Building a Legacy

By nature, I’m a builder. As a kid, I loved playing with LEGOs. My Mom says I would sit on the floor for hours by myself and build the tallest structures.

?Why did this early memory come to mind for me this month, you ask?

?I think it’s because April marks my 25th anniversary with Compugen, and I am reflecting on the amazing career I have built and the next generation of talent we are currently building. Like those LEGO pieces, one project, one challenge, one choice at a time, until we’ve constructed something truly remarkable.

?In these last 25 years, there hasn’t been a dull moment. The industry has changed perpetually, the company has grown tremendously, and I have evolved from my early days as a Field Sales Rep through the ranks of management and leadership. From running a region in Western Canada to overseeing Sales and Marketing on a national level, to becoming President of Compugen Systems Inc. , a new business entity in the United States that has doubled in size year-over-year. Anything I have ever wanted to do has been met with encouragement, expectation to perform, and empowerment. Why would you leave a company that allows you to build the life you’ve always dreamed of?

?I remember the first time I met Harry . Such a good human being. A great listener. Super smart. You want to do right by him and do better for him. He believes in long-term relevance; he believes in his people, and that is shown through the company’s culture. At Compugen, people really live by their values. Maybe it’s the “secret sauce” or it’s just the way we operate—but everyone wakes up with a desire to do the right thing and a passion to be better. There are tough days, sure, but there’s never a question that someone wasn’t operating under the best of intentions. That’s the kind of team and culture I’ve always enjoyed. A feat for a company that has added at least 1,000 employees since I first started. A company that is set to achieve $1B by 2025. A company that I believe will go from the leading Technology Ally in North America to a key player on the global stage within my lifetime. Not everyone can call themselves a Technology Ally. Not everyone has the years, the smiles, the scars, and the proof points to back that promise up. Being an ally goes beyond caring for your customers. That’s table stakes. It extends to casting bold visions, setting clear expectations, being accountable to the outcomes you’ve set, and managing through adversity. It’s about how we show up every day and how we treat one another.

I can’t help but draw parallels between the dynamics of our Compugen team to playing soccer in my youth and feeling the pride and unity that comes from being part of a greater sum. Starting young at just five years old, I remember chasing the ball in the pouring rain. Over time, I moved up to a Club team before representing Team Canada in the Under 15/Under 16 division—the best athletes coming together in a single moment, playing for our country. I’m genuinely filled with that same sense of pride and unity every time I wear a piece of Compugen apparel—the jersey of champions!?

?I understood what it felt like to be part of a team that plays and wins at the highest level. Ultimately, it comes down to camaraderie, to having your teammate’s back. Knowing that we’re all in it together—win, lose, or draw. I continue to build high-performing teams with these same tenets in mind. Having the right players on the pitch; the right folks in the right roles. Having the right coaches and mentors who see the goal and believe in the game. We make each other better and recognize that the whole is more powerful than the pieces.

?This is the biggest lesson I have learned over the course of my career: no individual is bigger than the system. As a sales rep, I used to say, he or she is “my customer”. I grew to learn that success is never the result of one person’s contribution. You can’t have a successful business, society, or economy without every individual bringing their unique skills, talents, and perspectives to the table and rallying around a common goal. When you begin to fully understand and embrace this truth, that the team is stronger than its MVP, victories will abound. Understanding the core things that make you good at what you do is as important as recognizing what you’re not so great at. To scale, you must hire for your own weaknesses and build an Avengers team made up of diverse skills and complementary talents, all working collectively to achieve the next level of success. Everyone has a different superhero skill. And just as I once pieced together towers and structures with colourful plastic bricks, I now assemble teams and strategies around purpose and impact.?

As I celebrate this milestone with Compugen, I'm reminded of the joy and satisfaction that comes from building something meaningful, something bigger than my own ambitions. Some may view the summation of their career through the lens of meeting a financial goal—when will I be able to retire, or, when will I have enough money to get to the end of this race. I see things differently. I’ve been blessed with a career at a company that fulfills me every day. I’m not out to achieve an end-goal. I’m looking to build a legacy of giving others the chance to build the best career they can and unlock the fullness of their potential.?

In closing, I’ll leave you with a question to ponder. What bold vision are you building toward—personally, professionally, or both—and how are you constructing your life around that future-state?