Thoroughly Thriving

How do great leaders build trust when their teams are facing uncertainty and change?

In Episode 37 of Thoroughly Thriving, Darren and Sean sit down with Meraf Eyassu, an accomplished biotech clinical operations leader with more than 20 years of experience across clinical research, drug development, and organizational leadership.

Most recently serving as Executive Director of Clinical Operations at Terns Pharmaceuticals, Meraf has led teams through the realities that come with developing new medicines—changing priorities, uncertain clinical programs, rapid growth, and major organizational transformation.

But throughout her career, one lesson has continued to stand out:

People and relationships matter.

Meraf shares why she believes great culture never happens by accident, why technical expertise alone isn't enough to build high-performing biotech teams, and what employees really need from their leaders when the future is uncertain.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• How working as a registered nurse helped Meraf discover her "why"
• Why relationships can determine whether teams get results
• What Meraf looks for when building high-performing teams
• Why adaptability and calm matter in unpredictable environments
• How leaders can introduce change with empathy
• Why great company culture must be intentionally created
• How a leader's reaction to problems shapes employee behavior
• Why trust should be built before uncertainty hits
• How to communicate when you don't have all the answers
• What employees experience during an acquisition or major transition
• Why leaders may need to communicate the same message repeatedly
• How listening to employee questions can make leaders better
• What "thoroughly thriving" means to Meraf today

Whether you're leading in biotech, clinical operations, healthcare, life sciences, or another rapidly changing organization, this conversation is a reminder that leadership isn't simply about having the answers.

Sometimes it's about creating enough trust that your people know you'll tell them what you know, listen to what they're experiencing, and walk through the uncertainty with them.

🎧 Watch Episode 37 of Thoroughly Thriving with Meraf Eyassu.

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What is AI actually changing in drug discovery—and what's simply hype?

In Episode 36 of Thoroughly Thriving, Darren and Sean sit down with Kevin Krause, President and CEO of ArrePath, for a practical conversation about biotech leadership, AI/ML-driven drug discovery, strategic decision-making, and building companies differently.

Kevin has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of science and strategy. His career has taken him from the research bench into clinical development, corporate development, commercial strategy and ultimately the CEO chair. Along the way, he contributed to seven approved antibiotics and gained a rare view of what it actually takes to move a medicine from discovery toward patients.

Today, Kevin is leading ArrePath as it applies AI and machine learning to drug discovery.

But his perspective is refreshingly straightforward:

AI isn't the product. The medicine is.

Kevin explains how machine learning can help scientists explore chemistry faster, predict multiple drug-development parameters simultaneously, reduce costs, increase creativity, and compress work that once required weeks into hours.

We discuss:

• Kevin's unconventional path from scientist to CEO
• Why strategic thinking changed his career
• A practical framework for making better decisions
• What seven drug approvals taught him about biotech strategy
• Why good drugs can still miss their market opportunity
• The importance of listening to regulators and external advisors
• How ArrePath is expanding beyond infectious disease
• How six people can manage multiple active research programs
• What AI/ML drug discovery actually looks like day-to-day
• Why AI should augment scientists rather than replace them
• Using machine learning to predict oral bioavailability and other properties
• How agentic AI can accelerate research and decision-making
• Why biotech companies need to stop simply saying "we use AI"
• How leaders can prove AI's value to boards, partners and investors

Whether you're working in biotech, pharma, drug discovery, life sciences, artificial intelligence, investment, strategy or executive leadership, this episode offers a grounded look at what AI can—and cannot—do for modern biotech.

🎧 Watch Episode 36 of Thoroughly Thriving with Kevin Krause.

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• (00:00) - Meet Kevin Krause

What should scientists know before making the leap from academia into biotech or pharmaceutical industry careers?

In Episode 35 of Thoroughly Thriving, Darren and Sean sit down with Harris Soifer, a leader in precision medicine and oncology whose career has taken him from academic research into diagnostics, translational medicine, drug development, and precision medicine.

Harris shares the realities behind his own academia-to-industry transition—including leaving behind nearly a decade of research to take an opportunity at an early-stage startup. He explains why scientists need to understand not only the position they're accepting, but the career track that position creates.

The conversation also explores where AI is genuinely improving drug development—and where the hype gets ahead of reality. Harris explains how his team uses AI to accelerate data processing, quality control, and the path to human interpretation while maintaining the critical human-in-the-loop approach required in drug development.

