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Where learning meets growth throug
I’m Shujian Zhang, a scientist, leader, and lifelong learner exploring the intersection of ag-biotech, leadership, and personal growth. This space is where I share reflections, ideas, and conversations that uncover the human stories behind science, leadership, team dynamics, and moments of change.
Through lessons drawn from both wins and setbacks, my goal is to offer thoughtful perspectives that support meaningful work, intentional leadership, and continuous growth. If you’re curious about how people learn, lead, and innovate, you’re in the right place.
Let's learn, share, and grow together.
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Mind Spark # 36: Kindness Is Not Niceness
Kindness and niceness are not the same. True leadership balances the courage to care with the clarity to be honest, because helping people grow often feels uncomfortable.
Jan 232 min read
Mind Spark #35: Always Be Capturing
Some of the most meaningful insights arrive quietly. “Always Be Capturing” is a reminder to notice what lingers and why it matters.
Jan 151 min read
2026: Building Quietly, Creating Consistently
I’m not aiming for a perfect year, or a dramatic reinvention. In 2026, I’m choosing steady growth, thoughtful creation, and influence built quietly, over time.
Jan 11 min read
Mind Spark #29 - Lifelong Learning: A Spark from an Unexpected Book
Inspired by a book found unexpectedly on my children’s bookshelf. The other evening, while reading with my four-year-old daughter, I came across something unexpected. When she went to get a drink, I started browsing through the bookshelf filled with my children’s books. Among the colorful covers, one title caught my eye: Success: The Psychology of Achievement by Deborah Olson, published by DK. At first, I thought it was a children’s book because of its clean design, thick pa
Oct 24, 20252 min read
Mind Spark #26 - The Underlined Life: From Highlights to Habits
Many of us highlight, underline, or bookmark passages while reading books, but how often do we really put those words into practice? Most...
Sep 28, 20252 min read
Mind Spark #23 - Visibility Starts in the Meeting Room
In my last blog, “ Breaking Barriers by Lifting Others ,” I shared my learning that supporting one another helps us grow together. During Dr. Hua’s talk, she also highlighted four strategies for breaking the bamboo ceiling: speaking up early and often, building strategic relationships, shaping and elevating your brand, and cultivating visibility. One that stood out to me was cultivating visibility. After her presentation, I picked up The Visibility Mindset by Bernice Chao a
Sep 6, 20253 min read
AgBio Dialogues: Where Science Meets Leadership
AgBio Dialogues is a space for slowing down conversations in ag-biotech, where science meets leadership, and where reflections leads to growth. In this post, I share why the channel exists and the principles that shape every conversation, from how questions are prepared to how listening guides each episode. Inspired by Think Faster, Talk Smart, this playbook explains how insight, story, and reflection help make complex science accessible and leadership more human.
5 days ago4 min read
Cultural Adaptation at Work: A Manager’s Quiet Lessons
What I’ve learned about cultural adaptation didn’t come from a handbook. I picked it up slowly, sometimes awkwardly, over years of working with people from different backgrounds in both academia and industry.
Dec 15, 20255 min read
Thanksgiving Reflection: Revisiting the People and Places That Shaped Me
Over Thanksgiving break, I returned to Florida with my family to revisit the mentors, friends, and familiar places that shaped my early years in the U.S. Walking those old paths reminded me of the people who helped me grow - and why it matters to stay connected to where we began.
Nov 30, 20251 min read
Leadership Starts with People
Leadership starts with people. A recent community celebration and the honor of receiving the Distinguished Leadership Award reminded me that lasting progress grows from cultural understanding, human connection, and leaders who create space for others to belong and contribute.
2 days ago3 min read
AgBio Dialogues: Where Science Meets Leadership
AgBio Dialogues is a space for slowing down conversations in ag-biotech, where science meets leadership, and where reflections leads to growth. In this post, I share why the channel exists and the principles that shape every conversation, from how questions are prepared to how listening guides each episode. Inspired by Think Faster, Talk Smart, this playbook explains how insight, story, and reflection help make complex science accessible and leadership more human.
5 days ago4 min read
Care Without Avoidance
Listening to a leadership podcast made me reflect on how I lead with care without lowering the bar. Here I share what I’m learning about pairing empathy with clear direction, especially when supporting young team members.
Jan 94 min read
Sharing GreenLight Biosciences’ Vision and Innovations at BioEX2026
I had the honor of presenting on behalf of GreenLight Biosciences at BioEX2026, where I shared our vision, programs, and product innovations to support sustainable agriculture.
Jan 151 min read
RNAi for Fungal Disease Control: A Scientific Breakthrough Enters Global Review
GreenLight’s submission of the first RNA-based fungicide represents more than a regulatory milestone; It signals a shift toward biologically precise, sustainable crop protection. As part of the team working in RNA-based innovation, I’m proud to see this technology move from concept to global review.
Nov 18, 20251 min read
Field Notes From A Conference: Biopesticides, Big Ideas, and Bridging Perspectives
I recently returned from an inspiring trip to China. I had the privilege of attending a major biopesticide conference, where I delivered a presentation on behalf of GreenLight Biosciences and met with leaders across the ag-biotech landscape, including academic researchers, early-stage innovators, and executives at established firms. What Brought Us Together The 15th Conference on the Development and Application of Biopesticides has three main themes: Biological Formulations,
Jul 7, 20253 min read
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