#94 David Esposito: From West Point Leadership to Vision-Saving Biotech and Values-Driven Impact

David Esposito traces how West Point, the 101st Airborne, and leading soldiers in high-stakes environments shaped his approach to listening first, setting clear principles, and acting with calm resolve as a healthcare CEO. He and Federico dive into his work at ONL Therapeutics, a biotech company developing therapies to protect retinal cells in diseases like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. David explains how the retina works, why retinal cells don’t regenerate, and how ONL aims to “help patients see the future” by stopping stressed cells from dying.He also offers advice on eye health: why regular exams matter, how many eye diseases progress silently, and why people should understand options and tradeoffs before procedures like laser surgery. Shifting to leadership, David describes running a small team executing a large global clinical trial—balancing workload, avoiding burnout, and breaking down silos so experts solve problems together instead of protecting turf.The conversation then moves to his role on the board of Allergenis, a company using blood-based diagnostics to better understand pediatric food allergies. David explains what board work looks like versus being a CEO, the value of emotional detachment when advising founders, and why honest feedback is essential for building stronger businesses. He and Federico reflect on the importance of trusted advisors who can see what operators miss when they are “too deep in the game.”David also shares the story behind Harvest Time Partners, his “side hustle” focused on helping people be their best at home, at work, and in the community. Starting with a family conversation board game, he has built tools and books to reinforce principles like compassion, honesty, sacrifice, and teamwork. He talks about co-creating with his wife Tracy, the challenges and rewards of working with a spouse, and why having a strong partner at home reshapes how you experience wins and losses.Finally, David reflects on exits—both acquisitions and wind-downs—what he wishes he had known beforehand, and what other CEOs should understand: deals are never smooth, something always goes sideways, and the real fulfillment comes from moving science forward and helping patients, not just the headline valuation. Looking ahead, he hopes his companies are known for developing leaders who stay deeply human in an age of AI: present with their teams, able to connect, and committed to mission-driven work.About David Esposito:- https://onltherapeutics.com/- https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidesposito2/About Federico Ramallo ✨👨‍💻🌎🚀 Software Engineering Manager | 🛠 Founder of DensityLabs.io & PreVetted.ai | 🤝 Connecting 🇺🇸 U.S. teams with top nearshore 🌎 LATAM engineers- 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/framallo/- 🌐 https://densitylabs.io- ✅ https://prevetted.ai🎙 PreVetted Podcast 🎧📡- 🎯 https://prevetted.ai/podcast- 🐦 https://x.com/PrevettedPod- 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/prevetted-podcast00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Vision04:33 Understanding ONL Therapeutics and Its Importance08:14 Eye Health: Importance and Preventive Measures13:24 Leadership Challenges in Early-Stage Biotech19:12 The Role of Teamwork in Leadership21:54 Board vs. CEO: Different Leadership Roles23:54 The Emotional Connection in Leadership28:42 Harvest Time Partners: A Journey of Impact35:01 The Dynamics of Working with a Spouse39:36 Navigating Business Transitions and Exits43:52 The Future of Leadership in an AI World