If women’s health is important to you – don’t miss thisweeks She Leads Biotech!

Did you know that:

In 2025 it’s estimated that almost 21,000women in the US will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

A woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about 1-91

Appx half the women  diagnosed with ovarian cancer are 63 years or older

And there’s no standard screening available for early detection!

That’s why I’m so thrilled to have as my guest this week Oriana Papin Zoghbi, CEO of AOA Diagnostics—a company pioneering early detection solutions for ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer has long been called the "silentkiller", but Oriana and her team are working to change that. She has raised nearly $30 million in funding, built a world-class team, and is breaking new ground in diagnostics. In this episode, Oriana gets candid about:

💡 The challenges of leading a startup in healthcare innovation

💡 Why failure isn’t the end—it’s part of growth

💡 The importance of hiring smart, adaptable people

💡 Why investment in diagnostics is critical for saving lives

💡 Her vision for the future of women’s health beyond ovarian cancer

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background

01:48Journey into Women's Health Diagnostics

04:20Focus on Ovarian Cancer Detection

08:22Company Growth and Team Dynamics

10:16Leadership and Company Culture

23:41Advice for Aspiring CEOs

25:23Embracing Failure as a Learning Tool

28:40Future Aspirations and Diversification

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background

05:07Navigating Career Challenges as an Immigrant

10:03Future of Gene and Cell Therapy

14:01Advice for Future Generations

We talk about the challenges of balancing work and family, especially as a woman in a corporate environment, and emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive work culture that allows for open communication about personal commitments.

Jennifer also highlights the innovations in cell therapy that her company is working on and reflects on her aspirations for the future as she approaches a new phase in her life as an empty nester.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:12 Career Transition from Law to Biotech

04:57 Challenges of Balancing Work and Family

10:12 Leadership Philosophy and Team Management

15:19 Artiva's Innovative Cell Therapy

20:28 Future of Cell and Gene Therapy

23:45 Personal Reflections and Advice for Women

28:56 Looking Ahead: Future Plans

In this conversation, CEO of Oncospire Nathalie Riebel, shares her journey from aspiring veterinarian to a leader in clinical research and cancer advocacy. We discuss her work in oncology, particularly head and neck cancer.  Advancements in cancer treatment technologies, and the role of AI in clinical trials. Nathalie emphasizes the significance of mentorship, leadership, and the evolving landscape of clinical operations, particularly for women in biotech. She also shares her vision for her new company and the importance of internships in fostering future talent in the industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background in Head and Neck Cancer

05:00 Career Journey and Transition to Clinical Research

10:03 Influential Figures and Leadership in Clinical Operations

15:00 The Evolution of Clinical Operations and AI's Role

20:13 Leadership Philosophy and Team Dynamics

25:36 Current Projects and Future Aspirations

31:50 Advice for Future Generations in Clinical Research

In this week’s episode my guest Mani Mohindru talks about her nontraditional career journey taking us through its twists and turns from Wall Street to small biotech's and the challenges she faced as a woman in leadership roles.   She shares her belief that passion, resilience and teamwork are the keys to success in the bioscience world.  We also talk about celebrating failure as an essential part of the road to success and discover what she’s learning from being a member of the Bio CEO Sisterhood.

00:00 Introduction and Holiday Reflections

01:38 An Unorthodox Journey in Bioscience

06:25 Challenges in the C-Suite as a Woman

10:00 The Importance of Team Dynamics

13:28 Innovations at Roshan Therapeutics

17:54 The Role of the Biotech Sisterhood

20:43 Balancing Career and Family

24:50 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

31:13 Celebrating Failures and Learning from Them

In this week's episode Huma and I talk about the importance of following your heart and passion, as well as the power of manifestation and she explains what the saying "your eyes cannot see what your mind does not know" means to her.

We also talk about Ocugen's exciting breakthroughs and share how our similar direct styles can sometimes be misinterpreted as something else!

If you're looking for a new year confidence boost you won't want to miss this episode.

