Dr. Rajiv Shah

but rather to find those areas where science and innovation make problem solving at scale possible in a way that lifts humanity. I mean, this was a place, in addition to helping basically create the modern field of international science-based public health,

but rather to find those areas where science and innovation make problem solving at scale possible in a way that lifts humanity. I mean, this was a place, in addition to helping basically create the modern field of international science-based public health,

It was the Rockefeller Foundation well before I got here that invented dwarf wheat varieties and yielded a green revolution that moved 800 million people off the brink of hunger and starvation and earned the Nobel Peace Prize for that effort. So I think part of it is studying your past and saying, how do we have ambition to do things at that scale?

It was the Rockefeller Foundation well before I got here that invented dwarf wheat varieties and yielded a green revolution that moved 800 million people off the brink of hunger and starvation and earned the Nobel Peace Prize for that effort. So I think part of it is studying your past and saying, how do we have ambition to do things at that scale?

And if that's your North Star, it's hard to live up to, but you get to at least try in every successive generation.

And if that's your North Star, it's hard to live up to, but you get to at least try in every successive generation.

Well, I think you have to be careful and pick your, should we call them fights? Pick your efforts, pick your initiatives carefully.

Well, I think you have to be careful and pick your, should we call them fights? Pick your efforts, pick your initiatives carefully.

You know, pick things that are important, that are big, that are consequential, that will make a difference for you, for your institution, for the people and community of customers you might serve and be selective about those things that have the greatest level of impact. I mean, we told that story about vaccines because Bill Gates chose that

You know, pick things that are important, that are big, that are consequential, that will make a difference for you, for your institution, for the people and community of customers you might serve and be selective about those things that have the greatest level of impact. I mean, we told that story about vaccines because Bill Gates chose that

intervention because it was the most cost-effective way to reduce disease burden and deaths amongst people who are vulnerable. So be analytic and critical in deciding what you're going to do. And then I would say, when you do it, I would use these basic principles that I write about in the book. Really focus on building a culture of innovation and being data-driven on innovation and

intervention because it was the most cost-effective way to reduce disease burden and deaths amongst people who are vulnerable. So be analytic and critical in deciding what you're going to do. And then I would say, when you do it, I would use these basic principles that I write about in the book. Really focus on building a culture of innovation and being data-driven on innovation and

really focus on building partnerships. I mean, today in a society moving this fast, you have to have partnerships, public, private, left, right, finance and engineering. And then third, and perhaps most important, is just be willing to measure results and learn along the way. Because the one thing you know is your plans will not work. And it's really about how you adapt.

really focus on building partnerships. I mean, today in a society moving this fast, you have to have partnerships, public, private, left, right, finance and engineering. And then third, and perhaps most important, is just be willing to measure results and learn along the way. Because the one thing you know is your plans will not work. And it's really about how you adapt.

I mean, the Ebola crisis was a great example of Everything we thought we were going to do turned out to not be the items that caused the greatest reduction in contagion and transmission. And those things that did cause that reduction weren't even in our headspace when we deployed. So you got to be constantly experimenting along the way.

I mean, the Ebola crisis was a great example of Everything we thought we were going to do turned out to not be the items that caused the greatest reduction in contagion and transmission. And those things that did cause that reduction weren't even in our headspace when we deployed. So you got to be constantly experimenting along the way.

You can only do that if you're very driven around measuring results.

You can only do that if you're very driven around measuring results.

Well, one thing I learned along the way, and I wish I knew earlier, was the power of what I call in the book, making it personal. But the power of... Connecting with people, not just based on a transaction or the work you might be doing, but on a deeper set of values that bind us together.

Well, one thing I learned along the way, and I wish I knew earlier, was the power of what I call in the book, making it personal. But the power of... Connecting with people, not just based on a transaction or the work you might be doing, but on a deeper set of values that bind us together.