I had planned to post an article on mentorship today, but LinkedIn had other ideas. Quite unexpectedly, a stream of notifications began arriving to congratulate me on having been at Niche for 18 years. One of LinkedIn’s quieter talents is reminding you of milestones whether you remember them or not. And, of course, it would be impolite not to say thank you.
But these messages prompted a wider reflection—and much broader thanks.
Over the past 18 years, I have had the privilege of meeting and working with an extraordinary group of people, many of whom have become close friends. To those who gave a chance to a young start-up that was rich in enthusiasm but poor in experience: thank you. Early trust is one of the most powerful enablers of organisational survival and growth, particularly in knowledge-intensive industries such as life sciences [1]. Without that belief, we would never have made it off the launch pad. We worked hard to repay that faith, and I hope we succeeded.
Thank you also to everyone who entrusted us with their “babies.” We know how personal innovation is. From novel small molecules for diabetes, asthma, and oncology, to cutting-edge gene therapies, it has been a privilege to work alongside energised project teams and immerse ourselves—even briefly—in exceptional science. Collaborative environments like these are where translational progress truly happens [2].
To our clients: thank you for your trust, your openness, and for listening when we shared lessons drawn from what is now extensive experience. Long-term partnerships in science are built on credibility, transparency, and mutual learning, not transactions alone [3].
The last 18 years would not have been possible without the Niche team, past and present. Their dedication, professionalism, and generosity of spirit have made Niche not only a great place to work, but an easy company to lead. If mentorship is defined as reciprocal learning rather than top-down instruction, then I have been mentored daily by the people around me [4]. Time has moved remarkably fast, and I am genuinely excited about what the next 18 years may hold.
I’ll close with one final thought. When I told my first boss that I wanted to start my own company, I was warned that it was “very cold out there” and that I would find it lonely. Another told me it was my job to put the magic into the science. In reality, it has always been the science—and the brilliant people behind it—that put the magic into me. There has never been a shortage of warmth, collaboration, or inspiration. For that, I am deeply grateful.
Thank you all.
References
- Baron RA, Shane SA. Entrepreneurship: a process perspective. J Bus Ventur. 2007;22(1):1–14.
- Woolf SH. The meaning of translational research and why it matters. JAMA. 2008;299(2):211–213.
- Mayer RC, Davis JH, Schoorman FD. An integrative model of organizational trust. Acad Manage Rev. 1995;20(3):709–734.
- Sambunjak D, Straus SE, Marušić A. Mentoring in academic medicine: a systematic review. JAMA. 2006;296(9):1103–1115.
