In our inspiring conversation, Ayla Annac takes us from her roots in Turkey to her pioneering work in the biotech space, where she's making strides in heart disease treatment. Ayla’s path reflects a blend of cultural pride, ambition, and relentless dedication to improving patient outcomes. Here are three powerful insights from our discussion:

This conversation is full of wisdom on how cultural roots, diversity, and collaboration shape the future of biotech and healthcare.

Tune in to hear more from Ayla’s journey and her insights on the critical role of AI, mentorship, and inclusivity in our industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up

03:00 Starting in the Biospace: Choosing Science

06:29 Transitioning into Big Pharma and the Challenges of a Male-Dominated Field

09:54 The Importance of Mentors and Coaches

13:39 Management Style and Team Management in Clinical Trials

18:27 The Role of Mentors in Career Development

22:29 The Value of Coaching in Personal and Professional Growth

25:39 Current Role in Regulatory Department and Future Goals

32:15 Building a Strong Regulatory Team for Clinical Research

35:29 Expanding Clinical Trials and Staffing Challenges

37:40 Advice for Women in the Biospace: Perseverance and Embracing Failure

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, we explore the transformative potential of genetic medicine with Sophia Lugo, the CEO and Chairman of Radar Therapeutics.

Founded just five months ago, Radar is revolutionizing the delivery of genetic therapies, and Sophia is at the forefront of this groundbreaking innovation.

Recently awarded the 2024 Biocam California Life Science Catalyst Award, she shares her exhilarating journey in an uncharted field and the unique challenges and triumphs that come with it. Sophia emphasizes the importance of passion in entrepreneurship, reminding us that if you don’t love the problem, you shouldn’t embark on the journey.

Join us as we delve into the future of DNA and RNA technology and hear firsthand about the exciting work happening at Radar Therapeutics. Tune in for inspiration, insight, and a glimpse into the next frontier of medicine!

She discusses her various roles, including her current position as a CEO of a biotech company and an adjunct professor.

Kirsten reflects on the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated corporate environment, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and how she navigated family dynamics while pursuing her career.

She emphasizes the significance of networking, mentorship, and personal growth in achieving success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Living in Vermont

03:29 Career in Consumer Products and Pharmaceuticals

05:15 Portfolio Career and Current Roles

08:34 Challenges and Authenticity in the Corporate World

12:04 Balancing Family and Career

14:18 Moving and Adapting as a Family

18:49 Basel: The Life Sciences Hub of Europe

22:33 Future Plans and Making a Positive Impact

25:55 Advice for Women in Business

31:49 Differentiating Yourself and Setting Goals

Sabrina Johnson, CEO of Daré Bioscience, discusses her journey in the field of women's health and the importance of authenticity in the workplace.

She emphasizes the need for women leaders to encourage others to be themselves and challenge traditional norms.

Sabrina also shares the challenges and successes of starting a company focused on women's health, including the importance of diversity in leadership and the need for innovation in areas such as contraception, arousal disorder, and menopause.

She highlights the impact of having more options and open conversations in women's healthcare.

00:00 Introduction and Setting

01:30 The Power of Authenticity in Women's Leadership

03:38 Challenges and Successes in Starting a Women's Health Company

10:58 The Journey and Vision of Daré Bioscience

24:48 The Importance of FDA Approval in Women's Health

28:21 The Impact of Diversity in Women's Healthcare

32:47 Innovation and Unmet Needs in Women's Health

36:30 The Future of Daré Bioscience

In this conversation, Deborah Hemingway shares her journey from a young stock investor to a venture capitalist. She discusses her unique upbringing influenced by her parents, her passion for both science and business, and her experiences in angel investing and venture capital. Deborah outlines her investment criteria, the challenges she faces as a woman in a male-dominated field, and the importance of authenticity and perseverance in entrepreneurship. She offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need to identify real market needs and maintain determination despite setbacks.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:40 Journey to Venture Capital

04:22 What Venture Capitalists Look for

12:07 Focus on Maryland-based Companies

13:49 Challenges as a Venture Capitalist

16:27 Building an Enduring Legacy

19:10 Current and Future Trends in Biotech

23:26 Advice for Upcoming Women Entrepreneurs

28:06 Importance of Perseverance and Authenticity

In this episode Dr. Courtney Miller, a neuroscientist and co-founder of Myosin, discusses her journey in drug development for substance use disorder and glioblastoma. She shares how her team discovered a potential treatment for methamphetamine addiction and the progress they have made in developing it into a medication. Dr. Miller also highlights the challenges of fundraising in the biotech industry, particularly for areas like substance use disorder and glioblastoma. She emphasizes the importance of networking and self-promotion, especially for women in the field. Dr. Miller envisions bringing their treatments into the clinic and making a significant impact in the next five years.

keywords

neuroscience, drug development, substance use disorder, addiction, glioblastoma, fundraising, networking, self-promotion, biotech industry

takeaways

Drug development for substance use disorder and glioblastoma is a challenging and expensive journey.

Networking and self-promotion are crucial for success in the biotech industry, especially for women.

Taking advantage of opportunities and building a strong network can lead to unexpected career paths.

Stigma surrounding substance use disorder hinders progress in developing effective treatments.

Creating a narrative and leveraging personal connections can open doors and lead to valuable collaborations.

Dr. Miller aims to bring their treatments into the clinic and make a significant impact in the next five years.

titles

Making a Significant Impact in Drug Development

Challenges of Fundraising in the Biotech Industry

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:47 Discovery of Potential Treatment for Methamphetamine Addiction

08:23 Understanding Substance Use Disorder and Brain Changes

13:09 Challenges and Opportunities in Fundraising

20:22 The Importance of Networking and Self-Promotion

27:10 Overcoming Stigma and Building Strong Connections

35:43 Future Goals and Impact in Drug Development

In this episode Priya and I discusses her unexpected career path from biomedical engineering to the business side of the biotech industry.

She emphasizes the importance of women supporting women and the need for more inclusive conversations around women's health, including menstruation and menopause.

Priya also highlights the significance of representation and the evolving definition of womanhood in the workplace. She encourages future biologists to pursue their passions while maintaining a flexible mindset and to be champions for others.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Unexpected Career Path

05:25 Women's Humility and Self-Promotion

09:00 Women Supporting Women

14:22 Breaking the Stigma: Conversations about Women's Health

18:12 The Impact of Menopause on Women

23:06 Inclusivity and Diversity in Women's Health Research

26:48 The Importance of Continued Conversations

29:16 Maintaining a Flexible Mindset in Your Career

31:41 The Evolving Definition of Womanhood in the Workplace

36:09 Advocating for Yourself and Others

In this conversation, Terri Matkovits shares her extensive journey from a scientist with a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology to a leadership role in the biotech industry. She discusses her early passion for science, the challenges she faced transitioning from academia to the pharmaceutical industry, and her significant career growth at Novartis. Terri highlights the importance of mentorship, networking, and women supporting women in the workplace. She also reflects on the challenges of working in smaller biotech companies and the impact of COVID-19 on professional relationships. Throughout the discussion, she emphasizes the importance of making aspirations known and the value of building connections in one's career.