233: This CEO Is Fighting Blindness and Redefining Leadership | Jason Menzo
Release Date:
October 22, 2025
Release Date: Oct 22
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 medic al 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.
What 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
In This Episode:
00:00 – Jason on raising the bar at Foundation Fighting Blindness
00:30 – The mission and moonshot goals: delivering cures for blinding diseases
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.
.avif)
