Sampreet shares how graduating into the 2008 financial crisis forced him to rethink his career from day one. What was meant to be a short stop in oncology turned into an 18-year commitment to the industry. We talk about leading the commercialization of CAR-T in Germany, writing a launch playbook from scratch, and why excellence in launch is rare.

We also discussed hiring mistakes — from overselling a role to ignoring a gut feeling — and why culture isn’t what you write on slides, but what you accept, celebrate, and tolerate, gender equity, the motherhood penalty, and what leadership responsibility truly means when it’s personal.

Outside his professional work, Sampreet is someone who intentionally steps into discomfort — whether that’s learning tennis from scratch, snowboarding, practicing yoga, or picking up a camera as a hobby photographer. For him, growth isn’t just professional — it’s personal, physical, and ongoing.

Here’s What You’re In For

• Building teams that can handle stress, scrutiny, and speed
• The moment he hired someone “perfect on paper” — but ignored his gut
• The real meaning of gender equity — and the career fear he witnessed at home

Timestamps

02:17 – Graduating into the 2008 crash and taking an oncology role by necessity

02:32 – From tech in India to committing to pharma

09:11 – Commercializing CAR-T and pioneering a new launch model

10:18 – Writing a playbook from scratch for cell & gene therapy

13:03 – What’s changed (and what hasn’t) in launches

18:53 – Building great launch teams: mindset, resilience, experimentation

24:30 – Overselling a role and watching it unravel

27:18 – Ignoring a gut feeling in hiring

30:01 – Gender equity, motherhood penalty & parental leave

36:56 – Ending up in the emergency room — and rethinking ambition

About Sampreet

Sampreet Ramachandra is Head of the Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, with over 18 years of experience across global, regional, and country leadership roles. He has led multiple best-in-class and first-in-class launches, including pioneering the commercialization of CAR-T in Germany.

Originally starting his career in tech in India before graduating into the 2008 financial crisis, Sampreet built his path in pharma through purpose-driven decisions and continuous learning — holding degrees from Harvard, LSE, and India. Beyond commercial leadership, he is a strong advocate for gender equity and a supporter of youth education initiatives in India.

Outside work, he’s a hobby photographer, snowboarder, yoga enthusiast, and is currently learning tennis

Connect with Sampreet:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampreetramachandra/
• Website: https://www.novartis.com/de-de/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Volker talked about the risks of hiring KOLs straight into VP or CMO roles, and why some thrive while others struggle. He also mentioned Taiho’s unique setup—anchored in Princeton, embedded in Otsuka’s Japanese holding—and how that cross-cultural mix shapes everything from decision-making speed to communication style.

He also shares his most personal leadership lessons: the regret of staying silent in work, the “ask, don’t accuse” method he uses now, and how to manage egos when science and careers collide. From Taiho’s pipeline to his views on hiring, recruiters, and why impact often starts only after 18–24 months, this was a candid look at the realities of building teams and drugs that last.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

1. KOLs jumping straight to VP/CMO—when it’s transformational vs. a risky mis‑fit.
2. Over‑prepared vs. under‑prepared interviews: what signals actually predict success.
3. Recruiters who stick the landing: investing time upfront and optimizing for tenure, not just speed.

Timestamps:

01:26 – Why he left academia and looked to industry

03:12 – Learning the “other side” of development: regulatory, compliance, CMC

05:00 – KOLs jumping to VP/CMO: when it works and why it’s risky

11:31 – Working US/EU/Japan: direct vs. indirect communication; shared principles

14:00 – Why candidates might love Taiho: “small enough to feel personal, big enough to win,” plus stability

16:20 – The biomarker‑assay story: when not speaking up backfired

23:22 – Hiring: over‑prepared vs under‑prepared—what Volker actually looks for

26:29 – Good vs excellent recruiters: the time they put in before the search

About Volker

Volker Wacheck is Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development at Taiho Oncology. A medical oncology background and now over two decades of industry experience its fair to say he knows a lot about cancer research.

Taiho is known for its cancer drug development including, Futi-Ba-tinib their FG-FR inhibitor and Zipa-Ler-tinib which targets EGFR Mutations.

Volker is also someone who comes highly recommended, Michael Lahn, Ilaria Conti and insert other great person in the field all know and respect Volker. We spoke a few weeks before ASCO, met at ASCO and now doing this - and of course its a pleasure to have him on here.

Connect with Volker:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/volker-wacheck-b173248/
2. Website: https://www.taihooncology.com/us/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
2. Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Dena shares what it was like being the only MD–PhD in Amgen’s business development group, how she transitioned into clinical development, and the lessons she carried forward from her time in both politics and national media, where she became a trusted voice during the COVID pandemic. We dive into the real difference between presenting “the what” and explaining “the so what,” and why communication often makes or breaks careers in biotech.

Alongside her professional journey, Dena opens up about the wildest recruitment experience she’s ever had, her approach to building strong teams, and why patience in hiring beats rushing a decision. And in our quick-fire round, she shares stories from her days as a state champion soccer player, her love of surfing, and how she unwinds outside biotech.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

1. How a political campaign loss led to a media career during COVID
2. How to handle interviews when you’re introverted
3. The kinds of questions that truly impress hiring managers

Timestamps

01:10 – Landing her first industry role at Amgen

03:24 – Repatha and investigational therapies at Keros

04:49 – Surfing, soccer, and state championships

07:08 – From political spouse to running for Congress

08:42 – Becoming a media commentator during COVID

10:41 – Communication lessons: from “what” to “so what”

15:14 – Advice for introverts in interviews and early career roles

17:37 – How thoughtful questions can change the dynamic in an interview

21:02 – Nearly 20 years as a hiring manager: what’s changed and what hasn’t

23:11 – Advice for junior hiring managers and why patience matters

25:37 – A candidate with a completely fabricated CV—the wildest recruitment story

About Dena

Dr. Dena Grayson is a physician–scientist (MD, PhD) with over 20 years in biotech drug development. At the time of this recording, she was SVP and Head of Clinical Development at Keros Therapeutics, leading programs in rare bone marrow disorders, and she has since become SVP of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics. Earlier in her career, she helped advance Repatha at Amgen, and her path has also included running for Congress and serving as a national media voice during COVID, experiences that shaped her belief that communication is as critical as science in driving biotech forward.

Connect with Dena:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denaminninggrayson/
2. Website: https://kyvernatx.com/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
2. Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Richard’s career began in the NHS, where he spent five years practicing acute medicine and intensive care—until the moment he realized he couldn’t picture himself doing the same thing for the next 30 years. That realization sparked a pivot that many physicians quietly wrestle with: leaving behind the security of the ward for the uncertainty of industry.

Richard also shares what it was like to walk away from a stable VP role at Bayer during a restructuring, take an intentional career break, and use those months to reflect on what really mattered before joining Antag Therapeutics. We talk about the shift from big pharma to biotech, what he learned from leading through severe stakeholder misalignment, and why authentic communication matters more than management theory when things get messy.

And yes—there’s a light-hearted detour into Berlin life, bad currywurst, and how to tell when it’s time to make serious changes in your team.

Here’s What You’re In For

1. What makes Antag Therapeutics’ culture unique
2. The hardest leadership call: deciding when the problem is you vs them
3. The recruitment ghosting story that every hiring manager should hear

Timestamps

02:08 – Leaving the NHS: deciding what he could be “happily bored with”

04:00 – Landing his first pharma job at Bayer in drug safety

09:33 – Overview of Antag Therapeutics and GIPR vs GLP-1

13:20 – Leaving Bayer and taking a sabbatical to reset

17:08 – What it’s like to work at Antag Therapeutics—and what he looks for in candidates

18:46 – The toughest chapter: extreme stakeholder misalignment in dermatology

25:16 – Leadership lessons: firing, feedback, and the “benefit of the doubt”

29:00 – Why managers struggle to act fast—and how structure slows decisions

31:48 – Richard’s worst recruitment experience: being ghosted by agencies

About Richard

Richard Nkulikiyinka, is the Chief Medical Officer of Antag Therapeutics, a biotech developing GIPR antagonists within the Obesity space. A UK-trained physician, he spent five years practicing in acute medicine and intensive care within the NHS - this is also where he developed his dry sense of humour - and now he transitioned into the biopharmaceutical industry, where he has built over 17 years of experience.

Prior to joining Antag, Richard served as Vice President in Clinical Development at Bayer Pharma, where he played a central role in advancing four drugs to approval. He is now ein Berliner - where we often meet for clubbing and currywurst.

Connect with Richard:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-nkulikiyinka-66336014/
2. Website: https://antagtx.com/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
2. Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

After ten years in the hospital system, he faced a turning point: realizing that to help more patients, he’d have to step outside the clinic. That leap led him into industry at a time when ADCs were still an emerging idea — and he’s since built a career around transforming long-term scientific perseverance into patient impact.

Markus opened up about layoffs and restructuring, learning to lead through influence rather than authority, and why “patient-centricity” has to be more than a corporate phrase. He also shared how Daiichi Sankyo invests in nurses, why he values authenticity above experience in hiring, and how he handles tough conversations — including a live role-play on what to do when an employee asks for a promotion that isn’t possible.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

1. How to lead through influence, not authority
2. What patient-centricity really looks like inside Daiichi Sankyo
3. How perseverance and ikigai fuel innovation

Timestamps

03:00 – From hospital to industry — how his first pharma role came about

07:15 – Leading through influence instead of authority

08:10 – Guiding teams through restructuring

09:45 – How empathy and transparency define good leadership

12:10 – Patient-centric culture at Daiichi Sankyo

17:45 – Japanese lessons in ikigai

20:40 – Hiring authenticity

25:00 – Role-play: handling promotion requests and career plateaus

About Markus

Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch is Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo, with extensive leadership experience in oncology and global pharma. Before joining Daiichi Sankyo, he spent 16.5 years at Wyeth and Pfizer in senior roles. Trained as a physician, Markus worked for a decade treating cancer patients before moving into the pharmaceutical industry.

His early personal experience with cancer — losing his father at age 21 — shaped his commitment to patient-centric innovation. Known for connecting scientific excellence with responsibility and perseverance, he focuses on advancing breakthrough oncology therapies, particularly Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs). He is passionate about leadership, collaboration, and embedding patient needs at the center of every decision.

Connect with Markus

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-kosch/
2. Daiichi Sankyo Europe: https://www.daiichi-sankyo.eu/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
2. Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

I invited Myriam to join me here because she posts some of the most insightful and practical content about what life is really like as a Medical Affairs professional. She shares her journey from academia to pharma, and what it really takes to succeed in Medical Affairs without losing your sense of purpose. She opens up about the early days at Novartis, the steep transition from the lab to corporate life, and the practical lessons she learned through trial and error—most especially the KOL meeting that didn’t go as planned.

