She Leads Biotech

Can the experience that made you successful actually hold you back in your next role?

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I'm joined by Cathy Collis, Chief Commercial Officer at Renexxion Pharmaceuticals, to explore what happens when a career takes you from the structure and resources of big pharma into the unpredictable world of smaller biotech companies.

Cathy shares her journey from public policy into pharmaceutical leadership, the lessons she's learned along the way and why adapting to a new environment sometimes means letting go of familiar ways of working.

We discuss the importance of self-reliance, making decisions with limited resources, building the right commercial capabilities at the right time and recognising that the people who build a business aren't always the same people needed to scale it.

We also explore patient advocacy, the importance of challenging assumptions and why commercial thinking should begin long before a treatment reaches the market.

It's a conversation about career choices, leadership, adaptability and finding the confidence to do things differently.

Because sometimes the most valuable thing we can learn is what we need to unlearn.

🎧 Join me for another insightful conversation on She Leads Biotech.

#SheLeadsBiotech #CathyCollis #WomenInBiotech #BiotechLeadership #LifeSciences

What happens when a biotech company realises that its next stage of growth requires a completely different approach?

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I'm joined by Beverley Carr, Chief Business and Operating Officer at CHARM Therapeutics, to explore the realities of transforming promising science into a clinical-stage business.

Beverley shares the decisions behind CHARM's shift from a broad AI drug discovery platform to a focused oncology programme, the challenges of restructuring a business for its next stage, and why having the right people in place matters just as much as having great science.

We also discuss the real value of AI in drug discovery, the importance of making difficult decisions early, and Beverley's own journey from chemistry to biotech leadership.

It's a conversation about adaptability, courage and recognising when the path forward requires doing things differently.

Because sometimes the most important leadership decision isn't what to pursue next, but what you're prepared to leave behind.

🎧 Listen now on She Leads Biotech.

#SheLeadsBiotech #BiotechLeadership #WomenInBiotech #DrugDiscovery #LifeSciences

How much do we really understand about our own health, and how often have we been told that symptoms are simply "normal"?

In this episode, I'm joined by Paula Soteropoulos, biotech executive and investor, and her daughter Dr. Alexia Soteropoulos, an integrative and functional medicine physician, to discuss their book Restoring Balance and why women need to take a more active role in understanding their bodies.

We explore the gaps in women's health research, menopause, hormone health, whole-person care and the importance of questioning symptoms that are too often dismissed or normalised.

Paula brings her perspective from biotech leadership and investment, while Alexia shares her clinical approach to helping women become better informed advocates for their own health.

A warm, thought-provoking conversation about knowledge, self-advocacy and restoring balance to women's healthcare.

What if the biggest challenge in biotech isn't innovation, but adoption?

I'm joined by Holley Miller, CEO of Grey Matter Marketing, to explore why better science doesn't automatically win.

We talk about why people buy outcomes rather than products, why emotion can open the door before data earns belief, the importance of solving an urgent problem, and why being different can sometimes matter more than simply being better.

Holley also shares her own entrepreneurial and leadership journey, the value of non-obvious thinking, taking career risks and giving yourself permission to fail.

A thought-provoking conversation about innovation, human behaviour and what it really takes to turn a great idea into something people will actually adopt.

Amy Walker didn't set out to become a CEO.

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Amy, CEO of 4basebio, to explore how a career that began in science evolved into leading a growing biotech company.

We talk about growing alongside a business, stepping beyond your original expertise, building the right leadership team and culture, and the technology changing the future of DNA manufacturing and advanced therapies.

It’s a conversation about science, leadership, career progression and being willing to take opportunities you never originally planned for.

#SheLeadsBiotech #Biotech #WomenInBiotech #BiotechLeadership #DNAManufacturing #AdvancedTherapies

What happens when you reach one of the most senior positions in global drug discovery — and decide the next step is to leave the security of Big Pharma behind?

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Karin Conde-Knape, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Valo Health, whose international career has taken her through leadership roles at Roche, Johnson & Johnson and Novo Nordisk.

We talk about why Karin believes better drug discovery needs to start with human data, how asking the right questions earlier can prevent years of time and investment being committed to the wrong path, and where data, experience and intuition belong in scientific decision-making.

We also explore Karin’s decision to move from Big Pharma to biotech — what she describes as an “easier choice, not a comfortable choice” — and why impact, people and purpose became increasingly important at this stage of her career.

Our conversation moves beyond the science into leadership: creating psychological safety, challenging the thought process rather than the individual, developing resilient future leaders, embracing AI and new technologies, and building teams that genuinely want to follow you.

A fascinating conversation about drug discovery, human data, innovation, career courage and the leadership required to turn better questions into better science.

What does it really take to lead a biotech company when the science is complex, the stakes are high and the answers aren’t always obvious?

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Iris Grossman, PhD, CEO of Zelig Therapeutics, for a candid conversation about the realities of biotech leadership and her journey from scientist to CEO.

In When Leadership Gets Real: Ego, Accountability & the Decisions That Shape Biotech Companies, we talk about what happens when leadership moves beyond the title and you become the person ultimately accountable for the decisions.

