Aspiring Biotech CEOs coming out of academia, here are some words of wisdom from people who have done it before:

“I’m a huge believer that recently minted PhDs—or MDs or MBAs for that matter—who want to go into biotechnology, should work at a more established biotech company…not necessarily pharma because they can be siloed.

If you work at a more established biotech company, like I did in Biogen or others have done at Alnylam or Vertex, you can learn so much from a group of really experienced people.

I think it’s really important for an aspiring biotech CEO or leader to get that experience before they automatically plunge into their own entrepreneurial venture. Sometimes you don’t need that experience, and that’s really cool.

But there’s something about getting some scars on your back, learning drug discovery, learning about business development, and doing it with people that are really good.

This experience can really equip future leaders to be better positioned and more successful. That’s the advice I always give to recently minted grads who are thinking about a career in biotech…and it doesn’t have to be forever. It can be for just for a few years, whatever the case might be. Then you can go off and do your own startup, go to a venture group, or join a smaller company. But I think learning about drug development first is important.” — John Maraganore, Former founding CEO at Alnylam

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For those of you guys who just can’t wait and won’t listen to John Maraganore, at least, seek mentors like John and learn as much as you can from them!

Find 5-10 people like John, CEOs with clinical, BD, manufacturing, regulatory, commercial expertise and stay close to them!

This is what Robert Clarke, CEO at Kinaset Therapeutics says:

“For the founder-led movement, I cheer you on for following your dream of turning your invention/idea/experiment into something that can help patients in the future. In fact, Kinaset is a founder-led company with three of our experienced C-suite as founders. For less tenured founders, I would only suggest that somewhere early in the genesis of a newco you think about adding a senior team member who does have that longer track record. That experience and their lessons learned can help you achieve your vision.” — Robert Clarke, CEO at Kinaset Therapeutics

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Also, I’ll never forget what Chris Garabedian once said to me: “Drug development is not science; it’s a whole different thing. Although there’s always technical risk, the reason most companies fail is not because of the science, but because they don’t do best practices in drug development. The biotech CEO must have the humility to understand that and strive to learn as much as possible from mentors who have been successful in drug development.” — Chris Garabedian, CEO at Xontogeny

And then, it’s not just drug development, there’s your leadership, the people aspect, the culture… That’s another big muscle that you must consciously and patiently train that—as all things—requires time and attention.

I personally believe in your ability to learn and become a great biotech CEO. For me, seeing young folks who want to start/lead a biotech company is a celebration. And that’s why I LOVE Nucleate and give my time to Nucleate founders.

I believe that the founders who are obsessed with building a great company and creating a real impact for patients will be successful.

Because they will seek mentors, they will check their ego at the door, they will remain humble… and do whatever they have to do to achieve their noble vision.