We are byproducts of mentorship

"It is better to ask big questions that can change the world than just do incremental stuff. If you shoot for really big things and do not get exactly to the top, you will still do great."

That was the advice Bob Langer gave me early in my career.

At the time, I was just starting out. I went to one of his talks, brought him a Diet Coke (something we quickly bonded over), and was privileged to have him spend a little time with me.

His words stuck with me forever.

Last week I was back in Boston, and one of the highlights was spending several hours with Bob. We went straight from our board meeting into a 1-on-1 catching up.

After all these years, he still remembers that first conversation.

He is widely regarded as the Edison of our time. With over 1,400 granted or pending patents, 40+ biotech companies launched, and technologies that have improved billions of lives, Bob is a living legend in biotechnology.

Yet what stands out just as much as his accolades is his generosity. He still makes time to mentor, challenge, and encourage the next generation of builders.

Too many people in tech and life sciences default to safe, marginal improvements. Bob's career is living proof that taking swings at foundational problems creates an entirely different magnitude of impact.

Shoot for the impossible. Even if you miss the peak, you will land somewhere meaningful.

Grateful for his mentorship, his warmth, and the example he continues to set for all of us.

We are byproducts of mentorship.

Originally posted on LinkedIn.