Stop "Zero-Sum" Players from Stealing Your Career
In the high-stakes world of scientific discovery and global business, there are two distinct ways to handle success. One is the zero-sum game, where a leader believes that for their star to shine brighter, others must be kept in the dark. The other is the positive-sum game, where a leader understands that brilliance is refractive—the more you empower others, the more light returns to you.
The most harrowing example of the zero-sum mindset began in a basement laboratory at Rutgers University in 1943.
The Erased Legacy: Albert Schatz and the Discovery of Streptomycin
Albert Schatz was a young PhD student working under the supervision of Selman Waksman. While the world was reeling from the devastation of World War II, Schatz was engaged in a different kind of battle. Working in a secluded basement laboratory, he spent months painstakingly isolating microbes from soil samples.
In October 1943, Schatz’s persistence paid off. He discovered Streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against the "Great White Plague"—tuberculosis. It was a discovery that would change the course of human history. However, as the significance of the find became clear, his supervisor, Selman Waksman, began a systematic campaign to minimize Schatz’s role.
Waksman didn't just take the administrative lead; he claimed sole credit. He negotiated secret royalty deals that funneled massive wealth to himself while Schatz received nothing. When the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for the discovery of Streptomycin, it went to Waksman alone. Schatz, the man who actually performed the lab work and identified the strain, was relegated to a historical footnote for decades. Waksman operated under the belief that there was only room for one "Father of Antibiotics." By stealing Schatz’s credit and royalties, he gained a prize but lost his integrity.
The Positive-Sum Architects: Jack Szostak and Jennifer Doudna
Contrast this with the trajectory of Jack Szostak and Jennifer Doudna. Their stories are defined by overcoming immense personal hurdles and using those experiences to foster environments of radical generosity.
Jack Szostak’s journey was one of grit. Coming from a background where he was a first-generation college attendee, Szostak faced the uphill climb of establishing himself in elite academic circles. His family history was marked by the weight of the Jewish experience during the war era, navigating prejudice and displacement. These challenges could have made him a guarded, "zero-sum" player. Instead, they made him a mentor. He was known for his self-assured nature—a man so confident in his own capabilities that he felt no threat from the brilliance of his subordinates.
One of his brightest pupils was Jennifer Doudna. Doudna herself was no stranger to the "Idea Assassins" of the world. Growing up, she was told by authority figures that "girls don't do science." Throughout her early career, she faced the quiet prejudice of an academic world that often doubted the instincts of female researchers. She frequently had to pivot her research tracks and pave her own path through the complex world of RNA.
The Catalyst of Encouragement
What changed the trajectory for Doudna was the "Szostak Model." Instead of hoarding insights or gatekeeping his network, Jack Szostak encouraged Doudna to be daring. He promoted her work, introduced her to key collaborators, and provided the intellectual backing that allowed her to flourish.
Doudna took this ethos with her. As she navigated the revolutionary discovery of CRISPR-Cas9, she remained a model scientific mind. She ensured her students and fellow researchers received every possible insight and guidance. She understood that by sharing the "royalty" of credit, she was building a legacy far more durable than a single award. When she won the Nobel Prize in 2020, it was seen not just as a victory for her, but as a victory for the collaborative, positive-sum culture she helped build.
Leadership as an Elevator, Not a Ladder
The lives of Schatz, Waksman, Szostak, and Doudna teach us a vital lesson for the business world: Insecurity breeds gatekeeping; self-assurance breeds mentorship. Selman Waksman died with a Nobel Prize, but his name is forever linked to the ethical stain of Schatz's betrayal. Jack Szostak and Jennifer Doudna, however, are celebrated not just for their discoveries, but for the countless careers they launched.
In your professional journey, you will encounter the "Waksmans"—those who respond to your questions with return questions to defend their right to information. When you do, remember Schatz. Protect your paper trail, socialize your ideas early, and find yourself a Szostak. Better yet, be the leader who realizes that when the team wins, you don't just get a piece of the pie—you've successfully built a bigger kitchen.
The Doudna-Charpentier Nobel Prize story
This video provides a deeper look into the collaborative breakthrough of Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, illustrating the power of partnership in modern science.