Sarah de Lagarde Integrates Assistive Technology Experience into Janus Henderson Strategy

“Finding solutions to extraordinary events. That is what my brain was made for,” says Sarah de Lagarde, who now serves as the Brighter Future Strategist at Janus Henderson Investors. De Lagarde utilizes her personal experience as a user of assistive technology to bridge the gap between healthcare investment analysis and the practical needs of patients, Hubbis reported.

Personal recovery shapes professional role at Janus Henderson

Sarah de Lagarde’s approach to healthcare innovation is rooted in her recovery after losing her right arm and lower right leg in a London Underground accident. Following the event, she transitioned from her previous role as Global Head of Communications at Janus Henderson Investors—a position that required constant availability—to a specialized strategic role. After discussions with senior management, de Lagarde requested a shift in responsibilities to better align with her recovery needs and professional interests.

In her current capacity as Brighter Future Strategist, de Lagarde collaborates with the firm’s healthcare and technology investment teams. While portfolio managers provide sector-specific knowledge and investment data, de Lagarde provides a first-hand perspective on how bionics, prosthetics, and medical assistive devices function in daily life. Her work involves engaging clients and representing the firm at industry forums to make the practical significance of medical innovation tangible.

Healthspan and data accountability drive innovation criteria

De Lagarde advocates for a shift in how medical progress is measured, emphasizing “healthspan”—the quality of healthy years—alongside traditional lifespan. She argues that the value of a technical advance is found in its ability to improve independence and reduce the daily demands placed on the user, citing more intuitive prosthetic control as a primary example of meaningful innovation.

Beyond the physical utility of technology, de Lagarde focuses on the ethical frameworks surrounding healthcare data. She has called for increased attention to data ownership, control, and accountability as assistive technologies become more integrated into human lives. She also highlights the role of wealth in preserving access to specialized care and the resources necessary to seek out the most effective treatments.

South Pole expedition tests technological limits

To further test the capabilities of modern medical and technological progress, de Lagarde has planned an expedition to the South Pole. The journey is intended to serve as a practical application of her work, demonstrating the extent to which assistive technology can enable individuals to pursue extreme ambitions and overcome severe physical limitations.

Common questions about healthcare innovation and healthspan

How does healthspan differ from lifespan in healthcare investment?

While lifespan measures the total number of years a person lives, healthspan focuses on the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic disease or disability. De Lagarde argues that innovation should be assessed by its ability to improve the quality of these additional years.

What specific technologies does the Brighter Future Strategist focus on?

The role focuses on bionics, prosthetics, and medical assistive devices. The goal is to connect the technical developments identified by portfolio managers with the lived experience of the people who depend on those devices.