention rate and outcomes better than national average for. mom and baby.
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At the heart of it all, I believe pregnancy should feel empowering, not overwhelming. I want every mother to know that she deserves support beyond the doctor’s office, and I’m building RenewRx to make that a reality.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, three qualities have shaped my journey: adaptability, deep listening, and failing forward.
As a chef, I learned that when a lasagna falls apart, you turn it into a deconstructed dish. As an entrepreneur, you pivot. RenewRx started with a focus on chronic conditions, but after a year of research, we realized the real opportunity was in serving pregnant women—highly motivated patients seeking real change. That shift transformed everything.
People will tell you what they need if you truly listen. Every frustration, workaround, and complaint is a clue. By listening to both patients and providers, we built RenewRx to seamlessly fit into real clinical workflows while giving moms the support they need.
If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ve already lost time. At RenewRx, we tested our market fit before the app existed, refined our coaching model before scaling, and launched while still developing—because real feedback is the only way to build something that truly works.
Success isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about staying flexible, listening deeply, and putting your ideas into the world before they’re perfect.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We’re actively seeking partners and collaborators to expand RenewRx’s impact, especially with managed care organizations serving vulnerable populations. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with women facing the greatest barriers to care—now, we want to bring remote patient monitoring, real-time coaching, and personalized support to those who need it most.
We’re also looking to partner with OB-GYNs, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, midwives, and health tech innovators who want to enhance prenatal care with data-driven insights and habit-building support.
If you’re an MCO, provider, or industry leader looking to transform maternal health, let’s connect. Reach out through our www.renewrx.health or find me on LinkedIn.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.RenewRx.health
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renewrx_health?igsh=MWF5d2JvbXRvdGFtaQ==
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/renewrx_renewrx-is-already-changing-lives-and-is-activity-7226106767343075329-j5Pc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Image Credits
Tej Parwani
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