Alan H. H. Fleischmann’s Post

Whenever I have the privilege to sit down with Alex Karnal and Brian Kreiter I inevitably walk away more optimistic than I was before: about the possibilities of science, our ability as a society to collaborate, and the likelihood that we are on the precipice of some major breakthroughs. The two of them have built Braidwell , a $3.5 billion life sciences investment firm, on this kind of scientific optimism. It is not a blind faith that good things are bound to happen on their own, but a confidence that, with the right people and resources pointed at the right problems, we have the means (and increasingly powerful tools) to turn promising ideas into remarkable achievements. There is a lot to unpack in this episode, but looking back, two bits of wisdom stand out in particular. The first, from Alex, has to do with the tremendous amount of work needed to achieve tremendous breakthroughs. While, according to Ken Stanley, greatness cannot be planned, it is inevitably the product of a lot of time, dedication, and effort that is eventually visited by serendipity. A lot of this episode is dedicated to exploring the systems and institutions that have driven Braidwell’s remarkable success. The second, from Brian, is to avoid partnerships unless you really need them. Braidwell is itself a fantastically successful partnership, but it is built on the deep investment both leaders have in its central project and a recognition of the natural entropy partnerships produce. Striking that balance requires hard work to make sure the partnership is more than the sum of its parts. The episode premiere on (5/28) at 7:00 p.m. ET on SiriusXM Media Business Radio (Channel 132) replays throughout the week and weekends. https://lnkd.in/ep3_EegT