She also shares the turning point that came when her role at GSK was made redundant, how that moment became the spark behind founding Kalyx Medical, and why she now helps MSLs and Medical Leads use AI with intention, and not as a gimmick. Along the way, she reflects on mentorship, resilience, and how to stand out in an industry that tests both your patience and adaptability.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

1. Why mentorship can make or break your first MSL year
2. The “so what” factor that makes a CV stand out
3. How AI can help MSLs read smarter, not harder

Timestamps

01:15 – From PhD in molecular biology to Medical Affairs

03:07 – The reality behind the MSL role

05:30 – Starting at Novartis and feeling out of depth

06:52 – Her first KOL meeting—and what went wrong

08:08 – Why mentorship changes everything

10:17 – How long it took to land her first MSL role

15:34 – Turning objections into opportunities

22:42 – From GSK restructure to starting Kalyx Medical

25:26 – Two big mistakes companies make with AI

28:37 – How AI gives MSLs a competitive edge

About Myriam

Dr. Myriam Cherif is the former Regional Medical Lead – Oncology, Emerging Markets at GSK and the Founder of Kalyx Medical, a consultancy focused on medical affairs strategy and AI training. With over 14 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Myriam has worked across a wide range of therapy areas, including cardiovascular, immunology, and oncology, and held leadership roles spanning the UK and emerging markets.

At GSK, she led medical strategy and scientific engagement across diverse regions, ensuring compliance and excellence in oncology communication. Through Kalyx Medical, Myriam also supports biotech and pharma companies by enhancing their medical affairs capabilities and preparing teams for the evolving landscape of AI-driven drug development and engagement.

Connect with Myriam

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-cherif-phd-977a911/
2. Kalyx Medical: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kalyx-medical/about/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
2. Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Sven speaks openly about the toughest move of his career: leaving the safety of a government research institute to run a startup where pressure, governance disputes, and fundraising could make or break the company. He explains why independent boards are essential, how culture must be defined from day one, and why money and trust suddenly matter a lot more when you’re no longer in a state-funded environment.

He also shared the fine line between science and marketing in radiopharmaceuticals—the misleading claims, the half-truths about isotope supply, and how exaggeration risks turning investors and the public away from the whole field. Sven also gives a clear picture of Pantera’s mission to expand actinium-225 production, what real diversity in a team looks like, and why letting people go quickly can be the fairest option for everyone.

We also spoke about Sven’s view on recruiters—the practices that cross the line and what still makes collaborations worthwhile.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• Governance clashes with corporate founders in Pantera’s early years
• Building a leadership team that complements each other’s strengths
• Sven’s frustrations with recruiter behavior

Timestamps

01:06 – Choosing a PhD and landing at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center

03:05 – The hardest step: leaving government research for startup life

04:49 – Governance disputes and the need for independent boards

06:32 – Lessons learned: business plans, money, and building trust in leadership teams

08:24 – Culture as the foundation of Pantera’s identity

09:02 – How hype and half-truths distort isotope marketing

10:50 – Why reliability, cost, and scale matter more than technical ability

12:13 – The danger of running down competitor isotopes

14:00 – What Pantera is building: actinium-225 supply today and long-term plans

22:22 – Hiring and why letting people go quickly can be the right call

24:08 – Sven’s frustrations with recruiter behavior

About Sven

Sven Van den Berghe is the CEO of PanTera, a company that aims to expand the supply of medical isotopes for cancer therapies. With a background in physics and a PhD in materials science, Sven spent more than two decades at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK CEN), where he rose through the ranks to become Institute Director. In 2021, he made the bold move from a secure government institute to leading a biotech startup—an inflection point he calls one of the hardest, but most rewarding, decisions of his career.

Throughout his career, Sven has combined deep technical expertise in nuclear research with leadership in complex organizations. Today, he leads Pantera in its mission to expand the global supply of medical isotopes, drawing on his background in science, governance, and international collaboration. 

Connect with Sven:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svenvdberghe/ 
• Website: https://pantera-life.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Catello shares the turning points that shaped his career: walking away from his PhD to get closer to patients, breaking into VC after years in biotech operations, and the hard decision to leave a fund when partnership opportunities weren’t on the table. He also gives an insider’s view on what people get wrong about venture capital—the pressure of fundraising cycles, the competition for partnership seats, and why the job is far from the traditional perception of “writing checks from a couch.”

And to round things off, he takes on some quick-fire questions, from his daily coffee intake to the advice he wishes he’d heard earlier in his career.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• The skills biotech professionals often lack when they first enter VC
• The hard truth about career progression in VC—why few ever make partner
• How the biotech funding downturn is reshaping investor behavior

Timestamps

1:45 – Leaving academia, dropping a PhD, and first steps into industry

4:02 – Pros and cons of entering VC from biotech vs finance-only backgrounds

8:13 – What differentiates Seroba: flat structure, collegiality, and no egos

10:02 – How the biotech recession and closed IPO window reshaped strategies

13:11 – The biggest misconceptions about venture capital work

16:14 – The insecurity of VC careers: five-year fund cycles and job risk

17:29 – Hard lessons: breaking into VC and walking away when promotion wasn’t possible

19:35 – Quick-fire round: coffee habits, books, family life, funniest dinner with Kevin

About Catello

Catello Somma is a Partner at ROA Ventures, where he invests in early-stage life science companies across Europe and North America. His path into venture wasn’t straightforward: after leaving a PhD program to get closer to patients, he built his career in CROs and biotech operations, later completing an MBA to bridge the gap between science and finance. 

Before joining Seroba, Catello worked on both sides of the biotech ecosystem, from building operational teams to structuring deals. Currently, he focuses on supporting founders through the toughest parts of the journey: scaling companies, navigating funding cycles, and preparing for exits. Known for his pragmatic approach and emphasis on culture, Catello brings a long-term mindset to venture—balancing the pressures of short-term market shifts with the resilience needed to build enduring biotech businesses.

Connect with Catello:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catellosomma/ 
• Website: https://serobavc.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Kevin opened up about the habits that nearly held him back early in his career, how a colleague’s honest feedback changed the way he leads, and why the quiet moments in meetings often say more about culture than the loud ones.

He also shared about today’s funding climate—why raising money feels tougher than ever, what investors really look for, and why every company needs a clear plan for when things don’t go as expected. And outside of biotech, Kevin’s focus is on mentoring the next generation of scientists through the Society for Science, an organization he’s been deeply involved with for years.

Here’s What You’re In For

• The subtle warning signs of a weak culture (and why silence is the biggest one)
• The kind of questions investors ask now that many companies aren’t ready for
• How mentoring young scientists through the Society for Science has become Kevin’s way of giving back

Timestamps

00:58 – How Kevin moved from academia into industry

06:00 – The colleague who bluntly told him to be quiet

10:20 – What Kevin has seen change in biotech fundraising over the past few years

12:34 – The advice he gives to early-stage companies heading into investor meetings

16:15 – What most outsiders don’t realize about being on the investment side

17:54 – What “culture” actually means to him, and why bad leadership kills it

20:14 – The subtle early signs of a broken culture: silence in meetings

26:48 – Kevin’s involvement with the Society for Science and mentoring future scientists

About Kevin

Kevin Heller is a former biotech CMO and a current advisor to funds and VCs. He serves as Investment Team Advisor at an equity fund investing in biotech. He is a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, and began his career at BMS where he contributed to the development of YUR-VOY.

He has held CMO roles at several biotech companies, worked on numerous early-stage programs (including at Incyte), and continues to influence the field through his advisory roles.

Kevin serves as a mentor, judge, and council member of Society for Science, a nonprofit that promotes science literacy and runs major student science fairs worldwide, in his way of giving back to the mentors who guided him early in his career. For him, it’s about inspiring the next generation to see science as something they can own and shape.

Connect with Kevin:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-n-heller-8bbb985/ 
• Society for Science:https://www.societyforscience.org/  

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

He discussed the differences between biotech and big pharma cultures, what it means to lead in a “cultural sandwich” role, and why accountability and agility look different depending on the environment. Carl also spoke about age bias in hiring, the importance of curiosity during interviews, and the kind of toxic hiring process that made him withdraw his application early in his career.

He explained why he looks for “band members” instead of “rock stars” when building teams, how character matters more than buzzwords or tick-box credentials, and why blinded CVs often miss the real story behind a candidate. And, in a lighter moment, Carl answered a series of quick-fire questions—from his habit of quoting movies, to the kinds of conversations he avoids, to the advice he’d give to someone starting out in the industry.

Here’s What You’re In For

• The benefits and challenges of a non-linear career path
• Why networking often matters more than a “tick-box” CV
• Why blinded CVs fail to capture the real story behind a candidate

Timestamps

02:20 – Scarcity and the First Job Hunt

05:10 – Non-Linear Careers and Self-Doubt

07:00 – The CV Tick-Box Trap

14:00 – Leading in a Cultural Sandwich

17:00 – What Biotech Culture Really Means

20:00 – Hiring for Accountability and Fit

23:00 – Age Bias in Pharma Hiring

30:00 – Band Members vs Rock Stars in Building a Team

32:00 – Why Blinded CVs Miss the Story

33:30 – Quick-Fire: Movie Quotes, Habits, and Career Advice

About Carl

Dr. Carl Deutsch, Chief Scientific Officer at NBE Therapeutics. A chemist by training, Carl earned his PhD in Dortmund, Germany, and went on to broaden his scientific horizons in the U.S. and Japan. He later added a business edge to his profile with an MBA from Mannheim Business School and ESSEC Paris.

Carl played a key role in the development of Mercks first in-house antibody-drug conjugate, M9140, and also helped drive innovation as an intrapreneur, launching an award-winning project under Merck Life Science. Since 2022, he has been leading scientific strategy at NBE Therapeutics.

Outside the lab, Carl has a creative side, he once took the stage as a member of an acting group and joining wild podcasts like mine.

Connect with Carl:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-deutsch-phd-mba-82ba28168/ 
• NBE Therapeutics: https://nbe-therapeutics.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Aleksandra also opened up about her childhood—growing up with two cancer-researcher parents, skipping school to attend medical conferences—and how that path eventually led her to leave Serbia with a six-month visa and no real plan. That risk turned into a 20-year career in the UK, and a leadership journey she never could have mapped out.

She once brought a pipette to school for show and tell. These days, she reads nervous systems before resumes, believes leadership is about repair—not perfection—and says her job is to “love a drug into existence.”

Later this year, Aleksandra will be leading a workshop at the Society of Integrative Oncology Annual Meeting in Boston on October 27, 2025, alongside her colleagues Dr. Anna Yusim and Dr. Steve Bierman. The session, “Creating a New Kind of Intelligence in Oncology Practice” will explore neuro-somatic intelligence, noetic medicine, and mental health in oncology and biotech. CME credits and a full training curriculum will be provided. More information below.

