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 discoveryThe 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 researchConnect 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/emailConnect 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/Chapters:(00:00:41) Early Curiosity and a Passion for Science(00:02:38) Creating a Bioelectrical Engineering Major(00:03:46) Leaving Medicine at 32: A Defining Career Decision(00:06:31) From Public Markets to Venture Capital(00:10:16) The First Investment and Founding a Venture Firm(00:12:21) Redefining Risk: The Fear of Not Trying(00:14:03) Building in 2008: Opportunity in a Market Downturn(00:15:37) Showing Up and Being Prepared: The Venture Capital Edge(00:20:43) The Northpond Thesis: Science, Alignment, and Impact(00:29:08) Amplifying the Signal Within and the Power of “I Don’t Know”About Our Guest: Dr. Mike Rubin is a science-driven investor and Founder of Northpond Ventures. Trained as a physician and surgeon, he transitioned from clinical medicine into venture capital, where he focuses on translating scientific discovery into real-world impact through entrepreneurship.About Sharon: Sharon Kedar is Co-Founder at Northpond Ventures, a multi-billion-dollar science-driven venture capital firm. Her extensive career includes leadership roles at Sands Capital and McKinsey & Company, and she is a published author on personal finance. As the host of the Innovate and Elevate podcast, she passionately advocates for menopause care and HRT (hormone replacement therapy), challenging the silence around human health XX (also known as women’s health). She aims to help women navigate midlife and achieve longevity by aging with power. Sharon holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a CFA charter holder. She lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Greg, their three kids, and their dog Bo.This podcast is produced by Brave Moon Podcasts: https://www.bravemoonpodcasts.com/