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Fair enough! The book is worth the read. I think I may be being a bit unfair to the scientists. Basically, Theranos was a hot enough startup that Elizabeth Hol
by cepth 8y ago
Fair enough! The book is worth the read.
I think I may be being a bit unfair to the scientists. Basically, Theranos was a hot enough startup that Elizabeth Holmes and Sunny Balwani would fire, demote, or marginalize anyone who made a fuss. Lifelong academics may have never had to deal with that kind of bullying/pressure before.
On the other hand, they had some pretty incredible scientific talent on staff. You would think that people who are highly cited and have a reputation to protect would have spoke up sooner. Instead, the first two people to make any kind of sustained fuss were two fresh out of college hires.
- busterarm 8y agoAre we sure about this? My impression of this lately is that to be a lifelong academic is to constantly put up with bullying and pressure. Such is the nature of competing in a status-economy.
- Fomite 8y agoThere are definitely some labs I know people who have worked in that would give the most abusive startup a run for their money.
- flukus 8y ago> On the other hand, they had some pretty incredible scientific talent on staff. You would think that people who are highly cited and have a reputation to protect would have spoke up sooner. Instead, the first two people to make any kind of sustained fuss were two fresh out of college hires. Knowing how to work within the system is probably how they were afforded the chance to build this reputation int the first place. It's possible they were trying to do the same here but didn't realize the fundamental differences between the academic system and the commercial one. Fresh college grads haven't yet learned how to "not make waves", which is a blessing and a curse.