Here’s what you’re in for:

• Why she’s grateful her career didn’t go according to plan
• Why hiring based on “gut feeling” can lead to prejudice if you’re not careful
• How perfectionism quietly seeps into leadership

Timestamps:

02:00 Childhood in a Cancer-Obsessed Family

06:30 Why She Left Serbia With No Job and No Plan

09:00 When Your Career Goes “Wrong”, and It’s the Best Thing That Happens

16:45 Interview Advice: “Don’t Perform—Be Honest”

21:30 What Falls Apart When Hiring Goes Wrong

23:30 The Danger of “Gut Feel” in Leadership Hiring

33:00 What It Feels Like When Your Childhood Perfectionism Takes Over at Work

36:00 How She Regulates Herself as a Leader—and Teaches Her Team To Do the Same

39:00 The Workshop: Neurosomatic Tools for Oncology Professionals

About Aleksandra:

Dr. Aleksandra Filipovic is the Chief Medical Officer at Gallop Oncology, where she leads oncology asset sourcing and preclinical to clinical development strategy. With a background as a clinical oncologist and a PhD in Cancer cell biology its safe to say she knows a lot about this area.  

Prior to joining Gallop, Aleks still acts as the head of oncology for PureTech health and prior to this she was with BMS and also consulted for Astrazeneca. She is a practicing clinician from Imperial College London, sits on the board of a global oncology educational platform sharing progress in cancer care and hosts a podcast “Into the Body” with Dr. Alex for OncoDaily. She practices applied neuro-somatic-intelligence with cancer patients and applies these same principles in biotech leadership. 

Connect with Aleksandra:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-filipovic-md-ph-d-0b63441b/ 

From Our Guest — Upcoming Workshop for Oncology Professionals

Are you in the oncology field, feeling the weight of burnout and seeking ways to enhance your patient care within the limited time you have in clinic? Reconnect to the core of your work with our upcoming workshop.

Join Dr. Anna Yusim, @SteveBierman from Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, and myself for an impactful session in Boston on October 27th from 8-9:45AM. This workshop is a part of the Society for Integrative Oncology Annual Meeting.

With only 2 weeks remaining to secure your spot, don't miss this chance to elevate your Oncology Intelligence. Register now using the provided link or QR code: https://lnkd.in/gGupDMa9

Looking forward to your participation!

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Heidi opens up about the pressures of leading during personal tragedy, how BMS supported her through it, and why she now builds teams around values like authenticity and innovation. This episode is equal parts personal and professional, offering rare insight into what true leadership looks like, especially in biotech.

Here’s what you’re in for:

• Why staying at BMS for 30 years wasn’t planned
• A behind-the-scenes look at OBI’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform
• What authenticity looks like in interviews (with stories from Stanford PhDs to Shanghai branding workshops)

TMI Segment:

• Coffee intake? Hint: Usual number for a regular coffee drinker
• Hidden gem in Taiwan? Hint: You see it every day, do not think too much.
• Favorite book? Hint: It has something to do with “Hidden”
• Most grateful for? Hint: POV of a good leader 
• Can’t guess the answer? Listen to the episode to find out.

Timestamps:

01:56 – How Losing Her Father to Cancer Shaped Her Life's Work

04:53 – “It Was Only Chemotherapy Back Then”—Facing the Limits of Treatment

06:34 – What 10,000 Stomach Cancer Patients Meant to Her

08:45 – Would She Have Quit BMS If They Didn’t Support Her? 

10:21 – Why She Joined OBI and Her Vision for ADC Innovation

13:34 – What She Really Looks For When Hiring

15:34 – The Arrogance Trap in Interviews

17:16 – Humility vs. Branding: Hiring Across US and Asian Cultures

20:20 – The Worst Outcome of Rushed Hiring

22:50 – When You Don’t Need a Hire

25:40 – Quickfire Questions

About Heidi

Dr. Heidi Wang is the CEO of O-B-I Pharma and Chairman of OBIGen, a biotech specializing in oncology. With nearly 30 years of experience in drug development and regulatory affairs, Heidi has led approvals for immuno-oncology and antiviral drugs globally.  O-B-I Pharma has a unique pipeline of ADCs and cancer immunotherapies of which we will learn during the episode.

She holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology and completed postdoctoral training in cancer biology. She also mentors and teaches extensively - rarely accepting payment personally and always donating to charity instead, love that. She has kindly donated her time here, welcome. ​

Connect with Heidi:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiwang/ 
• OBI Pharma: https://www.obipharma.com/ 
• OBIGEN: https://www.obigenpharma.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

András opens up about key moments in his career, including the personal crisis that almost forced him to leave the industry, the turning point when he stepped into his CMO role, and what it really takes to develop first-in-class ADCs with novel payloads.

We also dive deep into industry-wide mistakes—why promising clinical programs still fail because of poor design, how pressure and under-resourcing distort decision-making, and why senior leadership continues to overlook culture fit when hiring.

András also shares behind-the-scenes insights into Heidelberg’s development of amanitin-based ADCs, what makes their team culture unique, and why “good enough” just isn’t good enough when you’re trying to build something from scratch.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• Why culture alignment should outweigh credentials when building teams
• How to spot red flags in hiring—even before the offer stage
• What good leadership looks like in biotech—and what it never forgets

Timestamps

02:18 – Why he left clinical practice and how he got his first pharma job at J&J

05:38 – Career highlights: relocating from Hungary and becoming CMO

09:09 – Career low point: near job loss during relocation and how he handled it

11:01 – Burnout in his first role and the health consequences of overwork

13:38 – Overview of Heidelberg Pharma’s ADC platform 

15:58 – What defines the people and culture at Heidelberg

18:51 – Biggest industry mistakes: bad study design, rushed decisions, outdated models

26:00 – Hiring reflections: CV vs culture fit, and how interviews often mislead

About András

Dr. András Strassz is the Chief Medical Officer of Heidelberg Pharma, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for targeted cancer treatment. András specializes in early clinical development, focusing on oncology and hematological oncology. He has experience working in both Big Pharma, namely JnJ, Amgen, Novartis, and Biotechs - Polyphor, Affimed, and his current company, Heidelberg Pharma across three countries: Hungary, Germany, and Switzerland. 

Outside his professional stint, his hobbies are DIY, hiking, and cooking. We have know each other for a while now, always appreciated András honesty, humour and insights and he is here to join me today - welcome.

Connect with András

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/András-strassz-md-mba-a03a1147/ 
• Heidelberg Pharma: https://heidelberg-pharma.com/en/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Steven is a trained surgical oncologist and associate professor at Brown University, Steven has spent his career helping patients with solid tumors—from removing liver and pancreatic cancers in the OR to pushing the limits of immunotherapy in biotech. He was previously CMO at Trius Life Sciences.

Here’s what you’re in for:

• What happens when you don’t clearly define what you’re hiring for
• How bad hires can quietly fracture entire clinical programs
• Why the “safe” development plan isn’t always the smartest—and when to take the risk anyway

TMI: Things You Didn’t Know About Steven

• Loves tennis, history, and TRX workouts
• Favorite thing in London? The West End theater scene (avoid: kids on Netflix!)

Timestamps:

04:06 – Lessons from surgery that shaped his biotech career

08:35 – Advice to surgeons and doctors considering a move to biotech

13:20 – Why IPSC is so promising for oncology and autoimmune disease

17:00 – Culture clash or culture strength? Japan–US dynamics at Shinobi

22:30 – When internal alignment falls apart

24:35 – Playing it safe vs. doing what’s right

26:19 – Common mistakes Steven still sees in biotech

30:15 – The problem with drug delivery in solid tumors

31:00 – Best and worst experiences with recruiters

33:08 – What happens when you hire the wrong person

34:46 – Final question: What is Steven most grateful for in his career

About Steven

Dr. Steven Katz is the CMO and SVP of Translational Science for Shinobi Therapeutics for Shinobi Therapeutics, a biotech developing off-the-shelf, immune-evasive, iPSC-derived cell therapies, and Professor of Surgery at Brown University. He has dedicated his career to helping patients with solid tumors in the operating room and developing novel immunotherapy solutions for those beyond the reach of current standard-of-care options.

Outside of his professional stint, he spends time with his children, doing TRX workouts, playing tennis, reading history and of course joining me on this podcast - welcome.

Connect with Steven:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katz-steve/ 
• Website: https://www.shinobitx.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

We talked about the wins and the setbacks: from finally securing Pembrolizumab supply after years of rejections, to those painful moments when you give your all to a project, and still feel unseen. Christian also opened up about hiring, leadership, and what makes a biotech team truly work (or fall apart). He shared why Immutep has gone all-in on LAG-3, what makes their international culture different from most, and why knowing your weaknesses might just be the most underrated leadership skill.

And to wrap things up, we threw in a few quickfire questions, from the book he’s reading (featuring octopuses!) to what he tries to do every single day to stay sharp.

Here’s what you’re in for:

• The red flag that made Christian walk away from a company
• Why great hiring is about cultural fit, not just perfect CVs
• What small biotechs misunderstand most about recruitment

Timestamps:

01:54 – From Economics to Biotech: How VC Summaries Led to Drug Development

07:41 – Career Lows: Feeling Undervalued and Facing a Regulatory Near-Shutdown

13:48 – Why LAG-3? The Science and Conviction Behind Immutep’s Strategy

14:34 – Inside Immutep: Low-Ego Culture, Fast Decisions, and Argument-Driven Thinking

17:00 – Hiring With Humility: The Culture Fit That Matters Most

22:47 – Cultural Fit Over Credentials: What Hiring Managers Really Want

33:44 – Quickfire Questions: Books, Octopuses, and Trying New Things

About Christian

Christian Mueller currently serves as the Chief Development Officer at Immutep, where he has been instrumental in advancing the company's lead compound, Efti, from Phase I through to Phase III clinical trials. ​Prior to his tenure at Immutep, Christian led the clinical development of Zolbetuximab, the first-ever CLDN18.2-directed antibody. 

Christian brings a unique multidisciplinary mindset to his work, describing himself as a “translator” between different scientific and operational domains. Outside of work, he is a lifelong basketball fan and enjoys spending time in nature

Connect with Christian

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-mueller-05199481/ 
• Immutep: https://www.immutep.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Kirsty gave insights on the importance of hiring the right people in clinical development, the balance between using consultants and in-house expertise, the cultural fit in hiring, and her experiences in the job search process, highlighting the importance of communication and feedback in recruitment.

Here’s what you’re in for:

• The problem with "unicorn" hiring expectations.
• Why the best hiring decisions often begin three to six months too late.
• When outsourcing fails: why early-stage biotech still needs in-house decision-makers.

Timestamps

01:56 From Vascular Surgery Dreams to Unexpected Beginnings

04:41 The High of an IND Win, and the Low of Leading Through Lockdown

07:25 The Career Advice That Changed Her Trajectory

09:34 Why Early Decisions Make or Break Biotech

17:52 In-House vs. Outsourced Roles

19:15 “What Do We Actually Need?” – A Biotech Hiring Dilemma

28:22 The Harsh Reality Behind Biotech Applications

32:36 The Value of Long-Term Professional Relationships

About Kirsty

Kirsty Crame is a seasoned medical doctor of over 12 years of experience in drug development. She got her MD in Amsterdam and since then has worked across therapeutic areas, diabetes, cancer, et cetera. But most, if not all, of her clinical development career, has been using personalized targeted therapies to find new cures to cancer. Outside of her professional life, Kirsty is a dedicated mother of two boys. She brings the same energy and discipline from the clinic to the field. She's an avid field hockey player and embraces an active lifestyle that keeps her balanced and thriving. Kirsty and I know each other as she was a candidate and then client of mine at Medigene.

