#063 From Crisis to Growth: Reinventing a Public Company with Chia-Lin Simmons

Built For This Podcast, with Carly Pepin

July 16, 2026 by

Carly Pepin

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Carly Pepin sits down with Chia-Lin Simmons, CEO of LogicMark, to explore what it really takes to lead a company through crisis and transform it into a business built for long-term growth.

In this episode of Built For This, when Chia-Lin stepped into the CEO role, LogicMark was facing significant challenges, including the risk of Nasdaq delisting, financial instability, aging products, supply chain disruption, and legal hurdles. Rather than simply stabilizing the business, she used the opportunity to completely rethink its future, rebuilding both the company's strategy and its culture from the ground up.

Drawing on executive leadership experience at Google, Audible, Samsung, Amazon, Time Warner, and multiple technology startups, Chia-Lin shares how she approached one of the most demanding turnaround situations in business. She discusses the realities of leading a public company, raising capital under regulatory constraints, modernizing legacy technology, and creating an ownership mindset that empowered employees to drive meaningful change.

Throughout the conversation, Carly and Chia-Lin explore product innovation, AI-powered healthcare, leadership during uncertainty, company culture, and why some of the greatest business opportunities come from solving problems that have been overlooked for years.

Whether you're leading a startup, managing an established organization, or navigating significant change, this episode offers practical lessons in resilience, strategic leadership, and building confidence through action.

Key Themes

Successful Turnarounds Begin with Clear Priorities

When every problem feels urgent, leaders must focus on what matters most. Chia-Lin explains how stabilizing finances, protecting the company's public listing, modernizing products, and rebuilding culture required disciplined decision-making and a relentless focus on the highest-impact priorities.

Constraints Can Become a Competitive Advantage

Operating with limited resources forced LogicMark to make smarter decisions, allocate capital carefully, and innovate with intention. Chia-Lin shares why resource constraints often create stronger businesses by encouraging focus, creativity, and sustainable growth rather than unchecked expansion.

Never Be Your First No

One of Chia-Lin's most powerful leadership philosophies is refusing to eliminate opportunities before others have the chance to evaluate them. Whether pursuing a new role, raising investment, or launching a business, success often begins by giving yourself permission to try before deciding something isn't possible.

About Chia-Lin Simmons

Chia-Lin Simmons is the CEO of LogicMark, where she has led the company's transformation into a modern technology business combining hardware, software, and recurring revenue solutions focused on personal safety and healthcare innovation.

Prior to joining LogicMark, Chia-Lin served as CEO and co-founder of LookyLoo, an AI-powered social commerce platform, and held senior leadership positions at some of the world's leading technology companies, including Google, Audible, Samsung, Amazon, Time Warner, and AOL. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for leading complex transformations, driving innovation, and helping organizations navigate periods of significant change while creating sustainable long-term growth.

Memorable Quotes
"Never be your first no."
"Constraints don't stop innovation. They force you to become more intentional."
"Everyone in the company should own a piece of the success they're helping create."

Chia-Lin Simmons