I am a PhD chemical engineer and as a Founder and CEO of DMC, I built a thriving, people-centered business across two sites in the US with the support of global partners and investors from Brussels to Bangkok from the ground up. Most recently, this was reflected in attracting and aligning a high-performing leadership team and then tripling the enterprise headcount over an 8-month period. We also successfully leveraged a global ecosystem of consultants and advisors to supplement our internal capabilities and expertise. I worked collaboratively with the Board to inform the strategic direction of the company, to provide thorough updates on company progress, and to adjust to the real-world volatility that has dominated discussions with business leaders around the globe.We successfully grew DMC from a technology organization to a commercial entity, establishing funded collaborations with multiple Blue-Chip partners, advancing a pipeline of products to market readiness, and creatively addressing the biomanufacturing capacity crunch with capital-efficient solutions.During my leadership, we raised a total of $53 million from a renowned and diversified shareholder base. This included approximately $2.5 million in non-dilutive funding from federal agencies including the NSF, the DoE, and the USDA. Our Venture Capital investors included Capricorn Partners (Belgium), Sofinnova Partners (France), Cibus Fund (UK), Boulder Ventures (US), and Breakthrough Energy Ventures (US). Our Strategic investors include SCG (Thailand), Michelin (France), Solvay (Belgium), Toyobo (Japan), and Conti Ventures (US).In late 2023, I transitioned from leading the day-to-day activities to an informal advisory role. I remain committed to the success of DMC and to support the development of the bio-based industries in the US and beyond through my advisory firm, Konayuki Labs.In addition to leadership in the boardroom, recreating and leading in the mountains has been a formative part of my life. My adventures around the globe have enabled me to see first hand the adverse impacts of climate change. Becoming a certified ski mountaineering guide, rock climbing guide, and avalanche education instructor also helped me hone my interpersonal and leadership skills. I believe the biotech industry can play an essential role in reducing our impact on the environment and must be a critical piece of an “all-of the-above” approach to mitigating climate change. I’m committed to working with companies and policymakers to develop the industry so we can create a better future together.