Meet Azaan Subhani | Venture Capitalist & Pharma/Biotechnology Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Azaan Subhani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Azaan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?

When I first started in the world of entrepreneurship, I didn’t believe in work-life balance. I saw it as a concept that I was not privileged to have. All business owners know that statement is not that far from the truth. The first ramp-up phase requires your life to be your work. My life was practically my work and my work was my life. My dad always had this crazy saying that he would tell everyone, that his profession was his obsession.

I think that transferred down to me as well because my profession is my obsession.

Everybody in business has good days and bad days. Some working days feel like years and some days feel like seconds. In my mind, on good or bad days, I feel as if I am building for something bigger than myself. The minute the work stops feeling like that, I am done.

I’m happy to say I’m at a point where I am able to have more of a traditional work-life balance. Not due to a lack of required work hours, but due to a more refined mindset. Performing in business is a lot like putting on a play. It is crucial to waking up, put the businessman’s costume and mask on in the morning, coordinate the sets, re-writing lines, pack the house, and give the audience a 5-star show day after day after day. This can be super draining. It is important to recharge the batteries to prevent getting burnt out so you can consistently put on your best show.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the CEO of Marlin Strafe, a management/recruiting consulting agency, and the Managing Director of Buckhead.Ventures. I was raised in Atlanta and spent most of my life bouncing anywhere from College park to Buckhead. Before starting this entrepreneurial journey, I was a medical school student. I left that life far behind to follow my passion.

At Marlin Strafe, I lead multiple consulting and recruiting teams to assist large life science companies to expand their teams and support their scientific advances. We have assisted some of the most impactful organizations in the world like Google, Sanofi, Agilent, New York Presbyterian Health, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and BD! We are able to be the leader in the biotech/pharma space because of our 22nd-century approach to recruitment. We have developed our own proprietary AI Talent Acquisition tool called Strafe Search®. Talent Acquisition is one of the most crucial aspects of any company. It is more than just hiring people. People are the most vital resource for your business. The right people are the core driver of any business’s success.

Buckhead.Ventures is a private equity firm focused on helping Atlanta-based startups scale and provides strategic, financial, operational and technology consulting for growth. The college I attended in Atlanta consistently failed business students and student entrepreneurs. It was clear that this was a common theme throughout a lot of American universities. I initially started this company to support college entrepreneurs gain access to resources like funding, consulting, and technology in avenues that their schools failed them in. We spiraled larger and increased our horizons to nurture various Atlanta companies’ growth. We target start-ups with unique ideas and innovative management teams. I am also very proud to say that Buckhead.Ventures supports multiple community and charitable developments in Atlanta to make our home an even better place.

I truly love what I do. The biggest motivator for me is that I can see the impact I make in the community around me. There is nothing more rewarding than that!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I named my company after Buckhead…so I would have to bring them there! Every restaurant in Buckhead is spectacular but we would do Kyma for the lamb, Umi for sushi, Garden Room for the vibes, and La Colonial for the best Asian fusion in this country.

My family is from Pakistan and honestly, the Pakistani food in Atlanta is better than the original back there. Decatur is filled with amazing various ethnic restaurants and my favorite, Zyka.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I believe there is no such thing as a self-made man. Where I am today is because of unwavering support from my parents, my sister, my fantastic network of friends, and this amazing city we all call home, Atlanta. From the worst times to the best times, I owe everything I am today to them!

Website: MarlinStrafe.com

Instagram: AtlAzaan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azaans/

Other: Buckhead.Ventures