E5: Martin Shkreli on Public Vilification, Leadership Lessons from Prison, and Getting Back in the Arena

Biotech founder and investor Martin Shkreli joins Jesse Genet and Erik Torenberg on In The Arena to dissect his controversies and crises through the lens of leadership. Martin goes deep into the decisions, mindset, and unforeseen logistics that led to him serving time in prison, the lessons he took away about tech and founding startups, and how he believes there is a hero’s journey arc up ahead. 

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In The Arena is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Episode preview

(03:55) Perceptions of the media

(06:00) How the lawsuit impacted Martin's team

(09:40) How the government handled Shkreli’s case

(12:50) The day Martin was taken by authorities

(15:30) Hedge funds’ relationships with the law compared with venture

(24:15 The price hike and pharma industry norms

(29:45) Explanation of charges

(38:30) The new CEO

(41:00) New trope of private equity pharma

(47:30) The demise of the trust in the media

(54:20) Regrets and anger

(58:15) The epidemic of criminal injustice

(1:00:00) Being sued under the Sherman Act (monopoly law)

(1:03:26) Shkreli and Silicon Valley

(1:05:45) Entrepreneurship post-indictment

(1:13:00) Martin’s time in prison

(1:19:10) Martin reflects on being a repeat founder and where his passions lie now.

TWITTER: 

@wagieeacc (Martin)

@jessegenet (Jesse)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@inthearena_pod