Closing the Diagnostic Gap: Leadership, Equity, and Global Health with Devasena Gnanashanmugam

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I sit down with Devasena Gnanashanmugam, VP of Medical Affairs at Cepheid, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about diagnostics, equity, and what it really means to lead in global healthcare.

Devasena’s journey spans medical training in India, pediatric infectious disease at Stanford, work at the NIH, and now industry leadership in molecular diagnostics. But at the center of it all is one consistent mission: improving access to timely, accurate diagnosis for the patients who need it most.

We talk about tuberculosis, HIV, COVID, and the persistent global diagnostic gap — and why identifying the problem correctly is often the most powerful intervention of all.

This episode is about science, yes. But it is also about humility, collaboration, and the responsibility that comes with leadership.

📌 Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Devasena Gnanashanmugam
03:10 – From India to Stanford: early influences and medical training
07:45 – Why infectious disease and global health became her focus
11:20 – Tuberculosis as a medical and social justice issue
15:05 – “Find the bug so you can get the drug” – the power of diagnostics
18:40 – The global diagnostic gap and access challenges
22:15 – Lessons from COVID and what changed in molecular testing
26:30 – Transitioning from academia and NIH to industry
30:05 – The evolving role of physicians in biotech and diagnostics
33:50 – Leading from the front and from behind
37:10 – Collaboration, resilience, and staying grounded in purpose

🎙 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

#SheLeadsBiotech #DevasenaGnanashanmugam #Cepheid #GlobalHealth #Diagnostics #MedicalAffairs #WomenInSTEM #LifeSciencesLeadership #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch #SharronCoxStudio

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, host Sharron Cox speaks with Megan Forrest, Chief Operating Officer at Caring Cross, about a purpose-driven career shaped by science, family, and impact.

Megan shares how she navigated:

• Becoming a mother while completing her degrees

• Career shifts between biotech and nonprofit

• Leading a viral vector program through BLA approval

• Taking a full year off — and choosing to come back

• Why the mission of Caring Cross was the “perfect storm” opportunity

This is a compelling story of resilience, reinvention, and how the right role can align everything you've worked for.

🔗 Learn more about Caring Cross: https://caringcross.org

📌 Chapters:
00:00 – Meet Megan Forrest
02:15 – From science to motherhood: balancing ambition early
06:30 – Her early biotech roles and learning fast
09:45 – The leap into nonprofit and what it taught her
14:00 – Running a GMP viral vector program to BLA
17:25 – Walking away (and why)
21:10 – What drew her back to biotech
24:00 – How Caring Cross found her at the perfect time
27:30 – The COO role: building from experience
30:50 – Advice to women making unconventional career moves
33:45 – Rapid fire: role models, reading, and what’s next

🎙️ Listen now and hear how a life built on passion and adaptability led to a role with real global impact.

#SheLeadsBiotech #CaringCross #MeganForrest #BiotechLeadership #COO #CellTherapy #NonprofitBiotech #CareerComeback #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch #LifeSciencesLeadership

Kate Skrable didn’t plan on a career in biotech. But when med school doors didn’t open, she built a different path — one that’s led her to Pfizer, where she now serves as VP of Strategic Partnerships, leading global deals across multiple therapeutic areas.

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, Kate joins Sharron for a candid, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about owning your story, leading with purpose, and preparing for board service.

They talk about:

• What “fail forward” really means

• Growing up with grit and staying grounded in purpose

• Servant leadership and hiring A-players

• The power of Women in Bio’s Boardroom Ready program

• What smaller companies really need from a commercial advisor

🎙 Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Meet Kate Skrable
03:00 – Med school rejections and a new path into biotech
06:30 – Building resilience and finding purpose through pivots
10:45 – Why scarcity shaped her approach to leadership
14:20 – The power of servant leadership and hiring strong teams
17:35 – Making the leap into strategic partnerships at Pfizer
22:15 – Joining Women in Bio’s Boardroom Ready program
26:00 – What early-stage boards really need from commercial voices
30:00 – Advice to women: Don’t play small — say yes and figure it out later
33:10 – What’s next for Kate Skrable

Whether you’re navigating your own career pivot or building your board CV, this episode will leave you energized and empowered.

🎁 Follow for more episodes celebrating women in science, strategy, and leadership.
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

#SheLeadsBiotech | Hosted by Sharron Cox | CNA USA Executive Search

What happens when a heart surgeon gets fed up with “good enough”?

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I sit down with Dr. Meghana Helder-Surgeon, practicing cardiac surgeon and Founder & CEO of Octin Health. She shares how one sleepless night in the OR — and one patient outcome she couldn’t let go of — led her to build a medtech company from her basement, starting with a garden hose, a drill, and a whole lot of determination.

