Page 13 - ChildArt_2021.Q1_Global Creative Leaders

12 CHILDART GLOBAL CREATIVE LEADERS JAN-MAR 2021 13

BROADENING

HORIZONS

OLIVIA TOURNAY FLATTO, PHD

PRESIDENT

THE PERSHING SQUARE FOUNDATION

NEW YORK CITY

The world is your oyster! You can achieve by the sea. Then I moved from marine biology to so helpful to me when I was just five. Consequently, moving under the microscope. There is a melody and
anything you want if you put your mind to it. molecular biology—from smaller organisms to what I had the feeling that I always needed to care, a rhythm to that. There is a rhythm to the elements
This is the message Dr. Olivia Tournay Flatto felt happens in the nucleus at the DNA level.” She and to pay attention. I always feel for people and in cells in the body—they move at their own rhythm
growing up near the azure-colored waters of the traveled to the US to continue her education at the the world at large. I enjoy thinking about others. I a little bit like a ballet, whatever music or composer
beautiful Mediterranean Sea in Cannes, France. A University of Pennsylvania. think about their stories. We all walk around with our they decide to dance with. I see a link— it’s a different
PhD in molecular biology and genetics from the As President of the Pershing Square Foundation, burden, our joy, our sadness. Don’t judge because ecosystem, but it is something that has music. The
University of Pennsylvania, a board member of the she works to deliver social impact by promoting you don’t know what people are living right now.” power of actually putting these different elements
Paris Opera and Ballet, Chairman of the American leaders in the fields of arts and urban development, Paying careful attention to others, Olivia has used her together is not obvious at first, but when you put them
Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet, and a member education, economic opportunity, health and life scientific skills of observation to learn from everyone together it creates beauty, I think it’s remarkable.”
of the President’s Circle of the National Academy sciences, and social justice. Since its beginning in around her. She takes notice of qualities she wants As she employs the many things she has learned,
of Sciences, Dr. Olivia Tournay Flatto heads The 2006, Pershing Square has promoted remarkable to emulate and lessons that others can teach her. blending science and art and philanthropy to better
Pershing Square Foundation in New York City, which scientists dedicated to finding cures for cancer, One important mentor in her life is Professor Hilary the world, she says she is still learning and growing
has nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in assets. entrepreneurs working to build up and help care for Koprowski, the renowned immunologist and virologist every day. She encourages others to always grow.

“My family made me feel everything was possible. communities, and other exceptional leaders working who created the world’s first polio vaccine. “He taught “Nothing is rigid. Never feel that you are stuck
I never thought that there were limits to my thinking towards social justice and sustainable futures around me. He pushed me to explore more music. He was in one path. Take opportunities. You can always
and my exploring. I could do anything in the world the globe. a scientist, and a very good musician and pianist. make a move towards something that you think is
if I put my mind to it. I grew up with parents that “Being a scientist and being a philanthropist share a He taught me to be very determined. He taught me going to reflect more of who you are. You find this
were foreigners in France—a German mother, and lot in common. You want to change the world and that you could have a very good idea and be very through what you do and with the people you talk
a Belgian-Dutch father. I was French but I was not you want to help.” Olivia has always wanted to help. creative, but if you don’t know how to implement with. Always be open to see change.”
really French. I think that I looked for my identity The second child in her family, she was born after her or execute it, it just won’t really happen. To follow Her advice to children is no surprise. She is an
in school. I loved school and learning but I also parents had experienced the loss of their first child. through, with determination, is a skill that I learned advocate for finding the pearls in life through a bit
pushed the boundaries—I was always talking, From a very young age she felt a responsibility to from him.” of hard work and a can-do attitude. “I would say,
being a little bit chatty, and disturbing class. I was a bring happiness to her family during this sad time. Olivia was exposed to opera and ballet from a never take no for an answer. When you want
really good student, but I was quickly bored. I always When she was five years old, she was diagnosed young age. She sees a close connection between something, dream big! Think about what you hope
felt like I wanted to challenge or explore. The fact that with a rare disease that landed her in the hospital science and art. When introduced to musicians, she to do and push the boundaries. Even when you make
I grew up in a very international home made me think and suddenly paralyzed. “I was very sick. I spent a was always able to see the human behind the a decision and start down a path in life, you can
the world was not only my local world, but the world long time in the hospital. I was very lonely. My mom performer, connecting art with the science of life. switch. You’re never stuck in one path forever; there’s
was this big space that I had to explore. . I could would leave at night to take care of my sister who was “The two worlds are linked very much in how they always the possibility to change. Surround yourself
not wait until I got my baccalaureate, which is the young at the time. I felt a lot for the kids who didn’t function. Science has become even more of a visual with friends and people who can challenge you and
French high school diploma, when I was 16, to leave have parents visiting them. There was this German art when you look at experiments now that involve who don’t judge you, and then offer the feeling to
and start exploring. I went to a university of sciences boy at the hospital who helped me so much. He labeling cells or embryos to track specific molecules others that ‘you are safe with me.’”
in Nice to study marine biology and was fascinated helped me to laugh, and I felt very grateful. He was and see them lighting up in different colors and

OLIVIA TOURNAY FLATTO BROADENING HORIZONS https://icaf.org