Connect with Kirsty:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-crame-van-nierop-418b0b38/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Bernie also provides candid reflections on common organizational challenges, particularly the damaging effects of poorly executed reorganizations and layoffs. Throughout the conversation, he underscores the importance of fostering a strong, cohesive team culture, and the necessity of continuous learning and adaptation in pharma leadership.

Bernie also answers some quickfire personal questions: daily coffee habit? Unusual food did Bernie try for the first time recently? Who were the mentors that shaped Bernie’s career the most?

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• How data shapes tough go/no-go decisions in drug development.
• Understanding and avoiding common mistakes during organizational restructuring.
• Deciding the right moment to transition from part-time consultants to dedicated in-house expertise.

Timestamps

01:10 Career beginnings and transition from pulmonology to pharma

03:35 Emotional setbacks from clinical trial failures

09:00 Factors behind Astellas' multiple drug approvals

12:20 Common pitfalls organizations face during restructuring and reorganizations

16:10 Timing the shift from consultants to dedicated internal clinical leadership

19:40 How Bernie assesses culture fit and hiring red flags

26:00 Quick insights and personal reflections

About Bernie

Dr. Bernhardt Zeiher is a Member of the board of directors for Entrada Therapeutics, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, and Abeona Therapeutics. Dr. Zeiher is a physician specializing in pulmonary and critical care medicine with over 25 years of experience in drug development. He played a key role in securing approval for CRESEMBA (isavuconazole) for invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. 

As Head of Development and later Chief Medical Officer at Astellas, led the organization through one of its most productive periods, overseeing six late-phase development products.

Connect with Bernie:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernhardtzeiher/ 
• Entrada Therapeutics: https://www.entradatx.com/  
• Amylyx Pharmaceuticals: https://www.amylyx.com/   
• Abeona Therapeutics: https://www.abeonatherapeutics.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

He also discussed hiring and leadership: how to time a hire before it’s too late, the danger of relying on org charts, and why horizontal communication matters more than hierarchy. Ilya opens up about culture, team building, and what it really means to feel valued at work. He closes with a look ahead, sharing his excitement for global initiatives aimed at expanding cancer care in underserved regions.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why being both a doctor and an innovator became Ilya’s calling.
• A candid story of hiring too late—and what it costs him.
• Why “escalation” is a sign something’s already broken.

Timestamps:

00:54 Travel and Work-Life Balance

02:08 Career Journey and Passion for Technology

04:22 Highs and Lows in the Medical Field

08:38 The Role of GE Healthcare in Oncology

16:46 Company Culture, Hiring Insights, and Strategies

30:40 Quickfire Questions 

About Ilya

Dr. Ilya Gipp is a distinguished medical professional with over two decades of experience in diagnostic imaging and oncology. As the Oncology Chief Medical Officer at GE HealthCare, he has helped shaped the company's cancer care strategy, fostering partnerships with health systems worldwide. Ilya’s academic journey began with a Doctor of Medicine with a PhD in diagnostic radiology and diagnostic imaging. 

Prior to his tenure at GE HealthCare, Dr. Gipp held multiple roles at Royal Philips, culminating as Chief Medical Officer for Imaging and Oncology until 2023. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with leading health systems and governmental bodies globally to advance medicine and improve access to quality care. 

Connect with Ilya:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyagipp/ 
• Website: https://www.gehealthcare.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

where he shared his insights on drug development, leadership, and the importance of listening in building a successful team culture. He talked about his journey in the biotech industry, discussing the highs and lows of drug development, the lessons learned from his experiences with Osimertinib, and the common mistakes companies make. Michael emphasizes the significance of curiosity, collaboration, and a strong team dynamic in achieving success in the field of oncology.

Here's what you're in:

• How did Michael get into drug development and what were some of the drivers that still push him today? 
• What were some of the highest or proudest moments of his career? 
• What are the key traits for success according to Michael?

Timestamps:

01:25 Michael's Journey into Drug Development

03:28 Highest and Lowest Moments in Michael’s Career

05:50 Lessons from Osimertinib Development

07:50 Mistakes Companies Are Still Making Today

10:26 The Importance of Listening in Leadership

13:02 Ionctura's Mission and Achievements

22:51 Recruitment and Working with Recruiters

29:37 Final Reflections and Gratitude

About Michael

Michael Lahn, the current Chief Medical Officer of iOnctura,  a clinical-stage biotech focusing on therapies for neglected and hard-to-treat cancers. 

Michael completed training in Hematology-Oncology at the University of Freiburg in Germany and served as an Instructor in Immunology at the National Jewish Department of Immunology. He spent 14 years at Eli Lilly, became part of AstraZeneca's Osi-mertinib registration team, and later joined Incyte as the Head of the Geneva Office.

Connect with Michael

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-l-4a06519/  
• Company Website: https://www.ionctura.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Johan shares insights from a career spanning large pharma (Novartis, Abbott) and biotech startups, with contributions to therapies like Vidaza, Kisqali, Zykadia, and PT-112. He also discusses why cultural fit is non-negotiable in hiring, how small molecules can trigger anti-tumor immune responses, and the personal journey of shifting from commercial to clinical focus.

In this episode, we cover:

• How small molecules like PT-112 can trigger immune responses against cancer, and why this approach stands apart from traditional immunotherapies.
• Why cultural fit is a critical success factor for biotech hiring, and how the wrong hire can break a small company's momentum.
• How CMOs in biotech balance hands-on clinical work with C-suite leadership and constant fundraising challenges.

Timestamps:

01:26 Johan’s Journey: From practicing physician to entering pharma

04:38 Lessons from a difficult career moment

04:49 PT-112 and a novel approach to cancer treatment

08:43 A culture of curiosity, openness, and diverse backgrounds

10:15 Hiring the right fit: why technical skill isn’t enough

18:46 Challenges facing CMOs in biotech

23:46 What defines a high-performing clinical team

26:03 Best and worst practices in recruitment

About Johan

Johan Baeck is EVP and Chief Medical Officer at Promontory Therapeutics. His experience spans clinical development, medical affairs, and commercial operations across large pharma and biotech. He has contributed to the development of therapies like Vidaza, Kisqali, Zykadia, and PT-112, and has lived and worked across three continents, bringing a global perspective to clinical innovation.

Connect with Johan:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanbaeck/
• Website: https://promontorytx.com/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you are in for:

• How does company culture influence scientific innovation in biotech?
• What are the biggest challenges in drug discovery, and how can teams overcome them?
• What lessons has Peter learned from his time at GSK, AstraZeneca, and Nimbus?
• What does the future of small molecule drug development look like?

Timestamps:

01:09 Career Journey

05:15 Challenges and Lessons Learned

08:33 Overview of Nimbus Therapeutics

10:14 Exciting Clinical Trials at Nimbus

11:39 Culture at Nimbus Therapeutics

15:25 Industry Observations and AI

19:16 Recruitment Insights and Experiences

25:06 Quick Fire Questions

About Peter

Dr. Peter Tummino is the President of Research and Development at Nimbus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech that designs and develops novel small molecule medicines targeting difficult-to-drug proteins. He has been in small molecule drug discovery for over thirty years, including the past 6 with Nimbus.

While at GSK, he contributed to the discovery of the approved oncology drugs (Dabrafenib, Trametinib, and Daprodustat for chronic kidney disease).  At Nimbus, he led discovery during the development of Zaso-ci-tinib, which is currently in Phase 2 & 3 for psoriasis and other I&I clinical indications.

Connect with Peter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-tummino-7496753/

Nimbus Therapeutics: https://www.nimbustx.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• How did she secure her first job in the industry? 
• What were some of the highest and lowest moments of her career? 
• About Biotech CEO Sisterhood.

Timestamps:

01:04 Early Career and Entry into Pharmaceuticals

02:42 Proud Moments and Achievements in the Industry

06:07 Challenges and Learnings from Difficult Time

14:23 Industry Insights: Common Mistakes Companies Make

19:43 Leadership Challenges: People and Culture Mistakes

23:49 Quickfire Round: Personal Insights and Preferences

26:31The Importance of Community: CEO Sisterhood

About Abigail

Abigail Jenkins is a pharmaceutical executive with 25+ years of experience, most recently as CEO of Gamida Cell, where she led the FDA approval and launch of the first "pharmaceutical-grade" stem cell transplant. Previously, she was Chief Commercial and Business Officer at Lyndra Therapeutics, developing an ultra long-acting oral drug delivery platform, and SVP, Vaccines Business Unit Head at Emergent BioSolutions, leading a global team of 600 employees. She currently serves on the boards of A-questive Therapeutics and (ZOR-TEX) XORTX Therapeutics.

She began her career on the commercial side of the business, working in roles across all domains of sales, marketing, market access, operations, before expanding into business development, corporate strategy, and general management roles.

Connect with Abigail

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-jenkins-a713147/ 

About Biotech CEO Sisterhood

The Biotech CEO Sisterhood is a vibrant community dedicated to championing the success of women leaders in the biopharma industry. Rooted in a culture of mutual support and authenticity, the Sisterhood aims to inspire and uplift women while driving meaningful conversations and impact across the industry. As part of our commitment to nurturing the current and future generations of biotech leaders, the Sisterhood hosts summits, local events, and educational sessions. These programs encourage dialogue about the challenges facing women in biotech, share best practices, and enhance leadership effectiveness.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/biotech-ceo-sisterhood/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Joe speaks openly about his proudest contribution—helping lead Obinutuzumab to regulatory approval—and contrasts it with one of his lowest points: watching leadership ignore safety concerns around a CDK9 inhibitor that ultimately failed in the clinic.

Here's what you're in:

• How Joe helped lead Obinutuzumab to Phase III and approval.
• The fallout of pushing a CDK9 inhibitor with flawed preclinical data.
• His experience as a CEO and the lessons he carries forward.

Timestamps:

02:22 Working on Obinutuzumab and its approval

04:51 Dealing with toxic leadership and moving on

07:18 Introducing Aura Biosciences 

15:01 What Joe looks for when hiring at Aura

19:32 Why companies rely too much on CROs

24:44 The problem with safe bets and risk-averse R&D

29:47 Quickfire round 

About Joe

Joseph Birkett is the Executive Director of Medical Affairs at Aura Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotech company developing virus-like drug conjugates (VDCs) to treat cancers such as uveal melanoma. Joe has 25 years of oncology drug development experience, contributing to the approval of seven oncology drugs across multiple disease areas.

Prior to joining Aura Biosciences, he served as CEO of a stealth-mode EU biotech and is the founder of Crest Pharma. He holds a PhD in Psychiatric Medicine from King’s College London, and his passion extends beyond drug development to longevity, health, and wellness.

Connect with Joe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-birkett-14572410/ 

Company Website: https://www.aurabiosciences.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ 

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Bruce emphasizes the significance of staying committed to a company for growth and contribution, and he offers valuable insights on leadership and teamwork.

Here's what you're in:

• What is the specific moment in his life or career that helped drive him to where he is today?
• The benefits of having an executive coach.
• What did he learn from his career transition during his 60s?

