Elizabeth Holmes' Cult of Calm Revealed
· travel
The Cult of Calm: Elizabeth Holmes’ Note Exposed
Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of Theranos, was known for her composed and collected demeanor. However, a handwritten note from her past reveals a different story – one of strict adherence to rules and a desperate attempt to appear detached.
The note, written on Raffles hotel stationery in Singapore, details Holmes’ daily schedule, starting at 4am with “rise & thank God.” This grueling routine included no excitement, no hesitation, and above all, a complete suppression of emotions. The final lines read like a manifesto: “I do not react,” “I am always proactive,” and “I call bullshit immediately.”
According to her testimony in court, the rules were given to her by Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, her former boyfriend and business partner. He allegedly told her that she didn’t know what she was doing in business, that her convictions were wrong, and that if she followed her instincts, she would fail.
This note is more than just a schedule – it’s a glimpse into the cult-like environment surrounding Holmes at Theranos. It’s an environment where emotions are suppressed, creativity stifled, and conformity enforced. At its center is a woman desperate to prove herself as a leader, so much so that she began to adopt these rules as her own.
The irony is that Holmes’ attempt to appear detached has only highlighted her detachment from reality. Her conviction of wire fraud and conspiracy in 2022 was a result not just of her actions but also the toxic culture she created around herself. The new documentary “You Can See Everything” offers a different perspective on Holmes – one that’s more calculated and less convincing.
This story raises concerns about our broader culture as well. We’ve become enamored with the idea of the “calm” leader, often overlooking warning signs of manipulation and control. When we do, we enable the creation of toxic environments like Theranos, where innovation and progress are sacrificed for appearances.
The documentary may aim to clear Holmes’ name, but it also offers a chance to reflect on what went wrong in Silicon Valley. We need to stop romanticizing the cult of calm and start recognizing warning signs of control and manipulation. By doing so, we might find ourselves questioning our own workplaces.
The parallels between Holmes’ note and her current situation are striking. Even as she maintains innocence, she’s been shown to be calculating and manipulative – qualities antithetical to leadership and eerily familiar.
As we watch “You Can See Everything,” more questions than answers arise. What does it mean for a leader to maintain control through detachment? How do we recognize signs of manipulation in our own workplaces? And what can we learn from Holmes’ toxic legacy?
One thing is certain: the cult of calm has no place in leadership or business.
Reader Views
- TCThe Compass Desk · editorial
While the note's emphasis on emotional suppression and conformity is certainly damning, it also highlights the performative nature of Elizabeth Holmes' leadership style. The fact that she felt compelled to adopt these rules in order to appear detached raises questions about the degree to which she was driven by a genuine desire for control or a desperate need to compensate for her own perceived inadequacies. By examining this dynamic, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which toxic cultures are often created and sustained at the expense of individual agency and authenticity.
- IRIván R. · tour guide
The irony of Elizabeth Holmes' Cult of Calm is that her attempt to project composure was actually a desperate cry for control in a chaotic business environment. What's often overlooked is the toll this cult-like culture took on employees who were forced to conform to these extreme rules, sacrificing their creativity and autonomy in the process. As we celebrate the "calm" leader, let's not forget the cost of such detachment: stifled innovation and a toxic work environment that can have lasting consequences for those involved.
- MJMara J. · long-term traveler
It's interesting that Elizabeth Holmes' attempt to appear detached has been revealed as a desperate coping mechanism, rather than a genuine trait. What struck me is the similarity between this toxic environment and the corporate culture of other companies that prioritize "calm" leadership at all costs. While it's clear that conformity is enforced in these spaces, we rarely see the emotional labor involved in maintaining this facade. The documentary and article only scratch the surface; I'd love to see more exploration into how employees are forced to internalize these values and what long-term consequences they face.