Rehan Azhar built his reputation as an operator who could navigate complex, high-growth environments long before he entered healthcare. The Northwestern University industrial engineering graduate cut his teeth at L.E.K. Consulting, working across more than 15 projects for corporate and private equity clients in Chicago, London, and Paris. But it was his five-year tenure at Airbnb that established him as a growth strategist capable of scaling operations across diverse markets. Leading global partnerships with real estate brokerages, banks, and airlines, Azhar helped the company expand into China and India while managing teams of 25 people during critical product launches like Airbnb Experiences.
The transition from tech platforms to post-acute care might seem unlikely, but Azhar’s move into healthcare reflects the same operational instincts that made him effective at Airbnb. Co-founding Comprehensive Rehab Consultants in 2020, he applied his partnership-building expertise to create a physiatry, psychiatry, and care transition group that serves skilled nursing facilities. The company’s rapid growth attracted York Private Equity, which acquired CRC in 2023. Now serving as an active board member, Azhar continues to focus on strategic guidance and growth initiatives—leveraging the same systematic approach that characterized his previous ventures, from his angel investing portfolio through AirAngels to his current work improving rehabilitation services for seniors.
Azhar’s commitment extends beyond business ventures into substantial philanthropic work. Over the past 18 months, he has donated over $2 million in personal funds to various causes, reflecting his dedication to community service and social impact alongside his entrepreneurial activities.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I test and iterate. For example, if I want to validate an idea, I will test demand by building a landing page, running ads, and measuring metrics like CPC.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The rise of unapologetic political organizing, especially by communities that have been historically sidelined. People are reclaiming power, narrative, and agenda. It feels like the start of something global and irreversible.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I commit to learning one new skill every month and mastering one yearly. It keeps me sharp, humble, and constantly evolving. The second I feel too expert in something, I know I’m stagnating.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Let moments, relationships, and efforts exist without justifying them through scale, outcome, or return. Learn to be unproductive and still worthy.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Philanthropy is often just vanity with a halo. Real giving means putting your ego on the shelf, redistributing not just wealth—but power. And most people in the space aren’t ready to do that.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Be obsessed with getting to the best possible outcome—not just the easiest one. Push past “good enough.” Revisit decisions until they’re airtight. Excellence compounds.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Bootstrapping. It forced clarity and discipline. Every dollar mattered, and that mindset created a culture of resourcefulness and resilience that helped us scale.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I once tried to launch a direct-to-consumer perfume brand. It flopped. I shut it down quickly, absorbed the lessons on product-market fit, and moved forward. It taught me to separate my ego from my experiments.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Shoe Dog, it really helps you understand the entrepreneur’s journey and the extreme highs and extreme lows you face.