Join us in this inspiring episode as we delve into the remarkable journey of Dr. Erika von Euw, a VP in biotech and translational research. From her early days in a small town in Argentina to her pivotal role in oncology, Dr. Erika shares her passion for helping patients and her path through academia and industry. Discover the challenges and triumphs of translational research, the importance of mentorship, and the power of community in shaping a successful career. Tune in to learn how Dr. Erika's dedication to oncology is making a real impact in the world of science and medicine.

Join us as we dive into the world of biotech with Dan Gober, Executive Director of BioCom California. Discover how to navigate distractions, build thriving ecosystems, and the importance of being a connector in the industry. Learn about the unique challenges and opportunities in the Los Angeles biotech scene and how students and professionals alike can contribute to its growth. Don't miss this insightful conversation filled with practical advice and inspiring stories.

This short It’s Bigger Than Biotech explainer breaks down the key insights from our episode with Dr. Hovhannes (Hovik), Director at USC’s Mann School of Pharmacy. In just a few minutes, learn how he navigated career moves from big pharma to academia, the evolving world of drug development, and the core skills students and professionals need to thrive. This recap is perfect for anyone on the go who wants a quick yet valuable summary of Dr. Hovik’s journey and advice.

Today on It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we sit down with Dr. Benjamin Suratt, Global Project Head and Clinical Lead at Sanofi, whose journey from academic medicine to industry leadership offers a masterclass in navigating science, purpose, and career reinvention.

With a background in Pulmonary and Critical Care, Dr. Suratt spent two decades in academic research before stepping into the biotech world—now leading early development in immunity and inflammation. In this episode, he breaks down what it means to lead complex, milestone-driven programs while staying rooted in scientific curiosity and patient impact.

We talk about:

• The mindset shift from academia to industry

• What it really means to manage global development teams

• How to know when it’s time to pivot careers

• What future physician-scientists need to prepare for

• And how purpose and innovation intersect in today’s pharma landscape

Whether you're a med student, a PhD, or a professional wondering what else your degree can do—this one’s for you.

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we sit down with Dr. Llewellyn Cox, Executive Director of Corporate Relations for Life Science Innovations at USC, to explore a side of biotech that students and early-career professionals rarely hear about: the business of academic innovation.

With experience founding biotech incubators, advising startups, and now building partnerships between USC and industry, Llewellyn shares how universities are no longer just research institutions—they’re becoming active drivers of biotech growth. We dive into the evolving role of academia as a strategic player in funding, spinouts, and deal flow, and what that means for the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs.

We cover:

• How academic research gets translated into real biotech companies

• What skills students need to thrive in innovation-focused roles

• Why storytelling, relationship-building, and business literacy matter

• The financial and cultural dynamics of bridging academia and industry

• Why impact-driven careers often begin outside your job description

Whether you're a student exploring your future or a scientist thinking about what's next, this conversation offers practical, behind-the-scenes insight into how biotech careers are being shaped by university ecosystems.

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and learn how to think beyond the lab.

Not a scientist? No problem. In this episode, Andy Wilson shares how he successfully pivoted into the world of biotech and health innovation—without a background in science.

Now VP of Business Development for Health Affairs at USC and former leader of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, Andy explains how he built a purpose-driven career by connecting capital, universities, and entrepreneurs.

Listen in to learn:

• How to break into biotech from a non-traditional path

• Why ecosystems matter more than résumés

• How to find your “why” and build a career around it

• What students get wrong about career planning

If you’re a student or early-career professional wondering how to pivot into biotech without a research background, this episode is your playbook.

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we’re joined by Engie Salama, a passionate scientist and Program Manager at Xencor, where she leads teams working on cutting-edge immuno-oncology therapies. Engie’s journey from the lab bench to biotech program management is a masterclass in navigating career pivots, developing leadership skills, and finding purpose in the life sciences industry.

