From Scientist to CEO

What if the future of medicine could be brewed rather than manufactured through traditional processes?In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I'm joined by Christina Smolke, Co-Founder & CEO, and Dr. Kristy Hawkins, Co-Founder & CSO of Antheia, to explore how they're using synthetic biology to transform pharmaceutical manufacturing.From their beginnings as professor and graduate student at Caltech to co-founding a biotechnology company, Christina and Kristy share the story behind their remarkable partnership.We discuss how Antheia uses engineered biology to produce essential medicines, why global pharmaceutical supply chains urgently need greater resilience, and what it takes to turn ambitious scientific research into commercial reality.We also explore the challenges of fundraising, leading scientific teams, learning to delegate and persevering when others believe something simply cannot be done.And perhaps most excitingly, we look at how this technology could create entirely new opportunities for drug discovery.A fascinating conversation about innovation, persistence, leadership and the future of medicine.🎧 Listen now to Brewing the Future of Medicine on She Leads Biotech.#SheLeadsBiotech #WomenInBiotech #SyntheticBiology #Biomanufacturing #FutureOfMedicine

What does a year in the CEO's chair teach you about everything you thought you knew?In this Then & Now episode of She Leads Biotech, I'm delighted to welcome back Denise Dajles, CEO of Cytrellis Biosystems, to discover what's changed since our first conversation.When we last spoke, Denise was navigating a major product relaunch, restructuring the business and finding her feet as a first-time CEO.A year later, she shares the realities of leading a growing MedTech company, from significant commercial growth and expanding her team to the unexpected challenges that have forced her to rethink her original plans.We explore why asking “why” has become central to her leadership approach, what she's learned about hiring people with the right attitude, and why building a team that can operate without her constant involvement is an important measure of success.Denise also discusses the difference between selling innovative technology and achieving lasting adoption, why authentic clinical evidence matters more than polished AI-generated images, and the responsibility that comes with leading a business whose employees and families depend on its success.What I particularly enjoyed was Denise's honesty about getting things wrong, adapting along the way and learning to trust the people around her.Because leadership isn't about always being right. It's about having the humility to question yourself and the determination to keep moving forward.🎧 Join me for another inspiring conversation on She Leads Biotech.#SheLeadsBiotech #DeniseDajles #MedTech #WomenInBiotech #Leadership #LifeSciences

Can the experience that made you successful actually hold you back in your next role?In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I'm joined by Cathy Collis, Chief Commercial Officer at Renexxion Pharmaceuticals, to explore what happens when a career takes you from the structure and resources of big pharma into the unpredictable world of smaller biotech companies.Cathy shares her journey from public policy into pharmaceutical leadership, the lessons she's learned along the way and why adapting to a new environment sometimes means letting go of familiar ways of working.We discuss the importance of self-reliance, making decisions with limited resources, building the right commercial capabilities at the right time and recognising that the people who build a business aren't always the same people needed to scale it.We also explore patient advocacy, the importance of challenging assumptions and why commercial thinking should begin long before a treatment reaches the market.It's a conversation about career choices, leadership, adaptability and finding the confidence to do things differently.Because sometimes the most valuable thing we can learn is what we need to unlearn.🎧 Join me for another insightful conversation on She Leads Biotech.#SheLeadsBiotech #CathyCollis #WomenInBiotech #BiotechLeadership #LifeSciences

What happens when a biotech company realises that its next stage of growth requires a completely different approach?In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I'm joined by Beverley Carr, Chief Business and Operating Officer at CHARM Therapeutics, to explore the realities of transforming promising science into a clinical-stage business.Beverley shares the decisions behind CHARM's shift from a broad AI drug discovery platform to a focused oncology programme, the challenges of restructuring a business for its next stage, and why having the right people in place matters just as much as having great science.We also discuss the real value of AI in drug discovery, the importance of making difficult decisions early, and Beverley's own journey from chemistry to biotech leadership.It's a conversation about adaptability, courage and recognising when the path forward requires doing things differently.Because sometimes the most important leadership decision isn't what to pursue next, but what you're prepared to leave behind.🎧 Listen now on She Leads Biotech.#SheLeadsBiotech #BiotechLeadership #WomenInBiotech #DrugDiscovery #LifeSciences

How much do we really understand about our own health, and how often have we been told that symptoms are simply "normal"?In this episode, I'm joined by Paula Soteropoulos, biotech executive and investor, and her daughter Dr. Alexia Soteropoulos, an integrative and functional medicine physician, to discuss their book Restoring Balance and why women need to take a more active role in understanding their bodies.We explore the gaps in women's health research, menopause, hormone health, whole-person care and the importance of questioning symptoms that are too often dismissed or normalised.Paula brings her perspective from biotech leadership and investment, while Alexia shares her clinical approach to helping women become better informed advocates for their own health.A warm, thought-provoking conversation about knowledge, self-advocacy and restoring balance to women's healthcare.