We talk about:

• Being a woman in one of the most male-dominated specialties in medicine

• What it takes to spot a gap in care — and do something about it

• Why she didn’t wait for permission, funding, or perfect conditions to start

• How she balances leadership, clinical practice, motherhood, and mission

• What she wants every young woman in STEM to hear

💬 “You don’t have to change who you are to lead. You just have to stop apologizing for it.”

📌 Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Meghana Helder and the origins of Octin Health
03:20 – What it’s like to be a woman in cardiac surgery (3% club)
06:45 – The patient case that changed everything
10:00 – Building her first prototype with a garden hose and grit
14:15 – Partnering with her husband and navigating startup life
17:30 – What she’s learned about leadership along the way
21:00 – Balancing motherhood, medicine, and entrepreneurship
25:00 – Advice for women who feel like they don’t “fit the mold”
28:00 – What’s next for Octin Health

🎧 Now streaming on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts & more

#SheLeadsBiotech #MeghanaHelder #OctinHealth #WomenInSTEM #MedTechFounders #CardiacSurgery #LifeSciencesLeadership #StartupJourney #AuthenticLeadership #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch #SharronCoxStudio

This week on She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Stacy Lindborg, CEO and Board Director at IMUNON, whose career journey, from stats and data to the biotech C-suite, is a powerful example of purpose-driven leadership.

In this episode, Stacy shares how her training in statistics shaped her approach to decision-making, the personal values that guided her transition to CEO, and how IMUNON is advancing new therapies in ovarian cancer that could shift the standard of care.

She brings a rare blend of rigor, humility, and heart to the conversation and reminds us that leadership isn’t about ego. It’s about evidence, conviction, and the courage to follow both.

📌 Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Meet Stacy Lindborg and her journey from statistics to biotech
03:45 – Early career lessons and the power of evidence-based decision-making
07:30 – Leading with curiosity, not ego
10:15 – Becoming CEO at IMUNON and what surprised her most
14:00 – IMUNON’s work in ovarian cancer and immune-gene therapy
17:20 – How personal loss and patient focus guide her leadership
21:40 – Mentorship, gender dynamics, and modeling what’s possible
26:00 – Why biotech needs both scientific clarity and emotional connection
30:30 – Final thoughts on staying grounded and building a legacy

🎙️ This episode is proudly presented by CNA USA Executive Search.

Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite episodes.

#SheLeadsBiotech #StacyLindborg #IMUNON #WomenInSTEM #BiotechLeadership #OvarianCancer #LifeSciencesInnovation #AuthenticLeadership #SharronCox #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch #ExecutiveLeadership #PurposeDrivenCareers

Mentorship, Mid-Career Pivots & Women in STEM — with Brittany J. Bell

Description:
When Brittany J. Bell realized med school wasn’t her path, she didn’t give up on science—she found a new one.

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, Brittany joins host Sharron Cox to share how she turned her love of laboratory science into a purpose-driven career in commercial pharma. From lab bench to boardrooms, Brittany’s story is filled with pivots, mentorship, and a passion for supporting the next generation of women in STEM.

🎙️ We cover:

• What medical laboratory science actually is—and why it’s so vital

• Career pathways beyond the lab that most people don’t know about

• How two mentors gave Brittany the confidence to leap into industry

• Why young women need space to grow, not just directions

• The role of Women in Bio and how to get involved

• Resumes, AI, and what hiring managers should really be looking for

💡 Plus: Brittany’s take on leadership, mentorship, and the underrated power of following your gut.

A thoughtful, inspiring conversation for anyone navigating career uncertainty, mentoring others, or just trying to find their place in the ever-evolving world of life sciences.

Welcome to Season 4 of She Leads Biotech and we’re starting strong.

This week, host Sharron Cox is joined by Melissa and Amy Arthur, sisters and co-founders of the Arthur Leadership Group, who bring decades of experience coaching women in biotech, medtech, diagnostics, and STEM.

Their work focuses on helping women navigate burnout, build resilience, and lead with authenticity — not exhaustion.

In this episode:

• The Career Catalyst framework for creating clarity, confidence, and momentum

• Power partnerships: what they are, and how to build them

• Why women in STEM still struggle with overwork, perfectionism, and self-doubt

• The link between identity and leadership

• Tools for building a values-aligned career in 2026

  
  

🎁 Special Gifts for She Leads Biotech Listeners
From the Arthur Leadership Group:
✅ A downloadable Power Partnerships Activation Guide — a framework for sourcing the support you need to thrive in 2026
✅ A complimentary, confidential Career Catalyst Coaching Session — a private 1:1 session to gain clarity on your vision, activate practical steps, and tap into mindsets and networks that fuel momentum.

👉 Click here to claim your gifts

Learn more about Amy & Melissa’s work at: www.arthurleadershipgroup.com

#SheLeadsBiotech #ArthurLeadershipGroup #WomenInSTEM #CareerCatalyst #LeadershipCoaching #AuthenticLeadership #PowerPartnerships #CNAUSA #SharronCox

Terri Gaskell | CTO, Rinri Therapeutics
Restoring Hearing. Redefining Possibility.