We dive into:
🌱 How Engie transitioned from scientific research to program management.
🧬 The mindset shifts that helped her grow in her career.
🎯 Her advice for students and early professionals exploring careers in biotech.
🌐 The importance of communication and cross-functional collaboration in life sciences.

Whether you're a student exploring biotech, a young professional finding your fit, or a scientist curious about leadership, this episode is packed with insights that can help you think bigger.

🎧 Listen now and unlock a fresh perspective on building a meaningful biotech career.In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we’re joined by Engie Salama, a passionate scientist and Program Manager at Xencor, where she leads teams working on cutting-edge immuno-oncology therapies. Engie’s journey from the lab bench to biotech program management is a masterclass in navigating career pivots, developing leadership skills, and finding purpose in the life sciences industry.

We dive into:
🌱 How Engie transitioned from scientific research to program management.
🧬 The mindset shifts that helped her grow in her career.
🎯 Her advice for students and early professionals exploring careers in biotech.
🌐 The importance of communication and cross-functional collaboration in life sciences.

Whether you're a student exploring biotech, a young professional finding your fit, or a scientist curious about leadership, this episode is packed with insights that can help you think bigger.

🎧 Listen now and unlock a fresh perspective on building a meaningful biotech career.

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we sit down with Dave Whelan, Chief Business Officer at Big4Bio, to talk about how you can do more than just join biotech—you can shape it. With a career spanning Stanford, UCLA Anderson, startups, VC, digital health, and wellness innovation, Dave has helped bring breakthrough health ideas to life and built thriving biotech communities along the way.

We dive into:
🔹 How to filter opportunities and choose the right career path
🔹 Why strategy, connection, and ecosystem building are the real superpowers in biotech
🔹 The biggest green flags (and red flags) when evaluating founders, startups, or your next move
🔹 What students and early-career professionals need to know about the real biotech landscape

🚀 Bonus:
As he shared at the end of the episode, Dave is offering It’s Bigger Than Biotech listeners free lifetime access to his value-based healthcare courses! Use the promo codes below by May 29:

• Introduction to Value-Based Healthcare
  https://www.udemy.com/course/valueintel-intro-premium/?couponCode=IBTB-INTRO

• The 3 Keys to Improving Quality in Value-Based Healthcare
  https://www.udemy.com/course/quality-in-value-based-healthcare/?couponCode=IBTB-QUALITY

All we ask is that you leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to encourage others to check it out too!

🎧 Hit play to learn how to think bigger, build smarter, and carve your own space in the future of biotech.

What if finding your “why” was the first step toward building something that actually matters?

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we sit down with Mandika Swartz and Keshav Soni, two student founders who turned a shared frustration with healthcare into Halo Medical Solutions—a fast-growing startup helping physicians reclaim hours of their day with AI-powered documentation tools.

But this episode goes beyond startups and technology. We dive deep into:
🧭 How to find your purpose (even when you're still figuring things out)
💭 Why your “why” will evolve—and how to grow with it
⚙️ Building meaningful solutions in healthcare without a life sciences degree
🧠 Tackling burnout, identity shifts, and career uncertainty as young professionals
🌍 The power of solving real problems, not just chasing titles

Whether you’re feeling stuck, uncertain about your path, or just trying to connect the dots between what you do and why it matters—this conversation is your sign to start asking better questions.

🎧 Hit play. You might just get one step closer to your why.

Most people think a science degree locks you into the lab forever.

Tae Sung is proof that it doesn’t have to.

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, Tae shares how he went from pipetting at the bench to managing multi-million dollar oncology research projects at Pfizer — one of the biggest biotech companies in the world.

We get into:
→ Why your technical skills alone won’t get you promoted
→ How to transition from scientist to strategy leader
→ What project management in biotech actually looks like
→ Lessons from working at Janssen, Zentalis, and Pfizer
→ The #1 mindset shift students & young scientists need to grow fast

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a science degree into a leadership role — or how people really move from the lab to the boardroom — this is your playbook.