Trials & Triumphs: Merging Two Worlds
I used to think startups were all about vision and strategy. Then I found myself in a conference room with a blank whiteboard and no co-founder. That’s when I realized: startups are about triumphing the trials.
It’s 2025, and I’m merging Zina’s Letters and Late Stage Insider into Trials & Triumphs. Why? Because the personal and professional are inseparable, and the full story deserves to be told in one place.
When I started these newsletters, I had two goals: sharing my personal thoughts in one and diving deep into clinical trials in the other. Over time, I’ve realized these aren’t two separate worlds. The ‘trials’ of building a company mirror the clinical trials I write about—both are full of challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons.
The deeper I’ve gone, the clearer it’s become: at an early stage, a company is its founder. People don’t just buy products; they buy into people. Innovation spreads not because it’s brilliant, but because it’s trusted.
This journey has made me realize something else: no one talks about what it’s really like to build a startup, especially in life sciences. Silicon Valley legends tell us what worked for them after the fact. But what does it look like in real time? How does innovation truly conquer markets? Who are the people behind it, and what do they experience?
By merging these newsletters, I hope to share the full story: the professional insights driving drug development and the personal reflections on building something to reshape its future.
Expect two types of posts:
• Trials: Unpacking the complexities of drug development and clinical trials.
• Triumphs: Unpacking the reality of building and Leading a company to fix it.
This newsletter is an experiment in shared learning and a roadmap for navigating the future. Through Trials & Triumphs, I hope to create a space where we can explore bold ideas, navigate the challenges of innovation, and celebrate the breakthroughs that shape our future. Let’s turn trials into triumphs—together.
But before you go, here a quick question:
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This was Trials & Triumphs - On the relentless pursuit of progress at the intersection of scientific breakthroughs and operational reality.
Sincerely,
Zina | Let's Connect on LinkedIn | What is Yendou?