What are some of the stumbling blocks to innovation?

Safi Bahcall (Author, Physicist & Former CEO, Synta Pharmaceuticals)

Safi Bahcall discusses some of the stumbling blocks to creativity and innovation within an organization. According to Bahcall, corporate politics and basing incentives on rank are issues that can get in the way of a company coming up with a breakthrough idea or product. He provides suggestions on how to improve the business structure including to take managers out the promotion equation and make incentives based on results, not rank.

Safi Bahcall

Author, Physicist & Former CEO, Synta Pharmaceuticals Safi Bahcall is a second-generation physicist (the son of two astrophysicists) and a biotech entrepreneur. He has been profiled by Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker and has written for The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review and The Scientist. He led its IPO and served as its CEO for 13 years. In 2008, he was named E&Y New England Biotechnology Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2011, he worked with President Obama’s council of science advisors (PCAST) on the future of national research. He is the author of Loonshots.

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About the Author

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Safi Bahcall

Author, Physicist & Former CEO, Synta Pharmaceuticals

Safi Bahcall is a second-generation physicist (the son of two astrophysicists) and a biotech entrepreneur. He has been profiled by Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker and has written for The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review and The Scientist. He led its IPO and served as its CEO for 13 years. In 2008, he was named E&Y New England Biotechnology Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2011, he worked with President Obama’s council of science advisors (PCAST) on the future of national research. He is the author of Loonshots.

Interview By

Tracey Fitzpatrick

Tracey Fitzpatrick

Sarder TV Anchor & Former Market News Video Anchor

Tracey is a Telly Award winning producer and reporter and has spent over a decade at Cablevision. She also has had stints at Time Warner’s NY1 News, and recently a financial news anchor with Market News Video.

Tracey is the recipient of several industry awards including, a Cable Ace Nominee, and is a three time Telly Award winning producer/reporter.

In addition, she writes for Examiner.com, an online news and entertainment site with a focus on fashion and fundraising, and also creates content for Wochit, an award-winning video creation platform.

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