You'll discover:

• What scientists should know before leaving academia
• Why your first industry opportunity may not look glamorous
• How to evaluate the career track behind a job title
• Career opportunities scientists often overlook
• Where AI is actually creating value in drug development
• Why human judgment remains essential
• Why advancement eventually becomes about how you work—not simply what you know
• The role mentorship and humility play in career growth
• Why developing others benefits mentors too
• How keeping patients at the center can align entire organizations

Whether you're a scientist considering industry, a biotech professional growing your career, a life sciences executive, or a leader developing high-performing teams, Harris offers practical lessons for navigating today's changing world of work.

🎧 Watch the full episode of Thoroughly Thriving.

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• (00:00) - Introduction

What does leadership look like in a world where everything is constantly changing?

In Episode 34 of Thoroughly Thriving, we sit down with Dr. Shawn Rose—Chief Medical Officer, biotech leader, and physician-scientist—to explore how leadership has evolved in today’s fast-moving, high-stakes environment.

From bringing life-changing therapies to patients to leading teams through constant uncertainty, Dr. Rose shares powerful insights on why curiosity, adaptability, and decisiveness are no longer optional—they’re essential.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Why traditional top-down leadership no longer works
• How to lead when you don’t have all the answers
• The role of curiosity in driving innovation
• Why decisiveness matters more than perfection
• How to balance data, intuition, and team input
• The mindset shift required to lead in today’s world

This episode is a must-listen for leaders, innovators, and anyone navigating complexity in their career.

👉 Subscribe, share, and join the conversation on what it truly means to lead today.

• (00:00) - Introduction to Dr. Shawn Rose

What does it really take to lead when nothing goes according to plan?

In Episode 33 of Thoroughly Thriving, we sit down with Manasi Jaiman, a biotech leader driving innovation in high-stakes environments, to unpack what it means to lead through uncertainty, failure, and transformation.

From navigating acquisitions to building resilient teams and empowering women in leadership, Manasi shares powerful insights on how purpose, transparency, and informed risk-taking shape high-performing cultures.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Why setbacks are the norm—not the exception—in innovation
• The difference between risk and recklessness
• How great leaders build trust during uncertainty
• Why purpose is the anchor in high-pressure environments
• Practical ways to empower women and create real change
• How to maintain morale when everything is shifting

This conversation is a must-listen for leaders, innovators, and anyone navigating change in their career.

👉 If this episode resonates, share it with your network and subscribe for more conversations that help you lead, grow, and thrive.

• (00:00) - Introduction to Manasi Jaiman

What does it take to turn a bold scientific idea into real-world impact?In Episode 32 of Thoroughly Thriving, we sit down with Bassil Dahiyat, co-founder and CEO of Xencor, to unpack the journey of building a biotech company from the ground up—and staying committed to that vision for nearly three decades.From pioneering protein engineering to developing life-changing therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, Bassil shares what it really takes to innovate at the highest level.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why long-term vision beats short-term wins
• The mindset required to build lasting innovation
• How discipline and consistency shape breakthrough success
• Lessons from scaling a biotech company over decades
• Leadership principles for navigating uncertainty

If you're a founder, leader, or professional looking to build something meaningful—this episode will challenge how you think about success.👉 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, innovation, and thriving at the highest level.

(00:00) Introduction to Bassil Dahiyat

(02:15) The Origin of Xencor

(06:40) Engineering Proteins & Antibodies

(10:25) Early Challenges & Breakthrough Thinking

(15:10) The Power of Long-Term Vision

(20:45) Scaling a Biotech Company

(26:30) Leadership Lessons Over 30 Years

(32:05) Innovation vs. Execution

(38:20) Navigating Uncertainty in Science

(44:10) Building a Lasting Impact

What does it take to lead effectively in today’s fast-moving biotech and clinical landscape?

In Episode 31 of Thoroughly Thriving, Tara Hun-Dorris shares powerful insights on leadership, decision-making, and navigating complexity in life sciences. From managing high-stakes environments to developing strong, resilient teams, this conversation is packed with real-world wisdom for current and aspiring leaders.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How leadership evolves in clinical and biotech environments
• The importance of adaptability in high-pressure roles
• How to build trust and alignment across teams
• Why strong decision-making defines great leaders
• The mindset required to lead through uncertainty

If you’re in biotech, pharma, or clinical operations — this episode will challenge and sharpen your leadership approach.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with top leaders in life sciences.

👉 Share this episode with someone building or leading a team.

