From a difficult childhood marked by tragedy to leading a genomic revolution and championing diversity in corporate boardrooms, Dr. Thane Kreiner’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and making a plan to be someone. Thane takes us through his incredible career arc—from writing the business plan for DNA chip pioneer Affymetrix as an intern to becoming a four-time CEO and leading the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship.

We go deep into the personal stories that shaped him, including losing his first love in a tragic car accident just before college, finding his authentic self in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS epidemic, and the divine order that led him to co-found the Black Corporate Board Readiness (BCBR) program.

Dr. Thane Kreiner is an independent advisor, board member, and former CEO with over 30 years of experience starting and growing enterprises designed to improve health and wellness for people and the planet. He currently serves as the co-founder of the Black Corporate Board Readiness program, a board member for Conservation X Labs, and an advisory board member for Alder Brooks. Previously, Thane led the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University for a decade. During his tenure, he worked with over 1,000 social enterprises that collectively improved, transformed, or saved the lives of over 400 million people living in poverty. Thane spent 17 years building and starting companies in the life sciences sector, including serving as a four-time CEO and working at DNA chip pioneer Affymetrix. He holds a PhD in Neurosciences and an MBA from Stanford University, and completed his undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the University of Texas, Austin.

Key Takeaways:

• Thane opens up about a traumatic childhood and the tragic loss of his partner, Jay, just before college. Learn how he used education and a "Fast Car" mentality to survive and eventually thrive.
• Hear the inside story of how Thane went from a summer intern writing the private placement memorandum for Affymetrix to a VP leading global marketing and sales during the company’s explosive IPO and growth.
• Thane discusses the pivotal role his mentor, Sue Siegel, played in his career, teaching him to see talents in himself that he didn't know he had.
• Discover the origin story of the Black Corporate Board Readiness program. Thane shares how he and co-founder Dennis Lanham answered the call after the murder of George Floyd to create tangible change in corporate governance.
• From regenerative gardening in Sonoma to using AI to write songs, Thane shares how he finds peace and creative expression in this season of his life.

Thane’s story proves that you can turn pain into purpose and that it’s never too late to pivot your life toward service. If this episode inspired you, please rate, review, and share it with a friend!

CONNECT WITH THANE KREINER:

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CONNECT WITH SHANNON:

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)