Timestamps:

01:30 Career Beginnings in Medicine and Oncology

04:45 Transition to HIV Treatment and Impactful Moments

10:17 The Benefits of Having an Executive Coach 

16:24 Career Transition at 60s

20:05 About Xilio Therapeutics and its Culture

28:12 Final Advice

About Bruce

Bruce Dezube is the current Senior Vice President,  Clinical Development of Xilio Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing tumor-activated immuno-oncology therapies. He has worked in drug development, both in oncology and in HIV, for most of his 40 year career. He is proud to have led and contributed to teams that brought life-changing medicines to patients. He considers these patients on early treatment to be pioneers. Although he has not explored seas like Columbus or Magellan, he views his efforts as those of a modern-day explorer.

Connect with Bruce:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-dezube/  

Company Website: https://xiliotx.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• The highest and lowest career points of Chris’ career. 
• Why medical radioisotopes production is so important and how Nusano is approaching this. 
• Exploring mistakes that companies are still making today.  

Timestamps:

04:51 Proudest Moment of Chris in his Career and Leadership Philosophy

07:41 Nusano: Innovations in Medical Radioisotope Production

13:55 Building a Talented Team at Nusano

17:57 Company Culture and Societal Responsibility

19:48 Common Mistakes Companies Are Still Making Today

22:40 Case Study: The Francis Trial

30:24 Final Thoughts on Patient-Centric Drug Development

About Chris

Chris Lowe is the CEO of Nusano, a privately-held medical technology company that specializes in the production of medical radioisotopes used for diagnosing and treating diseases such as cancer. Chris has led 5 IPOs as a C-level executive, all focused on supporting therapeutic development, while efficiently building and scaling operations.

Prior to this, he spent 3 years with Cortexyme as COO and CFO. He has over 15 years of C-Suite experience in various private and public life sciences, medical technology, and technology companies.

Connect with Chris

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislowe7/ 

Company Website: https://nusano.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• How  cultural differences significantly impact on global operations of companies?
• How important is understanding the science behind drug development?
• What are big mistakes companies are still making today?

Timestamps:

01:38 Kevin's Early Career and Medical Journey

05:05 Transition to the Pharmaceutical Industry

10:37 Building and Leading Biotech Companies

12:16 Challenges and Learnings in Drug Development

15:32 Populus Bio's Unique Approach

22:01 Industry Observations and Mistakes

31:44 Hiring and Leading People in Biotech

36:07 Career Advice and Mentorship

About Kevin

Dr. Kevin Lynch is the  co-Founder, Populus Bio, a company focused on accelerating the development of therapies for debilitating diseases. He is a physician with more than 30 years experience in drug development, mainly oncology and haematology. He has worked across multiple geographies in senior roles for large, multi-nationals as well as smaller, start up companies. Previous to this he worked at Immodulon Therapeutics and as the CMO for Antengene for almost 2 years. When I asked Kevin about a proud career moment it was “Development of imatinib and facilitating one country's (Australia) role in helping define a standard of care.” He is here today on the podcast to share his career and insights from the industry. 

Connect with Kevin

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-lynch-6910742b/ 

Company Website: https://populusbio.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• What made Victor get into life science and what attracted him to regulatory affairs?
• The challenges faced and approval of Lutathera.
• Why regulatory professionals should be involved early in the development process?

Timestamps:

01:40 Victor's Early Career Journey

06:04 Career Highlights: The Approval of Lutathera

10:25 Challenges in Regulatory Affairs: The CMC Vaccine Program

18:58 The Culture and Vision at ARTBIO

25:07 Industry Observations and Common Mistakes

30:56 Career Advice for New Professionals

About Victor

Victor Paulus is the Senior Vice President and Head of Regulatory Affairs of ARTBIO, a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical biotechnology. Prior to ARTBIO, he served as Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for two years at Fusion Pharmaceuticals and also worked at AAA during the Lutathera approval. He has also worked on approvals including FluZone, Ze-mere-ra ,Pedia-rix, Anthim, Annovera, and Lutathera. Outside of his professional life, he has been passionate about environmental pursuits and enjoys activities such as birding, hiking, and spending time in the woods.

Connect with Victor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-paulus-25994a3/ 

Company Website: https://artbio.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• What made Chris pursue a career in oncology?
• Why did Chris join Fusion Pharmaceuticals?
• What are big mistakes companies are still making today? 

Timestamps:

02:41 Early Influences and Career Beginnings

06:43 Transitioning into Radiotherapeutics Field

13:36 The Process of Pivoting Trials

16:50 Dealing with Workforce Reduction

20:53 Joining Fusion Pharmaceuticals and Future Aspirations

24:36 Insights on Trial Failures and Learning Experiences

29:17 Hiring Practices and Building a Strong Team

34:11 Advice for Aspiring Biotech Professionals 

About Chris

Dr. Chris Leamon is the Chief Scientific Officer at Fusion Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing targeted alpha therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. He is also a scientific co-founder of Endocyte, the company that developed Pluvicto, and he has been an executive associated with two biotech acquisitions over the past six years: Endocyte (purchased by Novartis in Dec. 2018) and Fusion Pharmaceuticals (purchased by Astra Zeneca in June, 2024). Dr. Leamon earned his PhD in Biochemistry at Purdue University.

Connect with Chris

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-leamon-393639b/ 

Company Website: https://fusionpharma.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• Why did Dawn move into quality, regulatory, and leadership instead of staying in technical writing?
• What is the biggest lesson she learned from her career journey?
• Who does Nexeos Bio aim to help, and what is the company’s approach?

Timestamps

01:52 Dawn's Career Journey

05:20 Immunomedics and Troldevy

08:05 Joining Nexeos Bio

11:47 Challenges and Opportunities at NexEos Bio

15:09 Failures and Lessons in Clinical Trials

22:10 Insights About Hiring and Leadership

31:25 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

About Dawn

Dawn Rubel is the President of Research and Development at NexEos Bio, a privately held medical diagnostics and therapeutics company focused on developing innovative technologies for eosinophil-mediated diseases. Dawn has successful leadership experience in Biotech, Pharma, Medical Device from global multibillion-dollar corporations (Pfizer, Arthrex) to small biotechs (Immunomedics, NexEos Bio). She held leadership roles in safety, quality, & regulatory in her previous companies. She earned an MBA in Fairleigh Dickinson University and she did her Graduate Studies in Industrial Pharmacy, Pharmaceutics and Drug Design in Long Island University.

Connect with Dawn

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-rubel/

Company Website: https://www.nexeosbio.com/

About Me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• What success has he worked on Spikevax mRNA COVID vaccine, and what has he learned from it?
• What is Axelyf and its mission?
• What qualities of an individual is important when it comes to hiring?

Timestamps:

02:06 From Iceland to California

05:55 Joining Merck and Early Experiences

07:44 The Moderna Journey and Spikevax

15:26 Founding Axelyf and Its Mission

22:39 Industry Observations and Hiring Insights

32:14 Advice for Aspiring Professionals

About Orn

Orn Almarsson, co-founder of Axelyf, an Icelandic biotechnology start-up focusing on designing and developing medicines for inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Orn is a pharmaceutical scientist turned executive with 30 years in the industry and has worked with multiple products including the Covid vaccine, Spikevax at Moderna. He has a PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry from UC Santa Barbara, originally from Iceland but now lives in Massachusetts.

Connect with Orn

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%C3%B6rn-almarsson-9511b86/ 

Company Website: https://www.axelyf.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• What is the goal with Nuclidium? 
• How can networking becomes crucial for career advancement?
• Why did you decide to go down the founder route? 

Timestamps:

02:08 Journey into Life Sciences

04:26 Dealing With Career's Lowest Point

09:31 Getting A Job After Finishing PhD

11:09 Founding of her Own Company

14:37 Nuclidium and What Sets It Apart

21:55 Why Join Nuclidium - What is its Culture?

24:22 Lessons Learned Through Hiring and Managing People

27:38 Quickfire Questions

About Leila

Dr. Leila Jaafar, CEO of Nuclidium, a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical working on copper-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Dr. Leila is also the co-founder of LinaThera, which is partnered with Nuclidium and focuses on the production of medical radionuclides. Prior to joining Nuclidium, she was the CEO of Swiss Nuclides for 5 years and Program Manager at Areva for 6 years. Outside of her professional role, she plays the violin and loves to read in her free time.

Connect with Leila

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-jaafar-605642130/ 

Company Website: https://nuclidium.com/ 

About Me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• What are other lessons from the Vadimezan Phase III failure?
• What is unique about Indaptus? 
• Why are so few companies focused on multi-targets and instead focus mostly on targeted therapy? 

Timestamps:

00:38 Introduction and Career Background 

02:16 About Indaptus' Broad Immune Stimulant 

05:08 Advantages of a Broad, Multi-Targeted Approach

10:08 Why Companies Don't Do Broad, Multi-Targeted Approach

13:44 Vadimezan and its Science

16:06 Learning Experiences from Clinical Trials of Vadimezan 

21:58 Insights About Rushing the Trials into Phase III

26:53 GoDocGo: Inexpensive Cervical Cancer Screening

About Roger

Roger Waltzman is a Chief Medical Officer at Indaptus Therapeutics, where he leads the Phase 1a/b immuno-oncology program. Indaptus develops anti-cancer and anti-viral immunotherapy products, with its lead candidate, Decoy20, currently in Phase 1 trials. Indaptus' proprietary platform utilizes non-pathogenic bacteria and has patent protection in 32 countries. Before Indaptus, Dr. Waltzman held CMO roles at Molecular Templates and RegenX (now Inspirna), and he spent nine years at Novartis, where he led clinical development teams, including the Jakavi collaboration. Dr. Waltzman also holds an MD from Brown and an MBA from Columbia. He serves as a Board of a non-profit organization called GoDocGo which provides low-cost cervical cancer screening.

Connect with Roger

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-waltzman-021bb91/ 

Company Website: https://indaptusrx.com/ 

Organization: https://www.godocgo.org/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• How many drugs fail end-points due to Bad Leadership? 
• Why does Gertjan believe sequential and traditional drug Development can kill innovation within Drug Development?. 
• What advice does Gertjan give to those wanting to become a CEO? 

Timestamps:

02:53 The Abraxane Course Correction

06:03 Gertjan’s Journey into Life Sciences 

10:40 Leaving Celgene and New Ventures

15:50 Bayesian Statistics in Clinical Studies

19:27 Mistakes Companies Are Still Making Today 

25:38 The Ambitious People

35:46 Advice for Aspiring Executives

About Gertjan

Gertjan Bartlemais co-founder of Populus Bio and current CEO of Immodulon Therapeutics which is running cancer trials focusing on a broad spectrum immunomodulator. He is a global biotech executive with extensive experience in EU and US operational roles and he is a member of founding Celgene EMEA management establishing EU footprint and launching Revlimid. Prior to joining Immodulon, he was the Chief Business Officer of Vico Therapeutics, and spent 12 years with Celgene, where he led the trial of Revlimid. Gertjan holds MSc in Economics from Maastricht University. 

