As the 250th anniversary of America approaches, it’s more important than ever to look back on the Commonwealth’s legacy of leadership and resilience. Understanding what’s made Massachusetts a beacon welcoming the top minds of life sciences, biotech, and more, can help preserve the state’s status as a global leader in those industries and beyond.

Several of the state’s leading figures shared their reflections on how far their respective industries have come, as well as their visions for the future. Here’s what they had to say.

Jon Bernstein

Regional President for New England, PNC Bank

The world of banking has changed rapidly in recent years. Looking back, what developments stand out to you as the most meaningful shifts in how people and businesses engage with the financial system?

Massachusetts has a long tradition of leading financial innovation, from founding the nation’s first mutual savings bank to driving today’s fintech and digital banking advances. Personalized financial education has transformed how people and businesses interact with banks. Customers now have always-on practical insights and guidance at their fingertips, enabling them to make confident, smart and informed decisions quickly. This evolution toward technology-forward banking positions customers to take control of their financial future.

As you look ahead, where do you see the greatest potential for financial innovation to strengthen economic opportunity in Massachusetts?

With world-class universities, a highly skilled workforce, and strong public-private partnerships, the Commonwealth sets the pace for innovation across industries, including financial services. The next chapter for banking in Massachusetts is about making technology even smarter, further customized, and more accessible, so that every resident, regardless of zip code, can build long-term stability and wealth. 

Lee Pelton

President & CEO, The Boston Foundation

In recent years, The Boston Foundation has focused heavily on equity and opportunity. Looking back, what moments or shifts stand out to you as most significant in advancing that work across the region?

Our recent Sustaining Families Initiative, which responded to a hunger crisis before and after the federal government’s withdrawal of SNAP benefits, was The Boston Foundation at its very best. We quickly identified a big problem with human dimensions, after which we put into play what we call our impact engine: convening, research, engagement, grant making, impact investing, narrative building, advocacy, fundraising, and capacity building. In a very short period, we were able to raise and catalyze $6.2 million in partnership with our own resources, as well as partnerships with our board, the City of Boston, our DAF community and others who joined us in an effort to alleviate hunger for the most vulnerable people in Greater Boston. 

As you look toward the future, where do you see the greatest opportunities to strengthen economic mobility and community resilience across Massachusetts?

Many young people are wondering if the “American dream” is beyond their reach. Rising costs not only for housing, but also rent, health care, food, education, and day-to-day expenses make it very difficult for families to thrive. Our focus at the Boston Foundation has been, and will continue to be, to remove systemic barriers to prosperity that allow all of our neighbors to thrive and make their dreams become a reality.

Pierre Terjanian

Director, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Since stepping into your role at the MFA, you’ve helped steward an institution with a long and deeply rooted history. Looking back, what moments or shifts stand out to you as especially meaningful in shaping the museum’s direction?

From its beginning, the MFA aspired to serve the public. The Museum opened on July 4,1876, with this statement: “The museums of today open their doors to all the world.” That spirit was there at the start. And it continues in June when we open our reimagined 18th-century American galleries.

As you think about the years to come, how do you envision the MFA evolving to ensure art feels relevant, accessible and resonant for the next generation of visitors?

My goal is to focus on that positive founding aspiration: art is always relevant, and the MFA is a place for all to engage with a deep, rich collection. We’ll ensure that we’re here for Boston’s next generations, doors open, meeting the needs of our public.

Emily Knight

President & CEO, The Engine

Over the past several years, you’ve watched tough tech founders turn early-stage ideas into tangible breakthroughs. Looking back, what moments or advances stand out to you as defining this period of innovation?

For me, the defining shift has been watching extraordinary technologists, people who started as researchers, PhDs, and postdocs, step into the role of CEO. Talent has always been at the heart of The Engine’s mission. We were created to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and entrepreneurial execution, and to give that talent the patient resources and the “innovation orchard” they need to turn world-changing ideas into companies. Seeing those founders move from the lab bench to leading teams in geothermal, fusion, next-generation materials and advanced computing has been one of the most inspiring parts of this era.

We’ve also seen how much federal policy shapes what is possible. And because so much breakthrough research happens right here in Massachusetts, these federal investments matter enormously. They’ve helped ensure that the ideas born in our universities and labs have the support they need to grow here. This period has been defined by scientists becoming builders and realizing just how far they can go when the region, the policy environment, and the innovation infrastructure are aligned behind them.

Which emerging technologies or areas of research feel most poised to reshape Massachusetts in the years to come, and how is The Engine helping prepare for that next chapter?

Building on this momentum, Massachusetts is poised to lead in several areas that could redefine both our economy and our climate future. We’re seeing extraordinary progress in next-generation geothermal, fusion, advanced batteries, and the new materials and manufacturing platforms that will power quantum computing and AI. These aren’t incremental improvements; they are the foundations of entirely new industries.

At The Engine, we’re preparing for this next chapter by building the institutional scaffolding these founders need: the Tough Tech Institute, deeper pathways for federal partnership, access to specialized labs and scale-up infrastructure, a strong network of capital providers, and support for researchers as they step into entrepreneurial leadership. We’re focused on keeping Massachusetts a magnet for federal R&D and demonstration funding, because those dollars create the conditions where early teams can grow and build here rather than somewhere else.

Will Ahmed

Founder & CEO, WHOOP

In recent years, we’ve seen a new consciousness around health, performance, and daily habits. What developments have most changed the way people engage with their own physiology? 

In just a few years, people have really embraced proactive health. Things like biohacking and longevity coaching used to feel niche or nerdy, and now they are becoming mainstream. People want to live longer, live better, and actually understand what their bodies are telling them. The shift has come from having real data at your fingertips. Continuous insights, better sensors, and smarter technology have made it possible for anyone to see how sleep, recovery, stress, and daily habits add up. 

That cultural change is a big reason we updated our mission at WHOOP from “unlock human performance” to “unlock human performance and healthspan.” We are seeing that people across the world want tools that help them feel good today and protect their long-term health. And we’re here to support that movement.

As you think about the future of health technology, what advances or opportunities do you see as most promising for helping people better monitor, improve, and take ownership of their well-being?

When I look at where health technology is heading, the opportunities are enormous because we are finally moving from a world built around institutions to a world built around individuals. For more than a century, the health care system has been reactive and episodic. You wait for symptoms, you call a doctor, and the system gets into motion. The truth is that this old model was never designed to keep you healthy. It was designed to manage illness. What excites me is that we now have the technology to flip that model. Instead of health care responding once a year at an annual checkup, your body will soon be monitored continuously across hundreds of dimensions, creating a living health record that updates in real time. That shift is already happening with WHOOP, which has helped pioneer continuous data across sleep, recovery, strain, and daily behavior.

The next leap is that AI will be able to understand the rhythms of your physiology, predict where your health is heading, and step in before crisis. That means catching risks like cardiovascular strain or infection before symptoms appear, and personalizing guidance based on your unique biology. It also means more accurate prescriptions, safer care, and better recovery timelines. All of this adds up to a future where people take far more ownership of their well-being, not by guessing, but by using technology that turns the signals from their body into actionable insight. That shift will add healthy years to people’s lives. WHOOP is building for that future.