A Technologist’s Quest for Meaning

Juan Carlos isn’t just an SVP of Technology at a fast-scaling healthtech company.

He’s also a filmmaker turned product builder, full-time dad, part-time philosopher, and creator of a deck of mental model cards designed to help leaders think clearly in the chaos.

In this episode of The ABCs for Building the Future, we go deep into how Juan Carlos rebuilt his sense of self—from the inside out. It starts with one word:

Clarity.

“Clarity of thought leads to a purposeful life. And that’s true for me—and for others.”

This is more than a podcast about productivity hacks or mental models. It’s a conversation about identity, purpose, the illusion of free will, and how we can architect our own mental infrastructure to make better decisions—at work and in life.

What You’ll Learn:

* How Juan Carlos went from auteur filmmaker to tech exec

* The one mental model he applies in almost every business scenario

* Why he moved to Joshua Tree to escape the noise—and find his own thoughts again

* The design principles behind his card deck and upcoming mental model app

* A vulnerable reflection on ego, failure, and reinventing yourself mid-career

“I realized the film part didn’t matter—it was the impact that did.”

Juan’s side project, Remind, is a beautifully designed system of flashcards (and a companion app) that turns frameworks like “circle of competence,” “inversion,” and “first principles” into real-time leadership tools. You don’t just read these ideas—you use them.

Key Takeaways:

* A belief system is the new user model. Track beliefs, not just behavior.

* AI that recommends the right thing at the right time must understand the user’s reasoning.

* Epistemic emotions like confusion, belief confirmation, and curiosity are the real alignment metrics.

* Developers need tools that help them build coaches, not just bots.