Executive Edge Podcast

In this episode of Tenzing's Executive Edge, Greg once again sits down with Dave Stowe, founder and managing partner of Adventus to explore the unique role procurement plays in the life sciences industry. Dave explains why procurement in biotech and pharma operates under a different set of pressures than most industries, where supplier decisions, contract structures, and cost management can directly impact the success or failure of clinical trials and emerging therapies. Greg and Dave walk through the drug development lifecycle from discovery and preclinical testing to the three phases of clinical trials, highlighting how procurement teams can better support scientific stakeholders, manage Contract Research Organization (CRO) relationships, and create the financial discipline needed to bring innovative treatments to market. Whether you're in procurement, operations, or life sciences leadership, this conversation offers practical insights into navigating one of the most complex and high-stakes sourcing environments in business. 

Supply chain disruptions don't announce themselves. From pandemics and port shutdowns to tariff swings and supplier bankruptcies, the risk is always present — the only question is whether your organization is prepared when it hits. In this episode, Greg sits down with Subash Chandar, Founder and CEO of The Simple, to unpack how leading organizations are rethinking supply risk monitoring from a reactive exercise into a forward-looking capability. They discuss how to segment your supplier base by true business impact, why marrying internal data with external intelligence changes everything, and where AI fits into the equation — and where it still needs a human in the loop. If you're in procurement, supply chain, or operations leadership, this one is for you.

In this episode of Tenzing's Executive Edge, host Greg Anderson sits down with Dave Stowe — founder and managing partner of Adventus and a veteran of PwC, Oliver Wyman, Horizon Therapeutics, and Purdue Pharma — to explore one of the most complex and consequential procurement environments in the world: life sciences. Dave argues that procurement in biotech and pharma isn't just operationally different from other industries — it carries unique stakes, where mismanaged supplier relationships, runaway costs, or poor contract structures can derail a clinical trial or sink an early-stage company entirely. Greg and Dave walk through the full arc of drug development, from early discovery and animal testing through the three phases of clinical trials, unpacking how procurement teams can better support their scientific colleagues at each stage, structure relationships with Contract Research Organizations, and build the financial discipline that gives promising therapies a fighting chance. Summary of Key Sections from this Episode (Timestamp = "Minutes:Seconds") 00:02:05 Procurement’s Role in R&D – The Big Picture 00:05:20 Drug Development Stages: Discovery to Clinical Trials 00:07:08 Engaging Suppliers and CROs 00:11:27 Clinical Stages, Cost & Risk Management 00:19:57 Partnering Procurement with Internal R&D Teams 00:39:00 AI, Data & Process Improvements in Drug Development

What if the reason your team isn't performing has nothing to do with strategy, structure, or process, and everything to do with the human brain? In this episode, Simon sits down with Mike Mears, former Chief of Human Capital at the CIA, bestselling author, and founder of the CIA Leadership Academy. Drawing on decades of experience from operating behind the Iron Curtain to working alongside Jack Welch at GE, Mike reveals why most executives are unknowingly working against human nature, and what to do about it. Mike breaks down the neuroscience behind why certainty is the missing ingredient in modern leadership, why only 25% of employees are truly engaged, and how a simple shift in approach can unlock the brain chemicals that drive trust, motivation, and real change. You'll also hear how Leon Panetta's approach to the hunt for Bin Laden is one of the best leadership lessons you've never been taught and how you can apply the same principle to transform your team starting this week.

In this episode of Tenzing's Executive Edge, host Greg Anderson sits down with Omer Abdullah — global business leader, co-founder of the SmartCube, and founder of procurement advisory venture Procuria — to tackle a pressing question: how do procurement practitioners future-proof themselves in an AI-driven world? Drawing on over 35 years of experience, Omer argues that procurement has reached an existential inflection point. AI and agentic technology are rapidly eliminating not just transactional work, but a significant portion of the analytical middle layer too — and the function will emerge smaller, leaner, and far more strategically oriented as a result. Omer and Greg discuss why this is actually the opportunity procurement professionals have always asked for, but only for those willing to skill up and embrace the change. For those who don't, CFOs will simply let the machines do the work.

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg interviews Yale Peebles — a West Point graduate, former Army captain, Wharton MBA and CEO of YSP Advisory Services — about turning complex strategy into real-world execution. Yale explains how disciplined leadership, clear communication, and practical planning (including built-in flexibility and a regular ‘‘drumbeat’’ of updates) help teams move from vision to measurable results. He emphasizes simplifying plans, identifying critical dependencies, assigning ownership, and focusing on solutions, not problems. Tune in for actionable lessons on accountability, cross-functional coordination, and executing mergers, integrations, and growth initiatives under pressure.

In this episode of Executive Edge, Simon welcomes Aaron Miller, Partner at Apollo Global Management and Chairman of Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions, for a candid conversation on leadership, accountability, and the evolving role of the operating partner in private equity. Drawing on his experience across consulting, global operations, and portfolio leadership, Aaron explains why operating partners must move beyond advice-giving toward true stewardship—owning outcomes, not just recommendations. He shares how Apollo has built a scalable, technology-enabled operating model, integrating data, AI, and repeatable playbooks to drive consistent value creation across its portfolio. The discussion also explores what differentiates great leaders in moments of inflection. Aaron offers a powerful perspective on why many people love the title of leader, but far fewer love leadership itself—and why that distinction matters when building resilient organizations. From talent and culture to technology and execution, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at what modern leadership really requires in private equity and beyond.

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg Anderson is joined by Roy Langley, President and Founder of Pelagic Search, for a candid conversation on what really drives successful talent decisions—on both the hiring side and the candidate side. Drawing on years of experience working with private equity–backed and founder-led businesses, Roy shares why trust, energy, and discipline matter more than ever in high-stakes executive hiring. Together, they explore why “post and pray” hiring strategies fall short, how leaders can better attract and assess top talent, and what candidates must do to stand out in a crowded and often passive market. From the importance of in-person engagement to the hidden signals that separate great hires from costly mistakes, this episode offers practical insights for executives who know that getting talent right is not just an HR issue—but a strategic imperative.

In this episode of Executive Edge, Greg Anderson speaks with Don Kieffer—former Harley-Davidson executive, MIT Sloan senior lecturer, and co-creator of Dynamic Work Design about why so much work slows down inside organizations. Don shares lessons from the factory floor, the executive suite, and decades of advisory work to explain why traditional org charts and process models fail to reflect how work really happens. He introduces Dynamic Work Design as a practical way to make work visible, reduce friction, and keep progress moving—especially in complex, knowledge-based environments. A focused, insight-rich conversation for leaders looking to cut through bureaucracy and redesign work so results come faster and more naturally.

Simon Rycraft talks with José Juan López Portillo, a former diplomat and international relations expert, about why history and context are essential to leadership, decision-making, and geopolitics. They discuss how studying history builds analytical tools for understanding the present and anticipating the future, Mexico's deep historical influence—from agriculture to silver trade—and practical advice for executives considering investment or partnership in Mexico.