What if the biggest challenge in biotech isn't innovation, but adoption?I'm joined by Holley Miller, CEO of Grey Matter Marketing, to explore why better science doesn't automatically win.We talk about why people buy outcomes rather than products, why emotion can open the door before data earns belief, the importance of solving an urgent problem, and why being different can sometimes matter more than simply being better.Holley also shares her own entrepreneurial and leadership journey, the value of non-obvious thinking, taking career risks and giving yourself permission to fail.A thought-provoking conversation about innovation, human behaviour and what it really takes to turn a great idea into something people will actually adopt.

Amy Walker didn't set out to become a CEO.In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Amy, CEO of 4basebio, to explore how a career that began in science evolved into leading a growing biotech company.We talk about growing alongside a business, stepping beyond your original expertise, building the right leadership team and culture, and the technology changing the future of DNA manufacturing and advanced therapies.It’s a conversation about science, leadership, career progression and being willing to take opportunities you never originally planned for.#SheLeadsBiotech #Biotech #WomenInBiotech #BiotechLeadership #DNAManufacturing #AdvancedTherapies

What happens when you reach one of the most senior positions in global drug discovery — and decide the next step is to leave the security of Big Pharma behind?In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Karin Conde-Knape, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Valo Health, whose international career has taken her through leadership roles at Roche, Johnson & Johnson and Novo Nordisk.We talk about why Karin believes better drug discovery needs to start with human data, how asking the right questions earlier can prevent years of time and investment being committed to the wrong path, and where data, experience and intuition belong in scientific decision-making.We also explore Karin’s decision to move from Big Pharma to biotech — what she describes as an “easier choice, not a comfortable choice” — and why impact, people and purpose became increasingly important at this stage of her career.Our conversation moves beyond the science into leadership: creating psychological safety, challenging the thought process rather than the individual, developing resilient future leaders, embracing AI and new technologies, and building teams that genuinely want to follow you.A fascinating conversation about drug discovery, human data, innovation, career courage and the leadership required to turn better questions into better science.

What does it really take to lead a biotech company when the science is complex, the stakes are high and the answers aren’t always obvious?In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Iris Grossman, PhD, CEO of Zelig Therapeutics, for a candid conversation about the realities of biotech leadership and her journey from scientist to CEO.In When Leadership Gets Real: Ego, Accountability & the Decisions That Shape Biotech Companies, we talk about what happens when leadership moves beyond the title and you become the person ultimately accountable for the decisions.We explore why great leaders surround themselves with people who will challenge them, how founders and leadership teams need to evolve as companies grow, why strategy starts with knowing your values, and what Iris has learned about hiring beyond technical capability.Iris also talks openly about making decisions without perfect information, handling difficult performance conversations, keeping ego out of leadership — and why patient impact remains her North Star.Chapters00:00 Introduction03:17 A Patient-Centric North Star05:46 The Scientist Inside the CEO07:04 Turning Science into Patient Impact10:14 The Reality of CEO Accountability13:30 When Founders and Companies Need to Evolve14:39 Why Independent Boards Matter15:43 Strategy Starts with Values17:17 Why Zelig Became a Call to Action20:01 Making Decisions Through Uncertainty23:28 Why Personality Matters in Hiring26:24 The Difficult People Decisions Leaders Must Make30:09 Why Biotech Is Ultimately About People🎧 Follow She Leads Biotech for more conversations with the people building, leading and shaping biotech.#SheLeadsBiotech #BiotechLeadership #Biotech #LifeSciences #WomenInBiotech #Leadership

What happens when the career plan you thought you had suddenly changes?In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined once again by Priya Baraniak, PhD, Chief Commercial & Development Officer at Pluristyx, who returns to the podcast after first joining me back in Season 1.In When the Plan Changes: Resilience, Reinvention & Finding Your Way in Biotech, we talk candidly about unexpected career change, resilience and what happens when you have to let go of the plan and find a different way forward.Priya shares what she learned following a professional setback, why personal branding and authentic relationships became so important, and how her own career has evolved from scientist to commercial biotech leader.We also explore the realities of biotech fundraising, what investors look for in leadership teams, the potential of iPSC technology and cell and gene therapy — and why, despite the challenges facing our industry, Priya remains incredibly excited about what the science can achieve for patients.Above all, it’s a conversation about becoming more comfortable with uncertainty, focusing on what you can control and continuing to do the next right thing.Chapters01:23 When Everything Changes05:25 Losing a Role: The First 72 Hours10:05 Personal Branding & Getting Comfortable Being Visible14:50 The Promise of iPSCs18:00 From Scientist to Commercial Leader21:31 What Fundraising Really Looks Like Today23:29 Changing the Conversation About Inclusion28:28 Why Cell & Gene Therapy Still Excites Her31:28 What 13-Year-Old Priya Would Think Today35:27 Just Keep Doing the Next Right Thing37:02 Tough Times Didn't Break Us, They Made Us🎧 Follow She Leads Biotech for more conversations with the people building, leading and shaping biotech.#SheLeadsBiotech #Biotech #BiotechLeadership #CellAndGeneTherapy #WomenInBiotech #LifeSciences #BiotechCareers