The audio and video are in Spanish. These notes are a translation.
Today I spoke with Roger Laughlin, cofounder of Kavak, the largest used-car marketplace in Latin America, with a valuation of more than $2.2B. Roger led Kavak during its expansion across Mexico and Brazil, before going through a mental health collapse that transformed his life. Today, Roger runs La Práctica, a platform that connects entrepreneurs with therapists to help them navigate the stress and the pressure of building companies.
1:45 - The Collapse that Changed Everything
After taking a sabbatical, Roger experienced a panic attack that took him to the hospital.
- What signs did he ignore before his collapse?
- How did he live through the days after the panic attack?
- What role did his family play in this process?
He started to question traditional methods of treatment.
- Why did he reject conventional solutions such as medication?
- What was he looking for when he explored other forms of therapy?
18:00 - The Root of the Problem
Roger connects his crisis to the death of his brother at age 15.
- How did that event shape his need to take care of others?
- In what way did that trauma influence his leadership style?
For years, he accumulated success without giving himself space to process his emotions.
- Why did he become “the problem solver” for everyone except himself?
- What consequences did repressing his emotions have?
29:45 - The Journey of Building Kavak
Kavak grew quickly and became a regional unicorn.
- How did they handle the complexity of an operating model that is so intensive?
- What motivated him to build something of that magnitude?
Over time, the business started to consume him completely.
- What role did the demands he placed on himself play in his emotional decline?
- How did he experience the disconnect between his external image and his inner world?
42:00 - Radical Changes
After the collapse, Roger implemented significant lifestyle changes.
- What habits did he transform in order to recover his balance?
- How did he learn to listen to his body?
He adopted IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy, which changed his view of himself.
- What difference did he find between treating symptoms and looking for the root?
- What did he learn about his relationship with time, stress, and anxiety?
52:55 - La Práctica: A New Mission
Roger is now building La Práctica, an emotional health platform for entrepreneurs.
- Why did he decide to start a company in this new sector?
- How does he structure his day to day in an intentional way?
He shares practical tools for founders.
- How do you tell a bad day apart from a real warning sign?
- What techniques allow him to make decisions from a place of calm?
Episode Mentions
You can find Roger on LinkedIn
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