Lowell Thompson was raised on a small farm. I started working at 8, doing profit and loss statements for local farms and tinkering with everything I could. I started saving early to go to college and conduct fundamental research, and I did, taking charge in research labs, presenting his findings at conferences, mentoring students, and giving lectures. I was finalizing his PhD program when I was struck down by an unknown illness. I spent his last years of college fighting for his life and unable to continue to his PhD.
Constantly in the ICU/ER, I was told by doctors that they didn’t have answers and that I was going to die. Never one to accept things as they are, I read medical textbooks and journals, called research directors at labs, and flew across the country to find out how to save his life. Ultimately, I did in 3 months what doctors couldn’t do in 3 years – I figured out my illness and developed a treatment plan, finishing his Bachelor’s at the same time.
With skyrocketing medical and college debt, I started consulting and working with businesses/startups to help with marketing and business development. Within 3 years, I paid off my college and medical debt, and I joined several startups as an advisor. Deciding to give back to the STEM community, I started a podcast, my goal to change at least one life. Within 30 days of starting the podcast, it reached over 10,000 downloads, helped 7 startups get funding, and 100 people find new jobs. It would eventually reach about 100,000 downloads a month and help tens of thousands of people find their paths in life.
Since then I’ve founded a biotech startup – SpaceGraft- focused on creating ionizing radiation shielding from living organisms, and founded a tech company – Genity- focused on building privacy and security into the foundation of internet 2.0.
What separates me from other people is my will to change the world. No matter what life throws his way, I rise above for the better. At my core, I builds from a variant of first principles reasoning, changed to be people first reasoning – building systems from people on up.
Connect with me on Linkedin as well.