SELF-DISRUPT

SELF DISRUPT is an ambitious, literary memoir that will appeal to the enthusiastic fans of Bonobos, and the even greater number of men and women who revere and follow the leaders of the tech/startup community and beyond.

The tech/startup world is certainly not for the faint of heart. Even the most successful innovators, disrupters, CEOs have had to walk the high wire of pushing forward in the face of possibly insurmountable obstacles. They continue to believe that what they are doing will in some way change the world for the better, even as funding runs low, vicious internal fighting threatens to capsize the company and pivots prove disastrous. Certainly the level of egoism, drive, and ability to work at a breakneck pace under enormous pressure has proven to be too much for many on the path to startup glory. The icons of this community seem to relish their outsider status, the requirements of success exempting them from adhering to social norms.

But there is also a different conversation happening, quietly in some cases, about the connection between the traits required to become a successful entrepreneur and the symptoms of mental illness. In order for this conversation to break wide open, it will require someone brave enough, and successful enough, to not fear the consequences of going public.

Andy Dunn, founder and original CEO of the iconic, game changing company Bonobos is that person. Having started the company with a fellow student while getting an MBA at Stanford Business School, Andy Dunn steered Bonobos through an amazing, heartbreaking, incredibly high stakes journey to success. Bonobos became a significant disrupter and model for digitally native brands, and made its founder a millionaire, ultimately bought by Walmart for over $300 million dollars, and Andy named as the SVP of digital brands.

Andy's story is the stuff of startup dreams, and the insider, warts and all look at that path to success, through a partnership split, rounds of funding where the company was on the precipice of bankruptcy, taking on and often failing in the role of leader, is incredible and fascinating. Even more so when considering that Andy also struggled throughout this entire time with undiagnosed bipolar disorder.