Nina Karpoff, '19 MBA

Is there anything Nina Karpoff can't do?

From genetics and healthcare leadership to purpose-driven entrepreneurship — and now helping shape the future of RNA therapeutics.

Before helping bring cutting-edge therapeutics to market at RNARevive therapeutics, Nina Karpoff had already built an extraordinary career. She supervised a genetics laboratory, funded her MBA through her own photography business, co-founded Good Goods, an online marketplace celebrating Canadian businesses committed to people and the planet, and launched Bell Joy Ride, an internationally funded initiative encouraging more women to embrace mountain biking.

At first glance, the path seems anything but conventional. For Nina, however, each chapter has been driven by the same question:

"If not now, when?"

Today, as Chief Operating Officer of an Alberta-based RNA therapeutics startup, she helps transform scientific innovation into business strategy, partnerships and commercialization. Yet her journey began not in the boardroom, but in a genetics laboratory.

"I've always had a yearning spirit," she says. "I need to be learning, growing and challenging myself."

After earning a Bachelor of Science specializing in Genetics and completing her clinical laboratory training, Nina built a career in cytogenetics before moving into healthcare leadership. As a laboratory supervisor, she guided her team through multiple accreditation cycles and one of the most demanding periods in modern healthcare — the COVID-19 pandemic.

"COVID compressed years of leadership experience into a very short period," she reflects. "It was an incredible opportunity to grow."

Seeking to broaden her perspective, Nina enrolled in the Alberta School of Business MBA program, specializing in Public Policy and Management.

"The MBA wasn't just about the courses," she says. "It was about the people. My cohort challenged me, inspired me and exposed me to different ways of thinking."

"I naturally gravitated toward leadership because I love those topics," she says. "If I could do it again, I'd probably take more finance and entrepreneurship courses — the subjects I wouldn't necessarily study on my own."

Entrepreneurship, however, had already become part of her story.

She financed much of her MBA through a photography business before co-founding Good Goods during the pandemic, creating a platform that celebrated Canadian businesses making a positive impact on people and the planet.

Although each venture was different, they all taught the same lesson.

"Every experience builds a different skill," she says. "You're constantly learning how to take an idea and figure out the roadmap to make it happen."

Those experiences prepared her for perhaps the biggest leap of her career.

When scientist and founder Dr. Mardin Fallah shared his vision for a company developing RNA therapeutics that could fundamentally improve how medicines are delivered, Nina immediately saw the potential.

The decision to join him, however, meant leaving behind something many people spend years working toward: stability.

"It wasn't a small decision," she says. "You're walking away from a secure salary, a pension and certainty to bet on your own ability to build something."

As the transition became real, self-doubt naturally crept in.

"I remember telling my mom, 'I don't know if I'll be able to do everything this business needs.'"

Her mother's response has stayed with her ever since.

"No one knows what they're doing. Just go figure it out."

Her father's advice complemented that mindset.

"Create serendipity," he always tells her.

Together, those two pieces of advice have become the foundation of Nina's career: don't wait until you feel completely ready, and don't wait for opportunities to find you. Create them.

That philosophy resurfaced during another pivotal conversation when a mentor stopped her mid-sentence and asked a simple question:

"What do you actually want?"

The answer wasn't a particular job title or industry.

She simply wanted work that would continue to challenge her, stretch her thinking and allow her to keep growing.

Today, growth defines almost every aspect of her role.

As Chief operating officer, no two days look the same. She develops commercialization strategies, builds partnerships, pitches investors, oversees operations, secures funding, hires talent and represents the company at international conferences.

"In a startup, everyone does everything," she says with a laugh. "Half the job is identifying the next problem that needs solving."

She thrives in that environment.

"I have to be growing. I enjoy figuring things out."

While Alberta has exceptional scientific talent and one of Canada's most collaborative startup communities, Nina believes there is still room to strengthen the province's life sciences ecosystem.

"What we do incredibly well is people helping people," she says. "Founders, mentors and advisors are incredibly generous with their time."

The next step, she believes, is creating stronger pathways from research to commercialization by expanding access to capital, strategic partnerships and global networks.

"We have outstanding research," she explains, "but building successful companies requires expansion of our ecosystem."

Nina remains committed to building both her company and Alberta's innovation community. Family, community and Edmonton's quality of life continue to keep her grounded as she works toward an ambitious vision.

That vision extends far beyond building a successful startup.

"The goal isn't just to build a successful company," she says. "It's to create a new standard of care."

If successful, the company's technology has the potential to transform how therapeutics are delivered, making treatments more accessible and effective for patients around the world.

Looking back, Nina's career hasn't followed a straight line — and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Scientist, Healthcare leader, Photographer. Entrepreneur. Community builder.Biotech executive.
Each chapter has prepared her for the next, even when the connections weren't immediately obvious.

Her journey is proof that careers don't always unfold according to plan. Sometimes the most meaningful opportunities emerge from curiosity, courage and a willingness to embrace the unknown.

Or, as Nina has learned through every chapter of her career, it begins with one simple question:

If not now, when?

And she does all of this while raising an adorable toddler — so, yes, Is there anything Nina Can’t do?