Redefining Risk with Dr. Michael Rubin: On Entrepreneurship, Career Decisions, and Building Venture Capital in Human Health

In the opening episode of Season 3, host Sharon Kedar speaks with Dr. Mike Rubin about following scientific curiosity across disciplines. Mike reflects on his early training in medicine, his decision to leave clinical practice, and how that transition led him into science-driven venture capital.

Rather than framing career change as failure, this conversation examines coherence, preparation, and self-trust as essential components of innovation. Listeners gain practical context for how scientific thinking, uncertainty, and long-term discipline shape entrepreneurship and investment in human health.

What You’ll Learn from this Episode:

Why non-linear career paths are common in science and innovation — and how coherence matters more than linear progressionHow scientific training informs risk assessment, preparation, and decision-making in venture capitalWhy acknowledging uncertainty and saying “I don’t know” is often the starting point for meaningful discovery

The content shared in this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or investment advice. Please seek guidance from your own qualified professionals before making decisions.

Topics Covered in This EpisodeScience-driven venture capital and long-term thinkingTransitioning from clinical medicine to investingNon-linear careers in science and entrepreneurshipPreparation, discipline, and showing up without a playbookRisk reframed as discovery rather than failureInnovation grounded in scientific uncertaintyBuilding ecosystems that support human health research

Connect with Sharon:

Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonkedar/Learn more about Innovate and Elevate: https:// innovateandelevatepodcast.comSubscribe to Innovate and Elevate on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWi1O9RBaPMYuCkKszPYVAJoin the newsletter to receive the latest episodes in your inbox: https://innovateandelevatepodcast.com/email

Connect with Dr. Mike Rubin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mprubin/Learn more about Northpond Ventures: Website: https://www.npv.vc/LinkedIn Northpond Ventures: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northpond-ventures/

Organizations and guidelines referenced:

Northpond Ventures: https://www.npv.vc/Sands Capital: https://www.sandscapital.com/Harvard University: https://www.harvard.edu/MIT: https://www.mit.edu/Stanford University: https://www.stanford.edu/