A Call to Lead @LifeScience ORG

What does a scientist need to unlearn to become a CEO?

How do you give clear feedback in a culture where direct criticism is rare?

And why should a biotech team deliberately mix industry veterans with master’s students?

Today we’re speaking with Cristiana Pires, CEO of Asgard Therapeutics based in Lund, Sweden. They recreate therapeutic immune cells in vivo by exploring direct reprogramming technology for cancer immunotherapy.

Of course, we’ll talk more about the science towards the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

01:28 - A personal health journey

04:05 - Finding co-founders and a vision

07:46 - Moving abroad for science

11:41 - Navigating cultural differences

15:39 - Choosing a company name

17:42 - Building a diverse team

22:16 - Learning to manage the board

28:16 - Reprogramming cells against cancer

33:39 - Supporting disruptive innovation

35:46 - Fostering passion and growth

What’s one question that will make you stop and think when founding a company?

How do you negotiate with an Institute that’s supposed to be on your side?

And why does a seasoned academic choose to lead?

Today we’re speaking with Markus Zweckstetter, CEO of brainQr Therapeutics based in Göttingen, Germany. They’re developing small molecule drugs against intrinsically disordered proteins with a lead program in Alzheimer's disease targeting tau protein.

Of course, we’ll talk more about the science towards the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

01:08 - From Lab Bench to Boardroom

04:09 - Into the Trenches

05:16 - Building Solo on Conviction

10:39 - Eye-Opening Advice

16:38 - Learning Without a Playbook

18:42 - Rooting in the Right Place

21:17 - Targeting the Untargetable

29:35 - Challenge Us Intelligently

31:56 - Decisions Define Leadership

Why is stopping something in medicine so much harder than starting something new?

How do you tell an equity story when the exit doesn’t exist yet?

And what goes into deliberately building a career towards leadership so that every role is a stepping stone?

Today we’re speaking with Torbjørn Furuseth, CEO of DoMore Diagnostics based in Oslo, Norway. DoMore Diagnostics is personalising cancer treatment by analysing tumour tissue with AI algorithms.

Of course, we’ll talk more about the science at the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

1:12 - From Medicine to Leadership

2:52 - Natural Leadership Instincts

5:22 - Deliberate Career Planning

7:20 - Founding a Diagnostics Company

9:12 - Building High-Performing Teams

11:47 - Shared Startup Challenges

16:12 - Articulating the Equity Story

17:32 - Lessons from Downsizing

24:18 - AI in Cancer Diagnostics

What does it take to found a biotech when you were never trained for that job?

How do you lead with confidence when imposter syndrome stands in the way?

And why does hearing someone else describe problems like yours make them seem smaller?

Today we’re speaking with Christian Kersten, CEO of AKIGAI based in Oslo, Norway, working on treatments for neuropathic pain.

We’ll talk more about the science later in the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

1:06 - From doctor to founder

5:00 - The first breakthrough

9:54 - Understanding the pain

13:50 - Navigating new

31:45 - Creative freedom territory

17:00 - Facing imposter syndrome

21:12 - Shared CEO challenges

27:23 – When treatments fail patients

31:45 - Creative freedom

Why does a little pause make a big impact?

How do you keep showing up when the hundredth investor says no?

And what does it mean to be a CEO when there’s no team yet – and every job title belongs to you?

Today we’re speaking with Mihriban Tuna, CEO of Immutrin based in Cambridge UK, a company developing best-in-class antibody-based therapy for depleting cardiac amyloid in ATTR amyloidosis.

We’ll talk more about the science at the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

1:08 - From Scientist to CEO

3:48 - Learning Through Failure

5:58 - The Call to Step Up

9:40 - Leading Through Crisis

12:03 - The Fundraising Crucible

19:13 - Building the Right Team

23:50 - Keeping Perspective Under Pressure

30:18 - Tackling Cardiac Amyloidosis

37:18 - The Unsung Heroes of Leadership

Why was “if you want to help cancer patients, don’t become an oncologist” actually great advice?

