In this special episode of Uncharted, we sit down with Dr. Bobby Robbins—physician, educator, and higher-education leader—to explore what modern university leadership requires in a rapidly changing world.

Dr. Robbins is currently a Visiting Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He previously served as President of the University of Arizona and President & CEO of the Texas Medical Center, bringing together deep experience in medicine, research, and institutional leadership.

Trained as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Stanford, Dr. Robbins began his career saving lives one patient at a time before expanding his impact by leading large, complex institutions serving tens of thousands of students. In this conversation, he shares his philosophy on leadership, mentorship, student success, and why outcomes—not just credentials—matter.

We discuss the future of higher education, the role of universities in workforce readiness, the responsible use of AI, and why Texas A&M and the state of Texas are uniquely positioned to lead in research, innovation, and public impact.

This episode offers a thoughtful, grounded look at leadership, vision, and the responsibility of institutions shaping the next generation.

Host: Dan Dillard. Show: Uncharted: Your Sidekick for Life.

About founding_up: https://www.foundingup.com/

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In Part 3, Léonie Weerakoon shares her clearest advice for the next generation: stay curious, ask questions, and give yourself permission to evolve.

Léonie talks about building resilience inside real-life constraints, why authenticity is a long-term advantage, and how to think about career decisions without treating them like permanent life sentences. Dan connects it to a powerful Gen Z insight: wealth means choice.

We cover:

• Curiosity as a strategy (not just a personality trait)

• Authenticity + consistency when you feel pressure to fit a mold

• Permission to change without shame

• Why “choice” is the new wealth

We’re releasing this conversation in three parts so you can bite-size it.

About founding_up: https://www.foundingup.com/

About Kinetik VC: https://kinetikvc.com/

Part 2 of 3 • Mentorship

What if mentorship isn’t one person… but a lifetime of elders, cultures, mistakes, and questions?

In Part 2, Léonie Weerakoon explains how her cultural upbringing and traditions from travels to storytelling shaped her view of learning, why most of her early “mentors” were men (and what that disconnect taught her), and how travel became her real teacher. She also talks about bad advice she was given—like hiding her non-linear background—and why that mindset doesn’t fit the next generation.

We cover:

• Sri Lankan culture, storytelling, and elders as mentorship

• Why Léonie never related to the “one mentor” model

• Learning from horrible bosses (what not to do)

• “The world as your mentor” and why it matters

• Why being “too many things” might be your an advantage

We’re releasing this conversation in three parts so you can bite-size it.

About founding_up: https://www.foundingup.com/

About Kinetik VC: https://kinetikvc.com/