The conversation reveals how leadership is defined not by titles but by action—especially in moments of crisis. The distinction between wartime and peacetime CEOs underscores the need for urgency, adaptability, and decisive realignment when survival is at stake. Culture, they argue, isn’t shaped by slogans but by consistent behaviors, visible in everything from punctuality to frugality, and can become a company’s most durable competitive edge. Historical figures like Toussaint Louverture illustrate how cultural foundations determine long-term success. In biotech and healthcare, innovation moves slower than in traditional tech, requiring both resilience and strategic collaboration between startups and incumbents. Founders are challenged to look beneath the surface of emerging technologies like AI, not just adopt them blindly, but understand their inner workings to unlock transformative potential.