Connect with Gertjan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gertjan-bartlema/ 

Populus Bio: https://populusbio.com/ 

Immodulon Therapeutics: https://www.immodulon.com/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in:

• How cultural fit can be influenced by candidate behavior?
• How using vague terms like 'strategy' can lead to misunderstandings?
• Why building rapport with interviewers is crucial for success?

Timestamps:

01:09 Background Story

03:37 Not a Good Cultural Fit

07:29 Candidates Going To Get Bored/ Not Hands-on Enough

12:01 Not Giving Straight to the Point Answers

16:52 Summary 

About Me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Caroline and I also shared stories of both our best and worst hiring experiences, emphasizing out the need for clear expectations and good communication. Our conversation wraps up with a round of quickfire questions, providing more tips on recruitment best practices.

Here's what you're in:

• What are the most common hiring mistakes and how does that affect things later on?
• How long should a CV be? How long should an interview be?
• To give or not to give controversial feedback to candidates?

Timestamps:

01:50 Introduction and Career Background

03:16 Caroline's New Mission: candidate-first

06:19 Common Mistakes in Recruitment Processes

09:31 Importance of Authenticity in Communication

11:11 Communication Strategies with Hiring Managers

16:35 Building a Smooth and Clean Recruitment Process

22:43 Best and Worst Experience in Recruitment 

34:00 Quickfire Questions and Insights

About Caroline

Caroline Vermeulen is a Recruitment & HR at Eminence. She has an educational background of Bsc in Life sciences/Biotechnology, has over a decade of experience in the industry, including early-phase trials for generics, cell and gene therapies, immunotherapies, and pain medications, and has helped over a thousand candidates find jobs as a recruiter. Transitioning from agency to corporate recruitment, she faced challenges due to the complexities of corporate structures and the challenges in communication. Now, she is excited to launch her new business, candidate-first.com, focused on delivering quality candidate responses.

Connect with Caroline

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinevermeulen1/ 

Website: www.candidate-first.com   

About Me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

Here's what you're in for:

• How to ask intelligent questions in an interview?
• What are the types of questions can you focus on?
• Which stages of the interview is the best time to ask the questions?

Timestamps:

01:51 Interview Strategies

03:25 The Situation

06:39 The Three Main Topics of the Questions

10:13 Examples of Questions to Ask

11:09 How to Ask Iintelligent Questions 

21:25 Summary

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Troels shares valuable lessons learned from past experiences, including the need for companies to secure sufficient funding and the significance of having the right people in key positions. The discussion also covers Troels' interest in the hair care market, highlighting its increasing connection with biotech.

Here's what you're in:

• What do people forget during the good times? 
• Why this recession is not the worst?
• What are the big mistakes companies are still making? 

Timestamps:

02:17 Introduction and Career Background

07:43 Biotech Recession and Insights from the Advanced Therapies Congress

12:46 Strategies on Reaching Out to Investors

18:13 The Challenges of Being in a Hiring Position

21:16 Finding the Right People for the Team

25:50 Lessons from Past and the Current State of the Biotech Inddustry

28:36 Exploring the Hair Care Market

About Troels

Troels Jordansen is the Executive Chairman at KELI Therapeutics, a stem cell and gene therapy company based in Lithuania, with nearly 30 years of experience in international healthcare of which about 25 years focusing on tissue engineering and cellular therapies. Though not a scientist, his commercial expertise has led him to roles in pioneering companies like Genzyme and Isotis, where he contributed to major innovations and IPOs. Troels has a marketing and management background earned from Copenhagen Business School and Aarhus Business College.

Connect with Troels

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troelsjordansen/ 
• Website: https://keli.eu/ 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

The podcast also covers practical strategies for negotiating salaries and promotions, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's value and the company's perspective.

Here's what you're in:

• Where do people go wrong in negotiation?
• Is Trump a good negotiator? 
• How could the Harvard Negotiation Course benefit people working in clinical research? 

Timestamps:

01:41 Introduction to Bracco and Career Background

04:40 The Harvard Negotiation Course Experience - What's in it?

12:26 Key Takeaways from the Course

18:29 The Qualities of a Good Negotiator

20:42 How Good Negotiators Do Negotiation

26:44 Negotiating Better Salaries and Promotions

30:15 Final Thoughts on Negotiation

About Sophie

Sophie He is the Head of M&A and Partnering at Bracco, the globally leading players in diagnostic pharmaceuticals. She has over a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She has been heavily involved in M&A and business development, which goes with her passion of negotiation. Prior to her roles in pharma, she gained experience in consulting and banking. She holds a PhD from MIT and NUS (National Univeristy of Singapore), has recently attended a Harvard Course, and is a CFA holder.

Connect with Sophie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-he-phd/ 

Website: https://www.bracco.com/ 

Harvard Course Link: https://www.exed.hbs.edu/changing-game-negotiation-competitive-decision-making 

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

This will be helpful for those who wanted to significantly improve and do well in all of their interviews. 

Here's what you're in for:

• Why are the three core interview questions that will make you one step ahead in interviews?
• Why is it important to understand the hiring manager's perspective?

Timestamps:

00:36 The Three Main Interview Questions

01:35 One Fatal Mistake During An Interview

02:58 Answering The 3 Questions 

03:52 Controlling The Narrative

06:12 Going One Step Ahead In Your Interview

08:04 Avoiding Giving Subjective Answers

10:05 Moving On With The Interview 

13:49 Final Summary 

14:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

We also discuss:

• The impact of ready-made therapies on cancer treatment
• Common problems in clinical trials and how to dodge them
• What we can learn from the ROCKET trial's close call
• Tips for assembling a top-notch biotech team
• Turning obstacles into major advances in medical research

Here's what you're in:

02:15 Meeting Nik and his background

04:30 The promise of new cell therapies

09:45 Tough parts of creating new treatments

15:20 How to build strong teams

21:35 What we learned from the ROCKET trial

27:10 Success stories of Lysocell and reaching more patients

32:55 How to talk better in medical research

38:40 Making a good team spirit at work

43:15 Why getting along matters in teams

46:30 Final thoughts and advice for newcomers

About Nikolaus Trede

Nikolaus Trede is a physician-scientist specializing in immunology and pediatric hematology/oncology. With a PhD in immunology and 15 years of clinical experience at institutions like Harvard Medical School and the University of Utah, he bridges basic science and patient care. Dr. Trede has led academic research labs and industry teams, designing and supervising clinical trials for innovative cancer treatments. His work spans from chronic myelogenous leukemia studies to current CAR T cell trials in hematologic malignancies at JUNO/Celgene, demonstrating his expertise in translating scientific concepts into clinical applications.

Connect with Nikolaus Trede:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolaus-trede/

Website: https://www.centurytx.com/

About me

My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Mary also offers advice for young mothers and career professionals on making choices that align with their personal and professional goals, highlighting the evolving nature of career and family life.

Here's what you're in:

00:02 Introduction and Career Background

07:52 Building Capabilities for Career Reentry

16:42 C4 Therapeutics and Protein Degradation

24:00 Communication in Clinical Trials

28:35 Overcoming Challenges in Decision-Making

35:47 Shifting Perspectives in Career Growth

42:01 Balancing Career and Family Life

About Mary Christian

Mary Christian, PharmD, MBA, is the Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Safety at C4 Therapeutics, Inc. A passionate and decisive biopharma executive, leader, and advisor, Mary delivers visionary solutions across all phases of drug development. She has demonstrated success in creating, building, and integrating novel capabilities in an international biopharma environment, as well as deconstructing organizations to create fit-for-purpose solutions and value opportunities.

Apart from her work, Mary is devoted to mentoring through initiatives like Project Onramp. She has also steered many company changes. On top of her career, she's a proud mom to three accomplished adults and a loving grandmother to four girls.

Connect with Mary:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-christianpharmd

Website: https://c4therapeutics.com/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry. He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

In this episode, Charles talks with Anita Scheuber,the SVP of clinical development at Nimbus Therapeutics—a biotech firm using computational technology to develop medicines. She shares their pioneering work in AI-targeted drug discovery and her experience co-founding the biotech startup Hestia.

Anita highlights how different backgrounds help solve problems, the value of mentorship, and how to beat feelings of being an imposter. She also shares tips for strong leadership and gives guidance to budding biotech entrepreneurs.

Here's what you're in:

01:01 Anita's Journey to the U.S.

02:35  Switching from Neuroscience to Oncology

07:56 Joining Nimbus Therapeutics

10:07 Why Workplace Diversity Matters

14:56 Founding Hestia-A Startup biotech

24:40 Leadership and Personal Growth

30:14 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

32:16 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

About Anita Scheuber

Anita Scheuber brings over 15 years of pharmaceutical industry experience to Nimbus, specializing in oncology clinical development. Her expertise spans small molecule and immuno-oncology drug development across various stages and tumor types. She has held leadership positions at Trillium Therapeutics, Boston Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and GSK. She holds an M.D. from the University of Zurich and a Ph.D. in Neurosciences from Sorbonne University, with additional training at Harvard Medical School and Swiss hospitals.

Connect with Guest

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-scheuber-8a1a8220/

Website: https://www.nimbustx.com/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry. He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Lastly, Jackie shares her passion-driven initiative, Kathy's Fund, which aims to support nurse leaders and honor her mother's legacy.

Here's what you're in:

00:31 Jackie's Career as Scottish Parliament to Pharma

06:17 Workforce Planning in Pharma

08:04 Case Study about Syndax Pharmaceuticals

10:48 Workforce Planning Challenges and Benefits

19:29 Organizational Success Reflections

19:37 Future Building

20:03 Workforce Capabilities

22:08 Junior Manager Advice

23:23 Management Communication

24:29 Workforce Transformation Lessons

25:59 Efficiency and Digitalization

28:47 Employee Efficiency Improvement

31:54 HR Partners' Value

38:18 Kathy's Fund and Personal Motivation

About Jackie Donovan

Jackie Donovan is a seasoned Human Resources leader with a strong background in developing and managing people operations in the pharmaceutical industry. Currently, she serves as the VP, CMO Chief of Staff, Development Business Operations at Syndax Pharmaceuticals, where she plays a critical role in driving strategic initiatives. Prior to this, she was the SVP, Head of People at LifeMine Therapeutics, where she led efforts in employee benefits and compensation. Her expertise in aligning stakeholder perspectives and building strong relationships with C-level executives has been key to her success in these roles.

Connect with Guest:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-codair-donovan-a6964312/

Website: https://syndax.com/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry. He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

In this episode, Charles discuss with Patrizio Renzetti, the former Head of HR at Arrakis Therapeutics that discovers RNA-targeted medicines, the importance of cultural fit, psychological safety, and effective communication in the workplace.

He also covers the role of recruiters in bringing diverse perspectives and ensuring a good organizational fit, offering practical tips for both leaders and job seekers to improve their experiences and outcomes.

