California's Life Sciences: Insights on Leadership and Talent

California Dreaming

Just back from my regular California trip, a place I’ve been visiting since I was a kid and for a while, called home. Like the Northeast, each city out here has its own rhythm. The Bay is still reaching for the stars, tech driven, ambitious, always chasing what’s next. San Diego feels more focused and grounded, with a tight-knit community and quiet confidence. LA is often overlooked, but it’s full of sharp biotech founders, unconventional backers, and companies flying under the radar.

Living and working on both coasts, you start to see how differently companies operate. The Northeast tends to be more cautious and structured. The West Coast is more fluid, experimental, and sometimes chaotic, especially in the Bay, where investors bet big on young CEOs still finding their footing. That creates its own set of hiring and leadership challenges.

South San Francisco, San Jose/Menlo Park, and Torrey Pines come closest to the Boston/Cambridge vibe, but they will never compare in terms of walkability. LA and the Bay are just too spread out, and with very limited traffic-free windows, especially in LA, it’s tough to build real community. That’s pushed more companies to embrace remote and hybrid setups, which has widened the talent pool but created its own challenges around building culture and cohesion.

On this trip, I met with over 30 CEOs and other leaders, many running startups. Some I’ve known for years. Watching them push through, whether fighting to survive or finally seeing progress after months of uncertainty, reminds me how meaningful this work really is. We grow together in our careers, exchange ideas, confide in one another, and in many cases, share personal milestones. I feel emotionally connected to their journeys. Their wins matter, and for those still searching for a lifeline, I find myself quietly willing them forward, hoping they find their way through. Despite all the macro and regulatory noise, there’s a flicker of momentum again. It’s the first time I’ve truly felt that energy since 2021.

California used to be seen as too expensive to compete for talent, but that edge has faded. Boston, in particular, has become just as costly, with rising living expenses and recent tax increases narrowing the gap. Salary expectations are also now largely consistent across both coasts. Only Philly and RTP still offer a clear advantage of affordability, as well as up-and-coming hubs such as Houston.

We talk a lot about Trans-Atlantic differences, but US East-West Coast differences are just as real. They can make or break a company. It’s not just about the weather or cost of living. There are deeper cultural and operational divides we need to understand, and we don’t talk about them nearly enough.