In this episode, I speak with Terri Gaskell, Chief Technology Officer at Rinri Therapeutics, about the revolutionary work her team is doing to treat sensorineural hearing loss through stem cell therapy.

Terri shares her remarkable journey from academia to biotech, the real-world hurdles of early-stage leadership, and the power of staying grounded (even when things get weird, wild, or wonderfully promising).

We talk science, strategy, identity, and authenticity — all wrapped up in a clinical trial story that just might restore hearing for those who’ve lost it.

🎙️ This episode of She Leads Biotech is proudly sponsored by Phacilitate & Women in Advanced Therapies (WIAT).

📌 Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Terri Gaskell & the Rinri mission
03:05 – The science behind restoring hearing via stem cells
07:20 – From university spinout to clinical trials: how it all began
11:40 – Navigating burnout & building balanced leadership
14:30 – Why authenticity matters more than ever in biotech
17:25 – Terri’s Women in Advanced Therapies experience
19:40 – The highs, lows, and marigolds of team management
22:55 – How academia prepared (and didn’t prepare) her for biotech
26:15 – Advice for new biotech leaders: confidence vs competence
29:30 – Rinri’s clinical pipeline and what’s next
33:00 – Final reflections on purpose, progress, and patient impact

#SheLeadsBiotech #TerriGaskell #RinriTherapeutics #HearingLoss #CellTherapy #BiotechLeadership #WomenInSTEM #RegenerativeMedicine #CNAInternationalUSA #SharronCoxStudio #WIAT #Phacilitate #LifeSciences

Showing Up Fully: Katrina Rice on Leadership, Identity & Inclusive Trials
This week, I sit down with Katrina Rice, Chief Delivery Officer of Biometrics Services at eClinical Solutions, for a raw and empowering conversation about identity, leadership, and impact.

Katrina shares her journey from a first-gen college student in Alabama to a self-made C-level executive — and the courage it took to create the job she wanted when no one else offered it. We talk about the power of showing up as your full self, the ongoing challenges facing women of color in biosciences, and why diversity in clinical trials isn’t optional — it’s life-saving.

🎙️ Sponsored by Phacilitate & Women in Advanced Therapies (WIAT)

Whether you're mentoring others, navigating your own path, or working to make your workplace more inclusive, Katrina’s story is a masterclass in resilience and authenticity.

📌 Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Intro
02:15 – Growing up in Alabama and finding a path into science
05:45 – What it felt like to be the only Black woman in the room
08:30 – Transitioning from IT and government work to clinical research
11:10 – Creating her own role at eClinical Solutions
15:45 – What it means to lead with purpose, not just title
20:00 – Diversity in clinical trials: why it matters and where we’re falling short
25:30 – Representing communities of color in data and design
29:45 – Advice for young professionals entering the life sciences
34:00 – The power of authenticity and finding your own leadership style
37:10 – Closing thoughts: identity, impact, and legacy

Full episode now live on Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.

#SheLeadsBiotech #Phacilitate #WIAT #KatrinaRice #eClinicalSolutions #DiversityInClinicalTrials #BiotechLeadership #WomenInSTEM #AuthenticLeadership #LifeSciences #SharronCoxStudio #CNAInternationalUSA

From Molecules to Machine Learning: CTO Chaemin Lim on Drug Design & Leadership.
What does drug discovery look like in the age of AI?

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, Sharron Cox sits down with Chaemin Lim, Chief Technology Officer of Coiled Therapeutics, for a wide-ranging discussion that spans synthetic chemistry, startup life, and the future of AI in oncology.

With over 15 years in drug development, Chaemin shares how her love of chemistry began in her father’s lab in Korea and evolved into a career at the intersection of data, design, and deep science. From building AI tools for medicinal chemists to learning how to translate science for investors, her journey is anything but linear and all the more inspiring for it.

In this episode:
00:00 Intro
02:30 Growing up in science (and her dad’s chemistry lab)
05:45 Pharmacy school and falling in love with drug development
10:40 Building her own computational chemistry lab in grad school
17:30 From postdoc to industry: how AI came into play
21:00 What AI can and can’t do in drug discovery
26:30 Startup life and translating science to strategy
29:00 Advice for women in biotech and defining yourself as a “designer”
33:00 What’s next for Coiled Therapeutics

Tune in for a thoughtful, practical, and occasionally hilarious conversation that proves science and leadership are anything but boring.

#SheLeadsBiotech #ChaeminLim #CoiledTherapeutics #DrugDesign #AIInBiotech #WomenInSTEM #AuthenticLeadership #LifeSciences #BiotechLeadership #CNAInternationalUSA