SpreadLove In Organizations - Healthcare Leadership

In this special episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji sits down with Rose Saia, Executive Director of the Centre Street Food Pantry, to explore the deep connection between food, health, and dignity. Rose shares her powerful personal story — from growing up food insecure in South Boston to leading a community-driven food relief organization that now serves six Greater Boston communities. Drawing from her lived experience and leadership through the pandemic, Rose reflects on transforming Centre Street’s model to ensure equitable, dignified access to nutritious food for families in need. She discusses how food insecurity — often hidden even in affluent areas — is not only a social issue but also a public health crisis that intersects with housing, income, and healthcare access. Rose and Naji explore what leadership looks like in times of crisis, how communities can mobilize around empathy and purpose, and why solving hunger requires partnerships across health systems, local organizations, and individuals. Despite the challenges, Rose’s message is one of resilience and hope: our shared humanity drives us to help one another—and through food, we can touch lives and health in the most fundamental way. "When everything said we couldn’t, our community proved we can." MEET OUR GUESTS Rose Saia, Executive Director at Centre Street Food Pantry. Rose Saia Executive Director of Centre Street Food Pantry. Rose joined Centre Street in 2019 as a part-time Pantry Manager. When the pandemic began, she pivoted the operation to a new program and distribution model to address the exponential increase in food insecurity. She became Executive Director in 2021. Prior to joining Centre Street, she was Pantry Director for Open Table, a Metrowest regional grocery and meals agency. Her experience in nonprofit organizations includes being a member of the board of directors and marketing chair for The Capital Network and WEST (Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology), and as a CEO coach for women leading high-growth businesses at The Commonwealth Institute. Her professional career is anchored in high technology, where she was a leader of technical, product marketing, and business development teams for startups and global providers. She was the CEO and co-founder of a network security consulting and product company that was acquired by Juniper Networks. Rose is also a published writer and professional true-life storyteller who has appeared on local stages and on the national television series, “Stories from the Stage.” Visit and help Centre Street Food Pantry. Donate here.

In this episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, Naji is joined by Jean-Noël Pellegrin and Alain Eudaric, two veteran leaders in biotech and pharma, to discuss their new book, The Thriving Biopharma Business. With decades of experience shaping strategy, finance, and innovation across global markets, they share how purpose, clarity, and collaboration fuel success in one of the world’s most complex industries. Both guests describe their journeys — from engineering, finance, and corporate leadership at major companies like Sanofi — to helping biotech and pharma leaders align science, strategy, and market needs. Their mission through their book is clear: to help biotech innovators turn groundbreaking ideas into real-world impact. Jean-Noël and Alain dive into the lessons behind The Thriving Biopharma Business, highlighting key principles that drive sustainable growth in life sciences. They explore how companies like Moderna and Vertex Pharmaceuticals turned uncertainty into opportunity through bold strategy, storytelling, and disciplined leadership. The discussion brings to life their concept of integrative leadership — a model that connects perspectives across R&D, regulatory, finance, and commercial teams to accelerate decision-making and value creation. Through vivid examples of M&A integration and strategic partnerships, they illustrate how restraint, empathy, and emotional intelligence often determine whether innovation thrives or stalls in complex corporate settings. The conversation closes on the human side of biotech leadership — purpose, resilience, and love. The authors reflect on how storytelling and empathy are as crucial as data in convincing investors, partners, and patients to believe in a vision. They emphasize that thriving in biotech requires relentless curiosity, business acumen, and the courage to lead with compassion. As Jean-Noël and Alain put it, spreading love in organizations means creating environments where collaboration, integrity, and shared purpose drive breakthroughs that truly change lives. "Great outcomes demand more than science — they require decisive leadership.” – Alain Eudaric “Integrative leadership turns transactions into true partnerships built on trust.” – Jean-Noël Pellegrin MEET OUR GUESTS Alain Eudaric, President Idea Pathways. MEET OUR GUESTS Jean-Noël Pellegrin, Sr Director Valuation and Finance Support to Business Development, M&A at Sanofi. Alain Eudaric brings over 30 years of global expertise in biopharma, life sciences, and consulting, specializing in strategy, M&A, alliances, and innovation-led growth. He has held leadership roles at Kearney, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Parexel International, driving transformative programs and business success. As President of Idea Pathways, Alain focuses on driving operational excellence and fostering innovative growth strategies for the biopharma industry. He is an alum from Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, MIT, Purdue University, and Ecole Centrale de Lille with advanced degrees in Biotech, Business, Science, and Engineering. Jean-Noël Pellegrin has over 15 years of expertise in M&A and business development, with a proven track record of contributing to several hundred transactions. He began his career at EY before most recently joining Sanofi, where he has spent the last 20 years in France and the United States. His 30 years of combined experience across global public company finance, audit, accounting, and strategic transactions make him a trusted expert in valuing life sciences assets and structuring complex deals. He is an alum of Babson College and Sciences Po, with advanced degrees in Business and Finance. Find their book here!

