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A long career is marked by more than just the years between the first working day and the last. Experiences both good and bad, serious and humorous, profitable and destructive, fill the years of a professional’s long career, and from each of those experiences come memories, wisdom, and stories that can—and should—be passed on to the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders. In looking back on their experiences, the great business leaders and professionals of today can ensure the success and engagement of the next, even if retirement is still years away.
With a professional career spanning more than forty years and multiple industries, Elliot Maza has a great many experiences to share. Born to a family with a long scholarly tradition, he started his career as an attorney in New York, leapt to investment banking, and eventually served in executive roles for a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Today he operates primarily in an advisory capacity for a number of companies, dedicating the majority of his time to philanthropic efforts, giving back to the community that was so kind to him.
That generosity suffuses Elliot Maza’s work. From famous role models, to keen business and legal leadership, to robust philanthropic efforts, Maza’s career and lifetime offer many lessons for the ambitious and keen-eyed professional of today. His career has built a reputation for kindness, authenticity, and generosity that many entrepreneurs would do well to emulate.
“I desire to leave a personal legacy that includes intangible contributions, such as family traditions, kindness, and the wisdom gained from my life experiences,” says Maza. “Remember that actions speak louder than words, lead by example, earn the respect of others and ‘do the work’. I hope that I inspire and guide others to live purposeful lives.”
Lessons From The Family
Elliot Maza is proud to come from a line of scholars going back at least ten generations; his father was a rabbi, as was his grandfather, and so on as far back as anyone could remember. Given that the role of the rabbi is to be both a leader and a legal scholar, it’s no surprise that Maza would choose to attend law school and pursue career opportunities set to feed leadership roles. Looking back on his life and career, few people or institutions have been more impactful than his faith and his family—especially his father, mother, and uncle.
“My father taught me from an early age to be grateful for the gifts we enjoy in life and to share with others less fortunate because we are all connected to each other,” Maza explains. “All humans descend from Adam and Eve, are created in a heavenly image, and are part of one family. Help a stranger as you would a family member.”
Each member of the family imparted different lessons on Elliot Maza. His father, the eldest son of seven siblings, instilled in him generosity and respect for others that informed both his professional work and his extensive philanthropic efforts today. His uncle, famed comedian Jackie Mason, showed him an authentic model of life that was more exciting than the one demonstrated in the family tradition—and wisdom born from those exciting experiences. His mother modeled for him a respect for health and fitness, and her example inspires him to maintain his health and physical fitness regularly today. Something shared by all of these role models was perhaps the most important in the long term: a deep appreciation for kindness, humor, and personal authenticity.
“My father, uncle and grandfather were known to initiate greetings with everyone they met, including people who seemed unfriendly or distant, which taught me the importance of being the first to offer a smile and a friendly word to foster peace and acceptance,” Maza says. “Their legacy, which I hope to share with future generations, highlights the value of proactive kindness and highlights a Jewish teaching that encourages all Jews to be the first to offer ‘shalom’ (peace) to everyone they encounter.”
A Journey Of Risks And Chances
Elliot Maza’s career has leapt from industry to industry as he chased his expertise and interest across the business world. From his initial legal career as an attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, to his investment banking work at Goldman Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc, he’d become very familiar with the financial and legal worlds, as he developed and marketed structured finance and derivative based transactions. By the late 90’s he’d risen to Vice President of the Structured Finance and Structured Products division of the latter two companies, a demonstration of leadership acumen that would continue for the remainder of his professional life.
Given his experiences, it was a natural—if bold—leap to entrepreneurship and corporate leadership. He co-founded several biotechnology companies in this time, collaborating with founders and financial investors to transform emerging science into successful life science organizations, and serving in executive roles where necessary. He was CEO and CFO of Intellect Neurosciences, CEO and CFO at Biozone Pharmaceuticals, CFO of Emisphere Technologies, and Interim and Chief Executive Officer at Immune Pharmaceuticals from 2017-2018 (after serving as Director since 2015). Today, he’s serving mostly in an advisory capacity with a pharmaceutical and med-tech company, where he provides strategic advice to the CEO concerning corporate growth, investor relations, M&A, and other key factors. Every role was both a risk and an opportunity, and every one came with its own lessons.
When looking back on his long career, Maza says, “One misconception that I have heard regarding my professional journey is that it appears as if it has been a journey taken alone, or that my success is the outcome of non-stop, solitary work. In reality, I attribute my accomplishments to continuous learning, thriving on change, and taking risks.”
This statement isn’t unusual among business leaders who’ve achieved and succeeded for as long as Maza has, but the original misconception is still common enough that it bears repeating. Nobody in the business world, from the philanthropist, to the executive, to the startup entrepreneur, has ever or will ever succeed entirely alone. Mentors, peers, supporting teams, and families will always be critical resources and pillars of support that drive the striving professional onward. What really matters is defining success, and reaching toward it in accordance with one’s own values.
A Legacy Of Giving
After so many years of success in the business world, Elliot Maza made a decision: it was time to shift from high-profile legal and executive work, to more community driven and personal efforts. A number of factors influenced his decision, but at the end of the day it was a simple wish: Maza wanted to give back. He had the time, he had the resources, he had the knowledge, and he had his father’s example.
“My father showed me by example the honor and dignity in ‘walking in God’s ways’, which means living a life that aligns with God’s will, as taught by our faith,” Maza explains. “It’s a tall order; it’s hard to act and make choices solely, or even mostly, according to this standard. Therefore, I decided to focus on the one area where I feel I can make a difference, namely being involved with organizations that help people in need.”
