Dr. Bobby Robbins on University Leadership, Innovation, and What Comes Next

Dr. Bobby Robbins on University Leadership, Innovation, and What Comes Next

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/ [https://www.foundingup.com/] Instagram:@foundingup https://www.instagram.com/foundingup/ [https://www.instagram.com/foundingup/]

Part 3 of 3 • Takeaways Wealth Is Choice with Léonie Weerakoon

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/ [https://kinetikvc.com/]

Part 2 of 3 • Mentorship| Léonie Weerakoon, A Mentee of the World

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/

Part 1 of 3 • The Map | Reuniting Humanity, Nature, and Power with Léonie Weerakoon

Part 1 of 3 • The Map Léonie Weerakoon grew up between continents—and it shows in how she thinks, builds, and moves. In Part 1, Léonie shares her global upbringing (Austin, Vancouver, Luxembourg, Sri Lanka, New York), her early creative roots in fashion and design, and the unexpected academic detours that made her both an artist and a scientist. She also tells the origin story of how she ended up in the early days of Formula 1 in Austin, and why an operator mindset—paired with networking + curiosity—changed everything. In this episode: * Growing up with “four parents” and multiple home countries * Creative roots: sewing machines, architecture, theater, design * The education “cluster” that led to double majors * Starting a company as a teenager * The path into Formula 1 Austin 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 3 of 3 • The Takeaways | Risk, Belief & Creativity with Neal Tilley

Part 3 of 3 • The Takeaways. Neal closes the series with the lessons he wishes he’d known earlier: risk, belief, failure, translation, and keeping your creative spark alive. Co-hosts: Natalie Peyton Neumann & Dan Dillard.