Steve Holtzman

Citation: For serial innovation in constructing and executing novel business models, and for showing how to win the race against technical commoditization.

Education: BA, philosophy, Michigan State University, 1976; BPh, philosophy, Oxford University, 1979 (Rhodes scholar)

Age: 48

Nationality: American

Years in biotech: 16

Current post: Founder and CEO of Infinity Pharmaceuticals (Boston, MA)

In his own words...

Self-image: "I am not a deal guy; I am shy and hate to sell. I am an educator and a builder who believes in the power of the modern medical and life sciences to make a difference to the quality of life. As I am not capable, myself, of creating new medicines, my job is to create and enable a work environment and social organization that can unleash the innovative potential of great people to make that difference."

Moment of greatest clarity: "No single moment of clarity: it has been more like the way the light emerges at dawn to illuminate the landscape; the prominence of different features becomes apparent as the intensity and angle of the light alters."

Advice to entrepreneurs: "Focus on how to enable your coworkers to make important new medicines."

Advice to government: "Accept and acknowledge that higher pharmaceutical pricing in the US is a means by which this nation subsidizes medical research for the entire world ... and that this is a good thing."

Most common cause of life science failure: "Failure to integrate one's thinking technology and science. Organizational design and development, financing and alliances must form a seamless cloth from which you weave a great company."

Worst business habit (self or others): "Needing, instead of giving, credit."