This is an excerpt from From Wall Street Beats to Biotech Breakthroughs — Dean’s journey from DJ booths and banking to leading AI-driven clinical trial innovations (Part 2/6).

In this episode, host René Bastón, Venture Partner at Covenant Venture Capital, continues the conversation with Dean Zheng, Clinical Outsourcing Professional at Pfizer.

Dean reflects on his transitions between three distinct worlds — investment banking, contract research organizations (CROs), and the sponsor side at Pfizer. He compares the fast-paced, aggressive culture of finance with the service-oriented approach of CROs, and explains how those experiences shaped his adaptability, resilience under pressure, and ability to connect with the right people.

Tune in for valuable insights on:

Key differences between banking, CRO, and sponsor roles

How cross-industry experience strengthens career skills

Adapting to new environments without losing your edge

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn:

And our guest, Dean Zheng, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-mingyang-zheng-0ab336108/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at: