OM DENNE EPISODE
Behind every title is a person, with a story worth hearing. In this episode of The Meritage Project, host Phil Lord sits down with John Shafaee, Founder and CEO of ALIS, to explore the personal experiences behind more than 20 years of innovation in senior living.
John reflects on immigrating to the United States from Iran at eight years old and becoming a translator and problem-solver for his parents—an early responsibility that shaped his relentless drive to help others. He shares how an unexpected introduction to senior living revealed both the complexity of caring for another person and the opportunity for technology to make that work easier without diminishing its humanity.
Throughout the conversation, John discusses the mentors, co-founders and family members whose voices continue to challenge and inspire him; the lessons he learned while building ALIS through persistence and sweat equity; and why listening to customers fundamentally changed the direction of the company. He also offers a thoughtful perspective on artificial intelligence, where it can give valuable time back to community teams and where human judgment, connection and care must always remain at the center.
With honesty and vulnerability, John reflects on the personal cost of building a company, the importance of prioritizing the people we love and the legacy he hopes to leave: one defined not by money or power, but by seeing people, elevating others and keeping the path open for those who follow.
Thank you to our sponsor, ALIS: https://www.go-alis.com/
