The a16z Show · Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Adam Neumann spoke about his mother, an oncologist, and her struggles with bipolar disorder, which he believes significantly shaped his perspective. He recalled her dedication to patients and how her mood swings, though difficult, ultimately contributed to his resilience and drive.
“And the other one, my mom, and she's actually comfortable speaking about it, she's bipolar. And she's an oncologist. And she's very good at her craft.”
“But being an oncologist and also having the mood swings, she would fight very hard for her patients.”
“And in hindsight, what I thought was a challenge was actually exactly what made me who I am today.”