We explore why great leaders surround themselves with people who will challenge them, how founders and leadership teams need to evolve as companies grow, why strategy starts with knowing your values, and what Iris has learned about hiring beyond technical capability.

Iris also talks openly about making decisions without perfect information, handling difficult performance conversations, keeping ego out of leadership — and why patient impact remains her North Star.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
03:17 A Patient-Centric North Star
05:46 The Scientist Inside the CEO
07:04 Turning Science into Patient Impact
10:14 The Reality of CEO Accountability
13:30 When Founders and Companies Need to Evolve
14:39 Why Independent Boards Matter
15:43 Strategy Starts with Values
17:17 Why Zelig Became a Call to Action
20:01 Making Decisions Through Uncertainty
23:28 Why Personality Matters in Hiring
26:24 The Difficult People Decisions Leaders Must Make
30:09 Why Biotech Is Ultimately About People

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#SheLeadsBiotech #BiotechLeadership #Biotech #LifeSciences #WomenInBiotech #Leadership

What happens when the career plan you thought you had suddenly changes?

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined once again by Priya Baraniak, PhD, Chief Commercial & Development Officer at Pluristyx, who returns to the podcast after first joining me back in Season 1.

In When the Plan Changes: Resilience, Reinvention & Finding Your Way in Biotech, we talk candidly about unexpected career change, resilience and what happens when you have to let go of the plan and find a different way forward.

Priya shares what she learned following a professional setback, why personal branding and authentic relationships became so important, and how her own career has evolved from scientist to commercial biotech leader.

We also explore the realities of biotech fundraising, what investors look for in leadership teams, the potential of iPSC technology and cell and gene therapy — and why, despite the challenges facing our industry, Priya remains incredibly excited about what the science can achieve for patients.

Above all, it’s a conversation about becoming more comfortable with uncertainty, focusing on what you can control and continuing to do the next right thing.

Chapters

01:23 When Everything Changes
05:25 Losing a Role: The First 72 Hours
10:05 Personal Branding & Getting Comfortable Being Visible
14:50 The Promise of iPSCs
18:00 From Scientist to Commercial Leader
21:31 What Fundraising Really Looks Like Today
23:29 Changing the Conversation About Inclusion
28:28 Why Cell & Gene Therapy Still Excites Her
31:28 What 13-Year-Old Priya Would Think Today
35:27 Just Keep Doing the Next Right Thing
37:02 Tough Times Didn't Break Us, They Made Us

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#SheLeadsBiotech #Biotech #BiotechLeadership #CellAndGeneTherapy #WomenInBiotech #LifeSciences #BiotechCareers

Reimagining Rare Disease Drug Development with Nerissa Kreher

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Nerissa Kreher, Chief Medical Officer of Alltrna, for a conversation about rare disease innovation, precision medicine, and the future of drug development.

With more than 20 years of experience in rare diseases, Nerissa shares her journey from pediatric endocrinologist to biotech executive and explains how Alltrna is taking a novel approach to treating genetic diseases through mutation-defined therapies.

A fascinating discussion about science, innovation, leadership, and hope for families living with rare diseases.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:00 From Medicine to Biotech
05:00 Falling in Love with Rare Disease Research
08:00 Understanding Rare Disease Communities
12:00 The Challenge of Clinical Trials in Rare Diseases
16:00 Mutation-Defined Therapies Explained
21:00 How Alltrna Is Rethinking Drug Development
26:00 Regulatory & Clinical Development Challenges
31:00 Public vs Private Company Leadership
35:00 What Makes a Great Biotech Executive
39:00 Leadership, Mentorship & Authenticity
43:00 The Role of Patients in Drug Development
47:00 The Future of Rare Disease Innovation
51:00 Bringing Hope to Patients & Families

#SheLeadsBiotech #RareDisease #PrecisionMedicine #GeneTherapy #BiotechLeadership #WomenInBiotech #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch

Leading with Purpose in Rare Disease with Sarah DiSalvatore

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Sarah DiSalvatore, Fractional SVP of Clinical Operations & Biotech Executive, for a conversation about leadership, rare disease, and the realities of bringing innovative therapies to patients.

Sarah shares her journey from bench research to executive leadership, why quality and compliance are fundamental to successful clinical development, and how fractional leadership is helping early-stage biotech companies build smarter and more efficiently.

We also discuss the deeply personal experience of becoming a rare disease parent, and how that has transformed the way Sarah approaches patient advocacy, programme development, and the importance of building centres of excellence for underserved communities.

A thoughtful conversation about resilience, strategy, and keeping patients at the centre of every decision.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:00 A Childhood Dream of Medicine
06:00 From Bench Research to Clinical Operations
11:00 Why Quality and Compliance Matter
16:00 Growing into Leadership
20:00 The Rise of Fractional Executives
25:00 Becoming a Rare Disease Parent
30:00 How Personal Experience Changed Clinical Development
34:00 Building Centres of Excellence for Rare Diseases
38:00 The Future of Clinical Operations
42:00 Advice for Parents, Caregivers & Leaders

#SheLeadsBiotech #RareDisease #ClinicalOperations #BiotechLeadership #GeneTherapy #WomenInBiotech #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch