What are the hidden challenges that might provide opportunities for impact? This kind of question requires thinking about the bigger picture and how people fit into it.
We’re thrilled to welcome Donny Cheung, who leads the healthcare and life sciences AI portfolio at Google Cloud, as our newest Executive in Residence.
Had Donny not entered the labor market right after the global financial crisis, he might be working as a math researcher today, just like he’d envisioned by pursuing a PhD. But faced with a dearth of jobs in academia, he joined a Toronto startup focused on medical imaging, embracing a field that also allowed him to have an impact on the world.
From there, he went to Google, where he built up AI expertise working on machine learning for ads for a few years, seeing first-hand the impact of rolling out products on a global scale. When Google launched a health team in Canada, he jumped at the chance to dive back into healthcare.
Some of his projects include building Google’s open covid data, thousands of statistics gathered from health authorities across the world and harmonized for research. He also played a key role in launching MedLM, a generative AI tool designed for medical reasoning based on Med-PaLM 2. Currently, Donny advises on Google Cloud’s healthcare and life sciences product portfolio, and supports teams in kicking off new initiatives.
Donny’s role at Inovia gives him an opportunity to further contribute to a startup ecosystem he’s long been engaged with. We sat down with him to discuss the hobby he picked up during the pandemic, how he learned to ask for help, and why founders should look for hidden challenges.
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU
I’m a big history buff, and that passion has led me to genealogy. Being a data geek, it was only natural for me to dive into tracing family histories—and I really got into it during the pandemic. I spent time retracing both my family’s and my wife’s ancestry.
Chinese genealogy can be challenging because many old records were lost, but on my wife’s side, we were able to trace her family in Eastern Europe back hundreds of years. It’s been an incredible way to connect with history on a personal level!
CAN YOU SHARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OR FAILURES THAT YOU LEARNED FROM?
Some of my biggest career challenges happened because I didn’t feel like I could be honest or vulnerable when I was feeling overwhelmed or needed help. I’ve learned that if you don’t communicate openly, the people around you can’t step in to support you.
For example, there were times when I didn’t clearly outline project requirements or underestimated potential issues, thinking I could handle them on my own—only to realize I couldn’t. This sometimes led to delays or the team not having the resources they needed to succeed.
I’ve since learned that clear, proactive communication is essential, not just for solving problems, but for building trust and ensuring the team can move forward together. It’s a lesson that has reshaped how I approach collaboration and leadership.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU RECEIVED IN YOUR CAREER?
“Never turn down an opportunity to speak in public.”
When I first heard this advice, I was just starting my career and still finding my footing after leaving university. At the time, I was a little uncomfortable in a business environment and hesitant to put myself out there. But those words pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, find my voice, and embrace opportunities to share my thoughts.
Over time, I learned to speak confidently, even on the spot, about topics that matter. That advice didn’t just help me grow as a communicator—it also helped me build trust, connections, and credibility in my career.
WHAT’S A QUESTION YOU WISH PEOPLE ASKED YOU MORE OFTEN?
Founders sometimes focus on challenges that are widely acknowledged or immediately apparent. But an interesting question would be: What are the hidden challenges that might provide opportunities for impact?
This kind of question requires thinking about the bigger picture and how people fit into it. For example, in the health ecosystem, global workforce shifts are already creating significant problems. We’re seeing some of the best doctors moving to countries that can afford to pay them more. How do we retain talent and ensure equitable access to healthcare worldwide?
These are the kinds of challenges that aren’t getting enough attention but have the potential to drive meaningful innovation and long-term impact.
WHAT ENERGIZES YOU? HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?
Making a positive impact on health is a mission that truly energizes me, and it’s one of the reasons I love working with startups. Their passion and drive align with my own desire to create meaningful change.
That said, I’ve learned the importance of balance the hard way. I experienced burnout once during university, and now, as a parent, I understand the need to be fully present for my family. This dual mission—to drive impact while being there for my loved ones—naturally sets boundaries for how much I can take on.
IN YOUR ROLE AT INOVIA, WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD FOUNDERS ASK YOU?
I’m good at testing founders’ worldviews and adding perspective to them. I have my opinions about where things are headed, and I love wrestling those ideas with other people.
The most common questions I get right now are where generative AI is heading, and what is AI capable of doing. But a lot depends on the founders’ problem space. Some problems require more data. Others, like a rare disease, can’t rely only on available data and could benefit from a knowledge transfer from a similar disease.
I love talking about the future of tech. Just come to me being as specific as possible with challenges or questions, and we’ll dig into them together!