Introduction of the Series
- Paola Dama
- Feb 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 15
Lessons from the Founder
What I wish someone had told me before I said yes
Over the past year, I’ve been living one of the most intense chapters of my professional life. I was building a biotech company from the ground up, carrying scientific vision, responsibility, and momentum and I found myself navigating situations that no pitch deck, accelerator, or MBA course ever prepares you for.
Capital that came with conditions not clearly stated at the beginning.
Power dynamics that shifted quietly over time.
Institutions that assumed access to resources that, in reality, were never secured and tried to move accordingly.
None of this happened overnight.
And none of it looked “wrong” at first.
It started with alignment. With trust. With shared excitement about science and impact.
Only later did I understand how easily urgency can blur boundaries, especially when you’re a founder, a scientist, and a woman operating in environments where assumptions are made for you, not with you.
I’m sharing this story now not to point fingers, and not to relive conflict, but because experience, when processed honestly, becomes responsibility.
Over the next posts, I’ll share:
how subtle misalignments emerge;
how silence and pressure can be used strategically;
how institutions behave when they think money is already “there”
and how walking away can sometimes be the most strategic decision you make.
This series is about learning to protect your work, your time, and your integrity, without burning bridges, without drama, and without losing yourself.
If you’re a founder, a researcher, or someone standing at the edge of a big “yes,”
this is for you.
More soon.
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