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"A true superpower is being able to ask for help. Always... It amazes me how responsive people will be to that."
In this episode of The Biotech Startups Podcast, Michael Newton recounts his unconventional journey from Dartmouth to Wall Street, revealing how lessons learned in private equity—and the challenges of being a generalist—ultimately led him to pursue an MBA at Harvard Business School. 
He reflects on bold career decisions, the power of mentorship, and the importance of continuous learning, offering listeners an inside perspective on early ambition in New York City and how authentic, context-driven leadership shapes successful teams in biotech and beyond.
Key topics covered:

• Choosing the Road Less Traveled: Breaking into private equity without the usual path
• Mentorship & “Baptism by Fire”: Surviving and thriving under high-pressure guidance
• Breadth vs. Depth: Navigating careers as a generalist or specialist
• Contextual Leadership: Adapting your leadership style for each person
• The Power of Community: Building networks that fuel personal and professional growth

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Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-biotech-startups-podcast/id1679591994Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PSL162R2s0zOwU5913Zv4Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebiotechstartupspodcast Website: https://www.thebiotechstartupspodcast.com/ 
Find our guest, Michael Newton, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelanewton/Website: http://www.qorium.com/ Find our host, Jon Chee, at these links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonchee
Learn more about Excedr:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/excedr/ Website: https://www.excedr.com
Intro & Outro Songs Created by OkKyojin, Owned by Excedr:Website: https://flow.page/kyojin 
Resources & Articles:Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charlie Munger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Charlie%27s_Almanack(HBS) case on SodaStream: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=64768HBS case on Cranberry Manufacturing: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54704
Companies, Universities, & People mentioned:Thomas H. Lee Partners: https://thl.com/JPMorgan: https://www.jpmorganchase.com/American Express: https://www.americanexpress.com/
Mike Foote: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdfoote/
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:40 Bypassing Traditional Recruiting for Private Equity03:12 Decision Point: Nonprofit vs. Finance Career03:55 Moving Back to NYC and Starting Finance Career05:42 First Private Equity Role: Challenges and Learning08:04 Working with Harvey Golub at TH Lee10:25 Joining Kubera Partners: Fund Spin-out and Industry Lessons13:28 The Power of Asking for Help in Early Career15:52 Generalist vs. Specialist: Leadership and Team Management21:57 Deciding to Pursue an MBA at HBS25:06 HBS Highlights: Classes, Professors, and Case Method31:29 Mentorship, Environment, and Capitalizing on Unique Opportunities35:06 OutroThe Biotech Startups Podcast gives you a front-row seat to the business and science of building a biotech. Hosted by Jon Chee, CEO of Excedr, the show features honest conversations with founders, execs, and investors about their work, their companies, and how they got there. From scientific breakthroughs to startup lessons, each episode explores what it really takes to grow a life science company—from pre-seed to IPO.