(00:00) Welcome to Thoroughly Thriving

(00:35) Meet Tara Hun-Dorris

(02:40) Leadership in Biotech Today

(06:10) Navigating Complexity

(10:05) Decision-Making Under Pressure

(14:30) Building Strong Teams

(18:20) Adaptability in Leadership

(22:45) Aligning Teams for Success

(26:10) Leading Through Uncertainty

(29:00) Final Thoughts and Takeaways

In Episode 30 of the Thoroughly Thriving Podcast, Darren and Sean sit down with Junior Laysa, VP and Head of Operations at Nkarta, Inc, to explore what truly drives high-performing teams in biotech.

Junior shares real-world leadership insights from scaling operations in complex, highly regulated environments where cross-functional alignment isn’t optional — it’s essential for survival.

From building intentional culture to creating psychological safety for innovation, Junior reveals the leadership practices that transform average teams into exceptional ones.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why culture is the foundation of operational excellence
• How leaders build connection and trust across teams
• The importance of psychological safety in innovation
• Breaking down silos across R&D, manufacturing, and quality
• Practical strategies for developing future leaders
• The cultural signals that reveal whether a team is thriving

If you lead teams in biotech, pharma, life sciences, or any high-stakes industry, this conversation offers powerful leadership lessons.

👉 Subscribe for more leadership insights from biotech and life sciences leaders.

👉 Share this episode with someone building teams in complex environments.

(00:00) Welcome to Thoroughly Thriving

(00:46) Meet Junior Laysa

(02:04) The Importance of Leadership in Operations

(03:49) Building Culture While Scaling Teams

(06:13) Leading Through Organizational Change

(09:15) Developing Future Leaders

(13:13) Culture and Innovation in Biotech

(17:09) Breaking Down Organizational Silos

(21:12) Collaboration and Team Connection

(23:26) Measuring Healthy Team Culture

(27:09) Leadership Takeaways and Closing Thoughts

In Episode 29 of the Thoroughly Thriving Podcast, we sit down with Jerlyn to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership challenges — avoiding conflict.

Jerlyn shares powerful insights on why unaddressed tension quietly grows, how it impacts teams and performance, and what it actually takes to lead through discomfort with clarity and confidence.

If you’re in leadership, building a team, or navigating high-stakes environments, this conversation will challenge how you think about communication, accountability, and growth.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why avoiding conflict creates bigger problems later
• How tension builds beneath the surface in teams
• The mindset shift required for effective leadership
• Practical ways to approach difficult conversations
• How strong leaders create clarity instead of comfort

👉 If this episode challenges you, share it with someone in leadership.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with top leaders in biotech, pharma, and beyond.

(00:00) Introduction to Jerlyn

(02:15) Why leaders avoid conflict

(06:40) The hidden cost of unaddressed tension

(12:05) How conflict impacts team performance

(18:30) Shifting your mindset around hard conversations

(25:10) Practical ways to address tension early

(31:45) Building a culture of clarity

(38:20) Leadership growth through discomfort

(44:10) Final thoughts and key takeaways

In Episode 28 of Thoroughly Thriving, we sit down with Abby Kennedy, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Jasper Therapeutics, to explore what leadership truly looks like inside today’s evolving biotech landscape.

With over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical and biotech organizations, Abby shares practical wisdom on:

• Navigating difficult workplace dynamics
• Leading with curiosity instead of frustration
• Resetting toxic team patterns
• Integrating contractors effectively into core teams
• Scaling small biotech organizations strategically

This episode dives deep into the human side of clinical operations — from conflict resolution to building high-performance teams in unpredictable development phases.

If you’re a clinical leader, biotech executive, or emerging manager looking to strengthen your leadership approach in 2026 and beyond, this conversation is packed with real-world insights you can apply immediately.

Resource:

• Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) by Amy Gallo

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#ClinicalOperations #BiotechLeadership #DrugDevelopment #PharmaCareers #ThoroughlyThriving #LifeSciencesLeadership

00:00 – Welcome to Thoroughly Thriving02:07 – Abby Kennedy Introduction04:00 – First Podcast Experience05:17 – Handling Challenging Colleagues07:36 – Taking the High Road in Leadership10:54 – Curiosity vs. Frustration in Management12:55 – Resetting Toxic Team Dynamics14:50 – Working Agreements That Actually Work16:38 – Build vs. Buy: Scaling Clinical Teams18:43 – Contractor Models Explained20:41 – Integrating Contractors Into Core Teams22:22 – Creating Inclusive Culture for Contractors24:21 – Why Contractors Follow Great Leaders26:34 – Final Leadership Reflections