“We need to celebrate ordinary people doing extraordinary things”

In today’s segment of Mindful Leaders, we speak with Dr. Noubar Afeyan and Dr. Eric Esrailian. Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, is also a co-founder and Board Chairman of Moderna. His journey from Armenian parents in Lebanon to becoming a leading figure in biomedicine is a testament to resilience and determination. Afeyan has co-founded several therapeutics and biomedicinal companies, holds over a hundred patents, and initiated various philanthropic projects, including the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, FAST Foundation, and the UWC Dilijan School. Eric Esrailian is a physician, Emmy-nominated film producer, and entrepreneur involved in philanthropy. He, too, is a descendant of Armenian genocide survivors, having been born in the U.S. He became a physician and serves as a Health Sciences Clinical Professor at UCLA, holding the Lincy Foundation Chair in Clinical Gastroenterology. Esrailian co-founded the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy and used his position to produce films to promote human rights and raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide, such as “The Promise.” In this episode, we delve into their collaboration to launch a new era for the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. Their work is not just about the present but also about shaping a hopeful future. We discuss themes of purpose, gratitude, leadership, human rights, knowledge and identity, inspiring us all to contribute to a better world.

About Dr. Noubar Afeyan

Noubar Afeyan is the founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering. As part of the spinoffs of Flagship Pioneering, he co-founded Moderna the pioneering messenger RNA medicines company, for which he is Board Chairman. He is also co-founder and Board Chairman of Omega Therapeutics, Generate Biomedicines, Tessera Therapeutics, Alltrna, Apriori Bio, and ProFound Therapeutics. Throughout his career, Afeyan has co-founded and helped build over 70 life science and technology startups. Born in Beirut, he completed his undergraduate degree at McGill University in Montreal and his PhD in biochemical engineering at MIT. He has written numerous scientific publications and is the inventor of over 100 patents. He was a senior lecturer at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and a lecturer at Harvard Business School. Together with his partners, he has launched philanthropic projects including the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, FAST Foundation, and the UWC Dilijan School. Afeyan is a member of the Corporation of MIT (the Institute’s governing body) and a member of the board of trustees for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Afeyan was awarded a Great Immigrant honor from the Carnegie Corporation in 2016, received a Technology Pioneer award from the World Economic Forum in 2012, and was presented with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2008. In 2022, Noubar was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

About Dr. Eric Esrailian

Dr. Eric Esrailian is a physician, Emmy-nominated film producer, investor, and entrepreneur, actively involved in philanthropic efforts related to health, human rights, education, and the arts. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a major in integrative biology and a minor in English, then earned his medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. After completing his internal medicine residency at USC, he pursued a gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA, where he also obtained a master’s in public health. Dr. Esrailian is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases at UCLA. He holds the Lincy Foundation Chair in Clinical Gastroenterology and participates in several philanthropic organizations, including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. He co-produced films focusing on human rights, notably “The Promise,” which brought attention to the Armenian Genocide and led to the establishment of The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA. In 2021, he received the Benemerenti Medal from Pope Francis for his humanitarian work.

Program Overview

Mindful Leaders explores the stories of people who have achieved prominence, experienced incredible journeys, and defined culture.

Lara sits down with specialists and thinkers and changes catalysts to deconstruct insights, events, and lessons that have shaped their personal and professional lives and enabled them to create meaning and connection.

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