Meet the nextGEN
Benjamin Winkeljann - RNhale
Who or what called you to lead?
I realised on my journey that I had to lead because nobody else would.
In my early academic life, I worked under a professor who was both a medical doctor and an engineer. His ability to bridge two seemingly disparate fields—medicine and engineering—opened my eyes to the potential of interdisciplinary work. Watching him combine academic excellence with industry impact showed me how powerful it can be to step outside traditional silos. He wasn’t just a teacher; he was a storyteller and a visionary, the kind of person you could listen to for hours. That blend of technical brilliance and human connection stuck with me.
At heart, I’ve always been driven by curiosity and a desire for autonomy. I don’t thrive in environments where I’m overly controlled, and I’m easily restless when stuck in repetitive tasks. For me, leadership isn’t about seeking power—it’s about taking the wheel, steering the direction, and having the freedom to explore new challenges. There’s something deeply satisfying about guiding a vision forward, especially in uncharted territory.
But leadership also came from recognising gaps. During my postdoc, I saw a project that had immense potential to impact human health—a way to create stable, inhalable RNA therapeutics. Yet, I knew it might end up as just another academic paper or unused patent. That realisation lit a fire in me. This wasn’t just a scientific endeavour; it was a chance to bring something tangible and transformative into the world. I couldn’t walk away.
Of course, past failures played their role too. I’d tried founding a company during my PhD, and it didn’t pan out. But that experience taught me the importance of the team—how critical it is to have people around you who not only complement your skills but also share your vision and values. Those lessons made me much more deliberate in how I approached leadership this time around.
Benjamin’s full profile is available for our members inside the community.