What’s the difference between being early and being wrong as a startup?

And how do you survive long enough to be proven right?

Today we’re speaking with Omar El Nahhas, CEO and co-founder of StratifAI based in Berlin, Germany, and the US. StratifAI turns routinely collected histology data into high-quality predictive diagnostics to help in cancer treatment decisions. And we’ll talk more about the science at the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

0:00 - From Data Science to Healthcare

5:30 - Don't Become an Oncologist

8:02 - Bridging Science and Business

12:16 - Managing Board and Investors

17:55 - Learning From Experienced Peers

23:56 - Ecosystem Differences Abroad

27:47 - AI Diagnostics for Cancer

37:19 - Visionary vs Delusion

Why is condensing information a critical skill for a CEO?

How do you keep dozens of people across different functions of a company feel like one team?

And why should you keep patients and caregivers at the centre of drug discovery?

Today I’m joined by Susan Hill, CEO of Mestag Therapeutics, a Cambridge-based company developing new programs for cancer and inflammatory disease.

We’ll touch on the science towards the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

0:00 – From Lab to Boardroom

6:23 – The Call to Lead

10:26 – Knowing When to Jump

14:12 – Comfortable with Uncertainty

16:33 – Shared Challenges at the Top

21:01 – The Art of Condensing

27:56 – Tackling Solid Tumors

32:46 – Multiple Teams, One Mission

34:36 – Closing the Gap for Patients

39:00 – Sailing Toward the Horizon

How does a cancer diagnosis completely rewire your leadership style?

Why is maintaining your mindset a core responsibility of a CEO?

And what is the question every leader should ask themselves before they make a decision?

Today I’m joined by Danuta Jeziorska, the former CEO and co-founder of Nucleome and current CEO and co-founder of Uncover Therapeutics based in Oxford. Uncover is an immuno-oncology company turning cancer’s immunoshield into an immunobeacon.

And we’ll get more into the science of that towards the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

0:58 — Fascination With the Code of Life

5:06 — The CV in the Suitcase

12:54 — From the Lab to the Boardroom

17:20 — A Pandemic, a Diagnosis and a Company to Run

21:03 — Leading From Purpose Not Fear

25:26 — The CEO's Most Underrated Responsibility

30:48 — Why She Said Yes to Oncology

32:34 — What Europe Must Do Differently

What happens when the science you built a company on becomes the science you desperately wish could save someone close?

How do you transform as a leader as your company evolves?

And why should you actively seek out friction when building your company?

Today I’m joined by Stephanie Flueckiger, co-founder and CEO of TOLREMO Therapeutics based in Basel, Switzerland. TOLREMO is developing small molecules to reprogram cancer for longer patient benefit.

As usual, we’ll talk a bit more about the science at the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

0:00 — From Science to Purpose

1:17 — A Founder's Call to Action

5:52 — Tragedy at the Start

9:27 — Evolving as a Leader

14:41 — Leading Calmly Under Pressure

17:54 — The Swiss and European Ecosystem

21:30 — Communicating Across Cultures

24:42 — The Science of Drug Resistance

29:49 — Embracing Friction

Why is self-awareness the secret ingredient to good leadership?

How do you let go of a critical early team member?

And what does it take to found a company during your PhD?

Today I’m joined by Marc Gitzinger, CEO of BioVersys, a biotech based in Basel, Switzerland. BioVersys is a leader in the anti-infective space, developing new antibiotics for very highly drug-resistant infections.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

01:16 — From the Lab to the Boardroom

02:51 — The Naivety That Gets You Started

04:08 — When the Board Asks the Impossible

09:12 — Managing Up: Working With Your Board

11:42 — Try Before You Buy: Choosing Independent Directors

15:25 — Three Experts, One Decision

17:05 — A Culture of Calculated Risk

19:05 — A Hub Unlike Any Other

20:40 — The Antibiotic Paradox

25:14 — Stigma, Silence, and Resistant Infections

35:15 — The Mirror Test