From Humble Beginnings to Building Think AES: My Journey Through Curiosity, Persistence, and Innovation
When people look at a company in biotech and engineering, they often assume the journey behind it was planned from the start. They imagine a straight path — a carefully designed career, a clear roadmap, and a predictable outcome.
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For me, it was anything but linear.
My journey into biotech, engineering, and ultimately building Think AES wasn’t built on a perfect plan. It was built on curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to step into unfamiliar territory.
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Taylor Baker on the Achieve Podcast to share more about that journey — from my early beginnings to leading Think AES and helping companies solve complex operational challenges.
This conversation wasn’t just about business growth. It was about learning through experience, adapting to new industries, and discovering how unconventional paths can create unexpected opportunities.
Starting Without a Clear Blueprint
Like many people early in their careers, I didn’t begin with a perfectly defined destination.
What I did have was curiosity.
I was drawn to understanding how things worked, why systems failed, and how problems could be solved more efficiently. Early roles gave me exposure to environments where technical precision mattered, and over time I realized I enjoyed solving operational and scientific challenges.
“Rather than waiting until I felt “ready,” I leaned into learning.
I asked questions.
I sought out hands-on experience.
I paid attention to the people who knew more than I did. Looking back, those moments became the foundation for everything that followed.”
Leo Castañeda
CEO of AES
If you’d like to hear the full conversation, you can listen to my episode on the Achieve Podcast.
In this episode, I share more about my background, lessons learned throughout my career, and how Think AES continues to approach innovation in biotech and engineering
If you want to learn more about AES and the work we do, visit https://thinkaes.com/about-aes
Learning Through Hands-On Experience
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that experience often teaches faster than theory.
In technical industries, you can’t rely solely on what you read or study. You have to understand how systems behave in the real world. Working closely with scientific processes, engineering environments, and operational systems gave me exposure to challenges that couldn’t be solved with simple answers.
That hands-on learning shaped how I approach leadership today. I believe the best solutions come from understanding the details — not just from a business perspective, but from the operational reality behind them.
In the podcast conversation, I shared how technical understanding and business thinking need to work together. Companies don’t just need innovation. They need practical systems that solve real problems.
Why Curiosity Became a Competitive Advantage
Curiosity has been one of the most important drivers in my career.
In many industries, especially biotech and engineering, the ability to ask better questions often matters more than having immediate answers.
Curiosity creates momentum.
It pushes you to explore new methods, understand complex systems, and identify gaps others may overlook.
As Think AES grew, this mindset became part of how we approach challenges.
- We focus on understanding root causes rather than applying temporary fixes.
- We look beyond surface-level issues to identify scalable, sustainable solutions.
This approach helps us build systems that support companies operating in highly regulated, highly technical environments.
The Importance of Mentorship and Learning From Others
No career is built alone. Throughout my journey, mentorship played an important role.
Learning from experienced professionals accelerated my understanding of technical environments and helped me navigate challenges more effectively.
Some lessons came from direct guidance. Others came from simply observing how strong leaders approached problems.
Mentorship doesn’t always happen formally. Sometimes it comes through collaboration, exposure, or simply being willing to listen. One of the biggest takeaways from my experience is that growth happens faster when you stay open to learning from people around you.
Resilience Matters More Than a Perfect Path
One theme that came up during the podcast was resilience. Careers rarely move in a straight line. Unexpected opportunities appear. Industries shift. New challenges force adaptation.
The ability to stay resilient — especially during uncertainty — becomes a major advantage.
Some of the most important growth moments in my career came from stepping into unfamiliar situations and figuring things out along the way.
I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having every answer. It’s about being willing to keep learning, keep adapting, and continue building.
Innovation Comes From Understanding Problems Deeply
In biotech and engineering, innovation is often misunderstood. People think innovation means new technology or complex systems. But innovation starts with understanding problems deeply.
When you spend time understanding workflows, bottlenecks, compliance requirements, and operational pain points, opportunities for improvement become clear.
At Think AES, innovation isn’t about complexity for the sake of complexity. It’s about building solutions that make work easier, more efficient, and more reliable.
That philosophy continues to shape how we approach projects, partnerships, and long-term growth.
Key Takeaways From My Conversation on the Achieve Podcast
During my conversation with Taylor Baker, we explored several themes that continue to shape my career and leadership approach:
- How unconventional career paths can create highly specialized expertise
- Why curiosity and initiative accelerate professional growth
- The role of mentorship and hands-on learning in technical development
- How resilience and adaptability help navigate changing industries
- Why understanding both technical systems and business strategy is essential
- How operational challenges create opportunities for innovation
- Why building meaningful solutions matters more than following a traditional path