Here's what you're in:

00:00 Introduction and Moving to the US

05:35 The Importance of Cultural Understanding

07:22 Effective Leadership and Communication

13:49 Creating Psychological Safety and Transparency

17:39 Hiring Practices and Transparency

24:27 Recruitment Strategies and Best Practices

24:42 The Shift from Selling to Providing Accurate Information

29:42 Optimizing the Hiring Process

35:33 Building Trust and Collaboration with Recruiters

37:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About Patrizio Renzetti

Patrizio Renzetti brings twenty years of HR expertise in creating environments that draw, keep, and grow top talent at fast-growing firms, including top biopharmaceutical companies. He comes to Arrakis from Agios Pharmaceuticals, where he was the Vice President of Human Resources for R&D, Technical Operations, and Europe, after leading Talent Acquisition. Before that, he had senior HR positions at Eli Lilly and Company, working with Global Clinical Development, the Diabetes Business Unit, and the Italian Manufacturing site. Earlier on, he worked in various HR roles for Procter & Gamble in Italy.

Connect with Guest:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrizio-renzetti-382125/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

In this episode, Charles interviews Sonal Gupta, the SVP, Head of Clinical Development of AffyImmune Therapeutics-a biopharmaceutical firm focusing on affinity-tuned CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors.

They discuss about how far does a company get with bad science if they have great leaders, the effective leadership strategies in clinical development, and the importance of Cultural Fit in Hiring.

She also shares her passion for women in life sciences and her local group aimed at supporting women in the field.

Here's what you're in for:

01:30 Sonal's Background and Career Journey

03:21 Introduction to AffyImmune

04:41 Bad Science vs. Bad Leadership

06:52 Clinical Development Leadership

07:58 Making Difficult Decisions in Leadership

20:43 Leadership Journey and Interviewing Experience

21:53 Importance of Cultural Fit in Hiring

27:55 Advice for Junior Leaders

28:53 Passion and Enthusiasm in Interviews

34:57 Quick Fire Questions on Interviewing

36:41 Personal Journey into Medicine

37:38 Women in Leadership and Life Sciences

40:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About Sonal Gupta

Sonal Gupta has over 15 years of industry experience, with leadership positions at AVROBIO, CRISPR Therapeutics, and Rubius Therapeutics.

She's led teams in translational research and medicine across areas like oncology and rare diseases. Her expertise spans clinical trial design, medical monitoring, and clinical data management, including biomarker strategies.

She holds a PhD in cancer research from the University of Bradford, UK, and a medical degree from Government Medical College, Surat, India.

Connect with Sonal Gupta:

Website:https://affyimmune.com/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonalkotharigupta/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

With over 20-25 years in clinical development recruitment, John shares valuable lessons learned, common mistakes, and effective partnership strategies. This conversation is packed with lessons for both recruiters and candidates aiming to navigate the competitive world of specialized recruitment.

Here's what you're in:

00:00 John Goldener Introduction

02:38 Starting a Recruiting Firm

06:06 Building a Network

12:02 Understanding the Science

19:07 The Importance of Retained Search

23:05 Impact of Considerate Recruitment Approaches

24:10 Personalized Interview Process

25:08 Challenges with Contingency Search

26:51 Importance of Candidate Fit

27:50 Quality-Based Recruiting System

30:52 Differences in Hiring Practices

32:31 Biotech vs. Big Pharma Dynamics

41:59 Advice for Job Seekers

46:11 Final Thoughts and Reflections

About John Goldener

Former pediatrician John Goldener transitioned into a pharmaceutical recruiter with over 20 years of experience and founded his own executive search firm, Goldener Executive Search Associates, focusing on oncology clinical development. With an MD and extensive clinical background, including running his practice and chairing a department, he placed 8-12 candidates yearly, totaling 100+ placements. Known for meticulous research and networking, plus attending key industry conferences, Goldener's expertise covers U.S. and European markets, working with companies like Genentech and numerous biotech firms. He combines medical knowledge with recruiting acumen to provide thorough candidate evaluations and job descriptions.

Connect with Guest:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-goldener-aa6642/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

He also talks about important things to consider when hiring people and how the field of developing new medical treatments is changing.

Here's what you're in for:

00:50 AI and Industry Trends

01:36 How Sumeet's career in Biotech Started

02:45 Sumeet's Professional Journey and Current Role

05:08 Hard Parts and New Ideas at Alligator Bioscience

14:42 Career Reflections and Lessons Learned

34:30 Tips on Hiring and Making a Good Team

45:29 Wrapping Up and gratitude

About Sumeet Ambarkhane

Sumeet Ambarkhane has been the Chief Medical Officer at Alligator Bioscience and part of the senior management since 2022. He is an experienced clinical development physician with a strong expertise in Oncology, Hemato-oncology, and Immunology Drug Development. He has in-depth experience in Medical Monitoring, Clinical Program Management, Regulatory Interactions, Translational Research, and Drug Safety.

He exhibits high-impact leadership at the organizational level and maintains a global network of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and drug development experts.

Connect with Sumeet Ambarkhane:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumeetambarkhane/?originalSubdomain=de

Website: https://alligatorbioscience.se/en/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

This episode is helpful for anyone looking to improve the quantity and quality of their job applications in a tough market.

Here's what you're in for:

01:35 Current Job Market Challenges

03:43 Common Job Search Mistakes

06:55 Outsourcing Your Job Search: An Overview

08:55 Practical Steps for Outsourcing

11:02 Advanced Outsourcing Techniques

12:48 Building a Proactive Job Search Strategy

14:25 Leveraging Technology and Tools

20:23 Creating a Comprehensive Outsourcing Plan

23:47 Cost and Resources for Outsourcing

25:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Li highlights how key mentorship is, the need for clear communication in clinical studies, and ways to handle cross-cultural work challenges.

Here's what you're in for:

01:14 Professional Background and Work at Yonsei University

03:53 Journey from China to the U.S.

07:14 COVID-19 Research and Clinical Trials

16:12 Challenges in Clinical Trials and Biotech Industry

23:22 Cultural Differences and Leadership in Biotech

25:52 U.S.-China Anti-Cancer Collaboration

33:12 Mentorship and Career Advice

About Li Yan

Li Yan, MD, PhD, Managing Director, US Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Adjunct Professor at Yonsei University Medical School. He was the former CMO of Brii Biosciences and is now currently preparing his next venture with a stealth start-up.

Li originally studied medicine in Beijing and then moved to Kansas to begin his oncology and clinical career in the US. From there, he joined J&J, Merck, and GSK before jumping into the fast-moving world of biotech.

Connect with Li Yan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/li-yan-88b5b46/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Val emphasizes that success in this field isn't just about scientific knowledge or achieving immediate results. Instead, it's about how you behave as a person, your ability to be present and attentive in interactions, and your capacity to build long-term relationships based on trust and transparency.

He sums this up nicely with the quote: "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity."

Here's what you're in for:

03:00 Starting a Career in Nuclear Pharmacy

07:07 Moving to Medical Affairs

10:03 Making Connections in Medical Affairs

18:38 Difficulties and Skills Needed in Medical Affairs

23:25 Building a Good Medical Affairs Team

28:22 Leadership Growth: Pros and Cons

29:19 Handling Growth and People in Organizations

31:15 Keeping Staff in Expanding Companies

36:42 When and How to Hire the Right People

45:15 Overused Words in Job Ads

51:19 Wrapping Up and Last Ideas

About Val Nassiri

Dr. Val Nassiri, MBA, PharmD, Head of Medical Affairs U.S., leads the Medical Affairs team at ITM. He works on strategic plans for radiopharmaceutical projects. Before this, Val was the Head of Medical Affairs at AAA, a Novartis company. He also worked as Senior Director at Daiichi Sankyo. There, he formed teams and made partnerships to help with research. His aim was to help patients live longer. Val graduated from the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy in Virginia.

Connect with Val:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/val-nassiri-pharmd-mba-84b7961/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

It also covers empathy in overcoming work challenges, featuring case studies and personal stories, and offers steps to build empathy bridges, vital for career progression.

Here's what to expect:

01:36 How Empathy Helps in Talking to Others

01:55 Knowing the Hard Parts of Work

03:12 What an Empathy Bridge Is and Why It Matters

07:44 A True Story: Leading with Empathy

09:49 Steps to Make Empathy Bridges

11:46 Wrapping Up and Last Ideas

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Sabine shares insights on balancing a demanding career with family, the importance of diversity in the workplace, effective team communication, and leadership. She concludes by discussing the role of mentors in her professional development.

Here's what you're in for:

00:57 Childhood and Education Journey

03:27 Choosing a Career in Medicine

09:55 Career Path and Industry Transition

16:32 Challenges and Successes in Drug Development

32:41 Leadership and Workplace Culture

38:46 Quickfire Questions and Conclusion

About Sabine Brookman-May

Prof. Sabine Brookman-May is a urologist, cancer expert, and sports medicine doctor. She is the Vice President of Cancer Research & Development at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. There, she leads the work on new cancer treatments. Her leadership and new ideas are key in creating new therapies in the cancer field.

Connect with Sabine:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-dr-med-sabine-d-brookman-may-48115728/

Website: https://www.janssen.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/brookmans76

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

He outlines a four-step sales strategy and go through relatable stories and practical advice, this episode guides listeners to improve their selling and communication skills.

Here's what you're in for:

02:21 The Biggest Myth in Selling

03:44 Why Questions Matter

04:32 Examples of Simple Questions

05:37 How Conditioning Affects Selling

08:06 Tips for Good Selling

12:42 Stories from Real Life and a Plan

19:40 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Crystal shares how she brings a personal touch to HR by emphasizing authenticity, accountability and community-building at PMV.

Here's what you are in for:

00:50 HR's Role in Biotech Changes

01:30 Crystal's HR Path and Move to PMV

05:03 Big Changes in Biotech: Celgene Joins BMS

08:30 Adjusting to a Smaller Company Feel During COVID

17:28 Building Responsibility and Influence at Every Level

21:15 Handling Job Cuts in Biotech

21:36 Leading Company Changes with Kindness

23:28 How to Share Tough News

23:49 Improving Help for Those Leaving Jobs

25:11 Looking Back on the Layoff Process and Responses

27:08 Making Layoffs More Personal

32:16 Tips for Interviews

35:33 Debunking Interview Myths and Sharing Tips

40:25 Helping Careers Grow with Project OnRamp

About Crystal Zuckerman

Crystal Zuckerman serves as PMV Pharma's Vice President of Human Resources, bringing over 20 years of industry expertise. Her tenure includes a significant stint at Celgene before its acquisition by BMS, after which she joined the more nimble PMV Pharma about 3.5 years ago. A proponent of authenticity and community in corporate culture, Crystal recently managed a sensitive restructuring, ensuring generous support for those affected.

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

The main issue was the candidate's inability to effectively sell his achievements and communicate his worth. This inspires Charles to create a series focused on helping professionals, especially those in scientific/medical fields, overcome the challenges of self-promotion for career advancement.

Here's what you are in for:

00:06 Introduction

00:29 Why you can't promotion

03:45 Sell yourself the right way

05:56 Final thoughts

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Amber shares thoughts on how this law could change U.S.-China biopharma ties, jobs, and making medicines. We also look into how things are changing in this area, who might benefit or not, and the big global tensions that affect these shifts.

