the Learn-It-All™ podcast 233: This CEO Is Fighting Blindness and Redefining Leadership | Jason Menzo
Mission-driven leadership is more than a tactic—it's a calling. In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon sits down with Jason Menzo, CEO of Foundation Fighting Blindness, for a candid conversation about building high-performing teams, driving medical breakthroughs, and leading with authenticity. Jason reveals what it takes to pivot from the private sector to the nonprofit world and shares the moonshot mission guiding his organization: delivering treatments and cures for blinding diseases. With nearly $1 billion raised and groundbreaking advances in gene therapy, Jason’s story is packed with lessons for anyone driven by purpose and impact.
From finding the right people for your team to navigating massive goals and building a culture of trust, this episode offers actionable takeaways for leaders in every field—plus hope for the millions affected by inherited retinal diseases. Whether you want to up-level your hiring, create more belonging, or just hear an inspiring story of resilience, you’ll leave with new tools and renewed motivation.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How Jason transitioned from corporate leadership to running a world-changing nonprofit
- The power of authenticity—and why letting people show up as themselves boosts happiness and performance
- Strategies for onboarding, interviewing, and building high-caliber, collaborative teams
- What to do when your team members aren’t the right fit (and how empathy and responsibility intersect)
- How Foundation Fighting Blindness funds research, drives innovation, and fosters community—for patients and families nationwide
- The role of AI, venture funding, and creative talent deployment in accelerating medical breakthroughs
- How to balance moonshot ambitions with everyday wins—keeping hope alive while driving real results
Timestamps:
00:00 – Jason on raising the bar at Foundation Fighting Blindness
00:30 – The mission and moonshot goals: delivering cures for blinding diseases
02:49 – Why authentic workplaces outperform others
04:00 – Linking happiness, authenticity, and productivity
05:30 – Jason’s journey: from Michigan furniture salesman to CEO
07:58 – Why vision research became Jason’s passion
10:04 – Key differences between private sector and nonprofit leadership
12:45 – Jason’s first 90 days: listening tour and change management
14:51 – How to push back and set boundaries with boards/shareholders
17:14 – Building high-caliber, collaborative teams (and fighting organizational silos)
20:46 – The interview process: transparency and culture fit
23:54 – When a hire misses the mark: motivational vs. cultural fit
26:36 – Moving people into the “right seats” on the bus
27:59 – Creativity in talent deployment: a real-life turnaround story
31:37 – Balancing empathy with organizational responsibility
34:03 – Dealing with the stress of mission-driven leadership
36:41 – Breaking moonshot goals into actionable, realistic milestones
39:02 – Foundation Fighting Blindness: key initiatives and impact
41:38 – The RD Fund and the baton metaphor for drug development
44:23 – Recent wins: transformative gene therapy breakthroughs
48:25 – Navigating the challenge of gene-specific treatments
50:40 – The accelerating role of AI in blindness research
52:42 – How Jason inspires his team (and leadership secrets from his CHRO)
56:04 – How you can get involved with Foundation Fighting Blindness
About Jason Menzo
Jason Menzo is CEO of Foundation Fighting Blindness, the world’s leading organization driving treatments and cures for blinding diseases. With over 20 years in vision research and leadership roles at both major corporations and startups, Jason combines deep expertise in eye care, patient advocacy, and nonprofit management. Under his leadership, the foundation has nearly $1 billion invested, a global impact on blindness research, and groundbreaking programs supporting both scientists and affected individuals. The mission: deliver real treatments and cures, while building a high-performing, authentic team.
Resources & Mentions:
- The Orange Frog (book)
- StrengthsFinder (book/assessment)
- Foundation Fighting Blindness
- RD Fund
- National Institutes of Health – National Eye Institute
- Jason Menzo on LinkedIn
- Foundation Fighting Blindness Events
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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