Show Notes

EP88: RESILIENT INNOVATION with Dr. Cara Wells, Entrepreneur and Founder, EmGenisys, Inc.

About the Guest

Cara Wells is an accomplished entrepreneur and PhD holder in Animal Science from Texas Tech University. She is the founder of EmGenesys, a company committed to bringing innovative technologies to the animal science sector. Despite facing significant setbacks in her career, including the dissolution of her first company and the loss of her intellectual property, Cara has demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness, earning recognition through several entrepreneurship competitions and awards. Her current work exemplifies her dedication to making a significant impact in the field of animal genetics and breeding.

In this episode of Becoming UnDone, host Toby Brooks dives deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Cara Wells, founder of EmGenesys and a PhD graduate from Texas Tech University. Cara shares her experiences, from her initial dreams of becoming a veterinarian to navigating the high-stakes world of animal genetics and startup ventures. Her story is one of resilience, innovation, and an unyielding drive to make a positive impact on the world, despite facing numerous challenges along the way.

Throughout the conversation, Cara candidly discusses the highs and lows of her journey, including the collapse of her first company and the subsequent struggles to regain control of her technology. She also highlights the importance of finding the right team, the necessity of being both confident and coachable, and the thrilling yet daunting task of building a product that can live up to its potential in the market. Cara’s insights provide a valuable roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those looking to innovate in technical and scientific fields.

Key Takeaways

• Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Cara’s journey illustrates the importance of perseverance and resilience. Despite significant setbacks, she continued to push forward, leveraging her expertise and passion to create new opportunities.

• The Value of a Strong Support Network: Mentors and supportive teammates were crucial in helping Cara navigate the complexities of startup life and regain her footing after major setbacks.

• Importance of Adaptability: Cara’s ability to pivot, learn, and adapt was key to her ongoing success, showcasing the necessity of being flexible and open to change in the entrepreneurial world.

• Balancing Confidence and Coachability: Cara emphasizes the need to be confident in one’s abilities while remaining open to feedback and willing to learn from others.

• Innovation and Impact: The potential of Cara’s work in animal genetics demonstrates how innovation can address global challenges, from food security to endangered species preservation.

Notable Quotes

• “If you want to be an entrepreneur, I think you have to accept the fact that it’s not going to be an easy road, that it will be a long road. It’s a high risk, high reward game.
• “Pressure makes diamond, and I don’t think it was what I was telling myself. I think it was just the potential and the prospect that that technology had to really make a difference in people’s life.”
• “I’ve learned a lot through that project — for example, I was doing research with embryos. I had never grown embryos outside the body before and minded these were mice. And it was like, okay, here’s some mice. Go make embryos.”
• “The best success I’ve ever had was when you try to find a blend of confidence and coachability.”
• “How cool it is this for me to have the opportunity to be on a space reproduction project? The work that we do with cattle is amazing because that’s making animal production more efficient in our country.”

Resources

• Cara Wells on LinkedIn: Cara Wells

• EmGenisys: EmGenisys Website

• Texas Tech Accelerator Program: Texas Tech Innovation Hub

For more inspiring stories of resilience and innovation, tune in to Becoming Undone. Stay updated on future episodes to gain insights and inspiration from high achievers who turned their setbacks into stepping stones towards success. Listen, subscribe, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.