Here's what you are in for:

00:00 Introduction

00:33 Welcoming the Guest

02:36 Discussing the Biosecure Act

04:34 Impact on the Biotech Industry

07:17 Geopolitical Tensions and Historical Context

16:09 Potential Winners and Losers

35:16 Future Predictions and Conclusion

About Amber Tong

Amber Tong is a senior editor at Endpoints News, which is a global specialty publication covering the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. She's a reporter/editor with more than six years of experience covering the biopharma industry, with a particular focus on the growing role China plays on the global stage.

Amber is also at BIO San Diego 2024, go say hi. 

Useful Information on BIOSECURE

Endpoints' latest articles:

BIO: China tensions, fixing gene therapy’s business model, and the stop-start market recovery

https://endpts.com/see-you-at-bio-china-tensions-fixing-gene-therapys-business-model-and-the-stop-start-market-recovery/

WuXi became a critical partner to biopharma companies. They’re not ready if the US cracks down

https://endpts.com/wuxi-became-a-critical-partner-to-biopharma-companies-theyre-not-ready-if-the-us-cracks-down/

The US could upend biopharma manufacturing. WuXi rivals have an opening

https://endpts.com/the-us-could-upend-biopharma-manufacturing-wuxi-rivals-have-an-opening/

US-China tensions threaten to ensnare additional Chinese biopharma contractors

https://endpts.com/us-china-tensions-threaten-to-ensnare-additional-chinese-biopharma-contractors/

New Biosecure draft features 2032 grandfather clause, five-year grace period for added companies

https://endpts.com/new-biosecure-draft-features-2032-grandfather-clause-five-year-grace-period-for-added-companies/

BIO CEO defends the organization's about-face on the Biosecure Act

https://endpts.com/bio-ceo-defends-the-organizations-about-face-on-the-biosecure-act/

Medicxi backs Chinese biotech's next-gen KRAS G12C drug with $40M injection

https://endpts.com/medicxi-backs-d3-bios-next-gen-kras-g12c-drug-with-40m-injection/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website:  https://www.discera-search.com/

He also shares a bit of fun insight about who he is and what he believes in business.

Here's what you are in for:

00:08 The 10 Commandments of Recruitment

00:14 Commandment 1: Always Give Feedback

00:47 Commandment 2: Don't Add to the Problem

02:47 Commandment 3: It's Not Personal

03:20 Commandment 4: Pride in Work Before Business

04:18 Commandment 5: Always Be Learning

05:07 Commandment 6: Understand Before Advising

06:04 Commandment 7: Don't Be an Idiot

06:15 Commandment 8: Be Refreshingly Honest

07:01 Commandment 9: Be Authentic

08:00 Commandment 10: Be Different and Keep Going

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

He also shares invaluable insights into the challenges of leadership, the burden of firing people, and the strategic decisions that drive success in the fast-paced world of biotech innovation.

Here's what you are in for:

01:36 Colin's Switch from Medicine to Biotech 

04:15 Moving from Treating Patients to Business

05:58 Lessons from Working on Rituxan

10:59 Changing Careers: Consulting, CROs, and Teamwork

23:03 Tips on Hiring and Making a Strong Biotech Team

27:45 The burden of Firing people

About Colin Hayward

Colin Hayward, MD is the former Chief Medical Officer at Telix Pharmaceuticals, a company that specializes in radiopharmaceuticals. He has over 20 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Colin leads the medical, regulatory, clinical operations, and safety activities at Telix worldwide.

He originally wanted to play football professionally for Brighton Hove Albion, but realized he wasn't good enough at age 12. Switched to field hockey, was academically gifted, loved science, and decided to pursue medicine to help people and dive deeper into science.

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

He tells a story about how poor communication can really upset candidates and from this story, he gives three tips for hiring managers. This episode emphasizes that it's good to give rejected candidates helpful, positive feedback and to keep talking to them for possible jobs later on rather than ghosting them.

He also shares three tips for hiring managers to protect their reputation and improve their interactions with candidates.

Here's what you are in for:

00:24 Why Protecting Your Reputation Matters

00:44 How Feedback Can Strengthen Your Reputation

02:23 Dealing with Rejection Positively

07:22 Tips for Hiring Managers on Empowerment and Feedback

07:56 Knowing How People Act at Work

15:01 The Need for Empathy and Humility in Hiring

17:40 Wrapping Up: Keeping Your Good Name at Work

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

He explains their strategies and adjustments in medical technology, focusing on radiotherapy. 

He talks about the challenges of producing and distributing these drugs and the importance of having capable leaders.

Ben also explores future developments in this field and how large pharmaceutical companies acquiring smaller ones can impact the industry.

Here's what you are in for:

00:22 Moving from Clinical Medicine to Pharma

02:00 Starting Out from Surgery to Pharma

04:33 Discovering New Areas in Pharma

08:50 Getting into Radiopharmaceuticals

16:02 Growing in a Radiopharmaceutical Career

19:25 Understanding Radiopharmaceuticals: Simple to Complex

24:34 Finding Your Way in the Radiopharmaceutical Field

33:57 What's Next for Radiopharmaceuticals and Career Tips

About Ben Pais

Ben is a doctor with 25 years in the life science field. He knows about urology, cardiology, and radiation oncology. He has handled clinical trials (phase I-IV), medical affairs, drug safety, getting products to market, launching products, and early sales steps. Since 2019, he's been a certified Pharmaceutical Physician NVFG. In 2020, he started at Ipsen as the Global Development Lead for Radiopharmaceuticals. Later, he moved to Ariceum.

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

He also discusses typical mistakes, like not showing the hidden benefits or linking past experiences to what future employers are looking for.

Here's what you are in for:

01:03 A Sneak Peek at Making Your CV

01:36 How to Make Sales Stories That Stick

04:18 Knowing Your Audience is Your First Step to Win

05:14 Being Specific on How to Make Stories Catchy

10:42 Using Lessons for Future Wins

11:26 The Secret to Job Applications

12:45 Building a Strong Professional Image

13:09 More Than Crafting a CV But Growing Your Career Chances

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Here's what you are in for:

00:00 Ricardo's Journey From Milan to Pharma Leader

00:19 Family's Influence in Early Life

03:25 Ricardo's Career Path from Chemistry to Pharma

05:38 Highs and Lows in Pharma Industry

05:51 Leadership Lessons

10:27 Taking the new role as the head of Radio Pharm

17:59 Building a 3-man start up team

30:24 Reflecting on Leadership and Advancement

35:41 The Future of Radiotherapy

About Riccardo Canevari

Riccardo is an experienced leader in specialty pharma, cancer care, and radiopharmaceuticals. He served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Advanced Accelerator Applications, a leading company owned by Novartis. There, he led commercial strategies in around 20 countries. His main focus was on expanding the market for Lutathera and preparing for the launch of Lu-PSMA 617 to treat advanced prostate cancer. Before this, Riccardo held top positions at Novartis Oncology. He oversaw the successful introduction of breast cancer drugs like KISQALI and PIQRAY. He also gained extensive experience from different roles at Novartis Pharma and Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson.

Connect with Riccardo:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riccardo-canevari-7239931/

Website: https://www.radiopharmtheranostics.com/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the 

biggest talent needs of Early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/

Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Looking ahead, Charles sees a bright future for radiotherapy, with better supply chains possibly making treatments cheaper and more accessible. 

Here's what you are in for:

00:00 Introduction to New Radiotherapy Methods

00:28 Understanding Radiotherapy Today

02:14 Early Trials in Radiotherapy

07:54 Key Trials and Their Effects on the Industry

12:17 The Future of Radiotherapy

13:21 Final Thoughts and What's Next

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent years doing diabetes research. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of Early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Ilaria shares about how ADCs (antibody-drug conjugates) are transforming cancer treatment, opportunities and challenges in ADC tech, and why global experience matters in pharma careers.

Here's what you are in for:

01:14 – Getting Into Medicine

09:56 – Interest in ADCs

11:25 – ADC’s History and Recent Developments

21:13 – Business Development Perspective on ADCs

25:38 – Expanding Beyond Hematology

31:02 – US vs. Europe in Pharma and Biotech Careers

40:28 – Inspiring the Next Generation

About Ilaria

Ilaria Contis is a pharmaceutical developer from Tuscany, Italy, where she spent her childhood. With a background in medicine and a strong drive for research, Ilaria was inspired by the groundbreaking work of Nobel Prize laureate Rita Levi-Montalcini to pursue a career in the medical field. Her journey led her to the United States, where she immersed herself in clinical research and eventually found her niche in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly focusing on the development of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs).

Connect with Ilaria:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilaria-conti-581bb06/
• Website: https://www.adctherapeutics.com/

About Charles

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea) and also spent years doing research in diabetes. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of Early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Here's what you are in for: 

00:00 - Introduction

01:49 - Salary Negotiation Topic Introduction

03:14 - Pre-Application Advice

08:11 - Research and Self-Value Assessment

10:45 - Application Form and Recruiter Interaction

13:05 - Interview Phase Strategy

15:15 - Salary Negotiation 

ABOUT CHARLES

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry.

He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea) and also spent years doing research in diabetes. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of Early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles on:

• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Mats discusses the challenges and opportunities in the radiopharmaceutical space and provides insights into nanomedical radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment using lutetium-177. 

He also shares his experiences and insights on leadership and communication skills, emphasizing the importance of effective communication in leadership roles, and discusses how his approach to leadership has evolved over the years.

Here's what you are in for: 

00:00 Introduction

05:08 - Experience in Drug Development

13:19 - The Role of AI on Pharma and BioTech

15:19 - Spargo Nanomedical and Recent Developments

23:15- Challenges and Opportunities in Radiopharmaceutical Space

25:48 - Considerations for Investors 

31:19 - Challenges and Growth as a CEO

ABOUT MATS

Mats Hansen, a scientist from southern Sweden, loves nature deeply and is curious and passionate about science. These driving forces propelled him to pursue a career in science and pharmaceutical development. Mats has come a long way, from his start in plant breeding and working with molecular markers to now being the CEO of Spago Nanomedical AB. By applying scientific knowledge in an industrial setting, he has adeptly navigated the challenges of drug development, continuously refining his skills in communication and leadership along the way. 

Connect with Mats on:

• LinkedIn: inkedin.com/in/matshansen1 
• Website: spagonanomedical.se  

ABOUT CHARLES

Charles Spence leads Discera, a leading recruitment firm specializing in the biopharma industry. He graduated with a biomedical degree, has worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea) and also spent years doing research in diabetes. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.

In 2023, Charles decided to launch his firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of Early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.

Connect with Charles:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ 
• Website: https://www.discera-search.com/

Whether you're a director, a C-level executive, or a clinical researcher in oncology bio-techs, this podcast is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in your field.

So, visit our website at www.discera-search.com, and tune in to A Dose of Reality for your prescription of career wisdom, leadership insights, and a healthy dose of laughter. 

Subscribe now and join us on the journey to becoming global clinical leaders!