00:00 Journey to Medicine: A Personal Story

09:58 Innovations in Cell and Gene Therapy

19:49 Leadership and Gender Dynamics in Medicine

21:34 Defining Boundaries in Professional Growth

22:46 Embracing Uniqueness in Professional Identity

27:41 Innovative Ventures in Aerospace Research

28:54 Future Projects and Aspirations

30:27 Empowering Women in Leadership Roles

34:35 Advice for Aspiring Professionals

41:04 The Importance of Networking and Personal Branding

In this week's season opener Becky Johnson-Kent, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Phacilitate, shares her invaluable insights on the power of mentorship through the Women in Advanced Therapies (WIAT) Mentorship Program, highlighting the critical role of building connections in the ever-evolving world of advanced therapies.

As we gear up for Advanced Therapies Week in Dallas, Becky underscores the transformative impact of community engagement and the irreplaceable value of face-to-face networking in driving innovation.

Tune in to hear about the welcoming nature of the advanced therapies community, the importance of championing each other, and why investing in female founders is key to shaping the future of biotech. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

00:00 Introduction and Background

04:46 Understanding Advanced Therapies

09:50 The Importance of Connections in Advanced Therapies

14:54 Advanced Therapies Week in Dallas

20:08 Future Aspirations and Community Impact

In this final episode of season 1, Sheila Gujrathi shares her journey from medicine to biotech, highlighting her experiences at Genentech and Bristol Myers Squibb.

She discusses the challenges and triumphs of being a woman in leadership roles within the pharmaceutical industry.

Sheila emphasizes the importance of community, mentorship, and authenticity in empowering women leaders.

She also reflects on work-life integration and the need for women to believe in themselves.

The conversation culminates in insights from her TED Talk, focusing on the significance of surrounding oneself with supportive mirrors rather than fixating on glass ceilings.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Small Talk

04:08 Transition to the Biotech Industry

08:27 Challenges as a Woman in Leadership Roles

09:57 The Biotech CEO Sisterhood

13:45 Empowering Women in the Biotech Industry

16:48 Global Reach of the Biotech CEO Sisterhood

19:18 Redefining Work-Life Balance

23:19 Balancing Work and Family Life

30:02 Authenticity and Posting on LinkedIn

39:00 From the Glass Ceiling to Empowering Mirrors

Today, we’re diving into a conversation that’s equal parts inspiring and game-changing.

Imagine a startup working at the intersection of nanotechnology and drug delivery, on a mission to cross the blood-brain barrier and improve the quality of life for patients battling diseases like cancer.

Sounds ambitious? It is. And it’s being led by a remarkable woman with an unshakable vision.

Our guest, Afreen Allam, is the CEO of SiNON Nanosciences—a company at the forefront of healthcare innovation.

In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of her journey: from navigating the challenges of startup life and securing funding, to representing her company at the BIO conference, and building a diverse team that thrives on creativity and collaboration.

We’ll hear how her experiences shaped her career and commitment to redefining what’s possible in biotech.

If you’ve ever wondered about the realities of being a woman in biotech or how innovation in drug delivery could transform healthcare, this episode is for you.

Today, we’re tackling a topic that touches half the population directly—and affects us all indirectly. That’s right, we’re diving into menopause.

Yes, the mysterious phase that often feels like a chapter pulled straight out of a sci-fi novel—complete with hot flashes, brain fog, and an inexplicable obsession with layers of clothing.

Joining us is the dynamic Kiran Kumar, founder of Timeless Biosciences , a company that’s revolutionizing women’s health. She’s here to share why menopause deserves a spotlight—not just in our midlife moments but as a lifelong conversation.

We’ll unpack the myths, highlight the science, and explore the personalized advice that could make all the difference. From protecting your bones and brain to educating younger generations, this episode is about empowerment and equality in healthcare.

So, grab your fan, your notebook, and maybe a friend who needs to hear this—we’re breaking the silence on menopause and paving the way for healthier, longer lives.