In this powerful episode of Athena’s Lifting While Climbing, host Holly Smissen sits down with biotech trailblazer Dr. Tina Nova for an intimate, candid conversation about resilience, leadership, and purpose.

From humble beginnings in Central California to leading multiple publicly traded companies and shaping the field of molecular diagnostics, Dr. Nova shares her remarkable journey with humor, clarity, and heart. She reflects on navigating a male-dominated industry, confronting self-doubt, and how she found her true calling in science—not by design, but by determination.

Whether you’re early in your STEM career or leading your own team, this episode is a reminder of the power of community, the value of persistence, and the importance of tuning out the noise to stay focused on your signal.

Topics include:

• Finding purpose through unexpected paths

• Mentorship, allyship, and women in leadership

• Leading with conviction in times of uncertainty

• Why “lucky and good” isn’t a contradiction

Dr. Nova’s story is both a masterclass and a mirror—listen in and be inspired.