Spotlight Q & A with Wilson Paine

Wilson joined 2Blades in 2023 as Director of External Affairs and is responsible for the organization’s fundraising, marketing, communications, and government relations activities. In this Spotlight Series, he discusses the experiences that shaped his career, and why he is energized for the work ahead.

What motivated you to work in the agbiotech space?

Well, it certainly wasn’t predestined! I’ve always been drawn to organizations tackling tough, complex challenges, which has led me to some interesting work over the years. I’ve worked on economic development projects in some of the poorest parts of Appalachia and even contributed to a nuclear smuggling initiative at the U.S. Department of State during the height of the Arab Spring. I was working at a small, private college in Virginia (talk about tough, complex challenges) when the war in Ukraine began.  I became fascinated by the fragility of our agri-food systems and how increased production was concentrated primarily in the wealthiest countries, leaving many low-income countries behind.

Wilson and 2Blades’ Group Leader, Josiah Mutuku, on recent visit to Washington, DC

Agriculture weaves in the pillars of modern society: business, government, education, and community. It’s intertwined with the systems that power modern life - from complex supply chains and advanced technology to environmental conservation, scientific innovation, finance, and global commerce. Agriculture also offers a window into our history - national boundaries, trade routes, and even wars have been shaped by it. Plus, it’s a major theme in all the world’s major religions. For that reason, the more I learned, the more interested I became.

So while on paper it might be difficult to draw a straight line from my past experiences to working in this space, it ultimately comes down to my broad interest in agriculture’s role in society (past and present) and my deep admiration for 2Blades’ role within it. As a nonprofit, 2Blades really checked the box for me in terms of mission. I love that it doesn’t shy away from the difficult challenges that need to addressed, and I feel fortunate to work at an organization focused on impact, with colleagues who truly understand and appreciate the responsibility that comes with advancing scientific innovations for global food security. At a time of growing specializations, I also feel incredibly grateful that 2Blades was willing to see how my, perhaps unorthodox, background could be a feature (rather than a bug) in contributing to its mission.  

You grew up in a small town in Tennessee and studied religion at Harvard Divinity School. What motivated you to pursue a degree in Religion and how has it shaped your career journey?

I love being from Tennessee, and it’s a point of pride that I do a pretty poor job of hiding. Pride in place is something special - it’s not just about the people or the nostalgia, but also the Dogwood trees, the rolling hills, the pristine lakes, and, of course, the Smoky Mountains. I was named after my great-grandfather who was born in the Smoky Mountains before moving into town when he took a job at an Alcoa aluminum plant. When you feel connected to something bigger than yourself, it naturally shapes how you approach life. Growing up there taught me that life is defined by experiences and action, and I’ve carried that lesson with me. We’re all playing with house money, really, so you might as well go all-in. 

In many ways, my childhood in East Tennessee sparked my interest in religion, as well. From an early age, I was fascinated in how belief systems shape societies and influence the traditions, norms, and practices we live by today. Whether one is religious or not, it is undeniable that many modern values and beliefs are rooted in religious traditions. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve always been drawn to complex, challenging things, and that extends to my academic interests as well. I enjoy exploring new subjects and challenging preconceptions, knowing that at best you might find a moment of enlightenment, and at worst, you might have your entire belief system turned upside down. Either way, it’s quite the experience!

 That willingness to embrace complexity and search for deeper meaning has been a defining feature throughout my career journey, and I’ve met some amazing people and experienced some incredible things as a result.

Wilson and his wife, Rosa, co-founded a charity tennis tournament supporting local military families in the Washington, DC metro area

Looking back on your career, are there particular moments or achievements that you feel were especially pivotal or meaningful?

One that immediately comes to mind was actually an initiative I was involved in outside of my professional career. My wife and I are both avid tennis players (I’m still hoping to beat her one day) and back in 2012, I created a charity tennis tournament to raise funds for military families. In doing some research, I realized that while there were many organizations supporting active-duty service members and veterans, there weren’t nearly as many focused on their families. Anyone who is even tangentially connected to a military family knows that it isn’t just the soldier who serves, the entire family does.

So I launched a tournament called “Serving For Heroes” to raise scholarship funds for military children to pursue activities and opportunities while their military parent was deployed. Over six years, we raised nearly $100,000 and averaged more than 100 players each year. It was a very rewarding experience to connect a sport I love with a cause I care deeply about and to bring the community together for a fun and meaningful weekend.

 What excites you about 2Blades and your role as Director of External Affairs?

I’m in awe every time I listen to our scientists describe their work. As a non-scientist, I’m continually impressed by the diligence, patience, and rigor it takes to make even modest advancements in the agbiotech space — so to see the breakthroughs 2Blades has achieved against some of the world’s most devastating crop diseases is incredibly exciting.

In my role as Director of External Affairs, I see it as my mission to translate the technical aspects of our work into stories and messages that people can understand, connect to, and appreciate. I believe that the better people understand our work, the more likely they are to trust our work. It’s about more than just countering misinformation — it’s about helping people grasp the years of painstaking effort it takes to deliver real solutions that can transform something as fundamental as crop production.

Looking ahead, I’m also energized by the opportunity to position 2Blades to adapt to the rapid changes shaping global agriculture. These are challenging times, but I firmly believe that organizations like 2Blades are built to not just survive these shifts but lead through them.

Wilson dressed up as Tennessee folk hero, Davy Crockett, for Halloween, 1988.

What are you reading/listening/watching right now?

I’m reading “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. I’ve enjoyed his past works and believe this is a timely and important topic, especially as a father of two young kids.

I’m a big podcast fan and always enjoy listening to Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland on the “Rest is History” podcast.

Finally, I just finished watching “The White Lotus” and my main takeaway is that they need to figure out how to bring Jennifer Coolidge back to the show for Season 4. Her character was missed this season! I’m also watching “The Day of the Jackal” on Peacock and think it is very well done. Eddie Redmayne is a tremendous actor, and I’m a sucker for shows that take you to beautiful places around the world.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I have two boys, ages 8 and 5, so right now what I enjoy most is walking into a room and seeing all the Legos picked up and put away! In all seriousness, I love spending time with them and introducing them to the outdoors. We’re lucky to have miles of hiking trails right out our backdoor, and we create our own mini-adventures whenever we can. My youngest even draws us treasure maps — usually featuring dinosaurs and crocodiles. Fortunately, we haven’t run into either yet!

What is one thing you would like the general public to know about your work at 2Blades? 

That’s an easy one! Every 2Blades newsletter has a hidden song lyric tucked into the text - a little "Easter Egg" tradition started by our President, Diana Horvath. She’ll sneak a lyric into either her intro or the story summaries. Since we just celebrated Easter, it felt like the perfect time to let the secret out!

Curious readers can look back at past newsletters to see if they can spot the song lyric. In fact, anyone who emails their guesses to me at wp@2blades.org and can successfully identify the song and artist from any three newsletters will receive a prize! You can read our past newsletters here: https://www.2blades.org/newsletters