In this special episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, in partnership with the Boston Biotechnology Summit, Naji Gehchan welcomes Benjamin Hadida, co-founder and CEO of Exeliom Biosciences, a French clinical-stage biotech company pioneering microbiome-based immunomodulation therapies. Benjamin shares his inspiring journey from studying finance and molecular biology to creating his “dream job” — building a biotech company developing novel drugs from scratch. Motivated by the strong scientific potential in France and the desire to bridge academia with industry, he co-founded Exeliom to transform promising academic discoveries into real-world treatments. Under his leadership, Exeliom has raised $29 million to advance EXL01, a first-in-class therapy targeting the innate immune system, now in Phase 2 trials for oncology, inflammatory bowel disease, and infectious diseases. Benjamin reflects on the early challenges of founding a biotech without a predefined roadmap, emphasizing the value of curiosity, humility, and adaptability. With no regulatory precedent or traditional C-suite structure, his team built a unique organization focused entirely on what their lead program needed to reach the clinic — not on personal titles or egos. This disciplined focus, coupled with clear alignment among co-founders and scientific advisors, allowed Exeliom to move an academic concept into advanced clinical trials. He highlights one key leadership lesson for biotech founders: always ask, “What does the program need?” — a mindset that drives both strategic clarity and organizational culture, ensuring every decision serves the science and the patients it aims to help. Benjamin also dives into the science behind Exeliom’s groundbreaking approach. Rather than targeting a molecule, their innovation emerged from clinical observations linking patient responses to immunotherapy with gut microbiome composition. Exeliom’s therapy leverages a specific bacterial strain, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, to modulate macrophages via the innate immune receptor NOD2 — effectively enhancing immune responses depending on disease context. Looking ahead, Benjamin sees EXL01 as an add-on immunomodulator that could boost responses to checkpoint inhibitors or anti-TNF treatments. His biggest challenge now is educating pharma partners about the real potential of microbiome-based therapies, often misunderstood after past industry missteps. "Put yourself behind others, not in front of them… You cannot be successful without love." MEET OUR GUESTS Benjamin Hadida, Co-Founder & CEO of Exeliom Biosciences. Benjamin Hadida is co-founder of Exeliom Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotech company founded in 2016 in France, winner of the Biotech Summit Pitch this year. With experience spanning investment banking, venture capital, regulatory affairs, biotech operations, and applied research, Benjamin brings a multidisciplinary perspective to biotech innovation. He holds master’s degrees in Management from ESSEC Business School, and Molecular and Cellular Biology from Sorbonne. Under his leadership, Exeliom has raised $29 million to develop EXL01, a groundbreaking microbiome-based immunomodulator targeting the innate immune system. This first-in-class therapy is now in Phase 2 trials for Immuno-oncology, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Infectious Diseases.

In this inspiring episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, in partnership with the Termeer Institute, host Naji Gehchan welcomes Dr. Fernando Vieira, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). A physician-scientist and engineer, Fernando shares his deeply personal journey from aspiring inventor to leading one of the world’s foremost non-profit biotechs dedicated to ALS. His passion stems from the loss of his close friend to the disease, which shaped his life’s mission - to translate scientific discovery into real treatments for people living with ALS. Fernando offers an inside look into the unique non-profit biotech model at ALS TDI -an organization that combines scientific rigor with mission-driven purpose. With integrated research programs spanning cell biology, pharmacology, and clinical data, ALS TDI develops and validates therapeutic targets, often spinning off intellectual property to for-profit partners to advance drug development. Fernando highlights the advantages of staying focused on a single disease area, building institutional knowledge, maintaining long-term commitment, and ensuring every effort serves the ALS community. He also explores the promise and challenge of rare disease research, emphasizing the complexity and need for multiple targeted therapies to address ALS’s many subtypes. Looking ahead, Fernando expresses optimism about emerging technologies, AI applications, and omics data transforming ALS research. From digital biomarkers and machine learning to novel therapeutic modalities, he believes the field is entering a new era of precision and hope. Reflecting on leadership, he defines it as servant leadership: serving the mission and his team with empathy and humility. As a recent Termeer Fellow, he praises the Foundation for fostering mentorship and connection among healthcare innovators. "Think about the people that you're trying to serve, and meet them where they are. Understand their needs, and let that guide everything you do." MEET OUR GUESTS Fernando Vieira, CEO and CSO at ALS Therapy Development Institute, Termeer Institute Fellow. Fernando Vieira has over 20 years of dedication to advancing ALS research and treatment development at the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), a non-profit biotech company. Dr. Vieira has progressed through various leadership roles at ALS TDI, culminating in his current positions as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer. He leads a team of over 25 researchers, overseeing target discovery, drug discovery, biomarker development, and translational ALS research. Having lost his closest friend to ALS, Fernando is deeply committed to translating scientific discoveries into clinical applications that benefit people with ALS. Fernando’s work integrates preclinical pharmacology, multi-omics, and digital outcome measures, driving the preclinical validation of multiple drugs, including tegoprubart, now in clinical development for ALS, along with kidney transplant. He has worked to establish ALS TDI as a hub for innovative ALS research infrastructure, fostering collaborations to enhance disease monitoring and therapeutic outcomes. Fernando is a recognized leader in ALS research, affirmed by his roles on the Research Committee of ALS ONE and the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations Research Directors Forum. He holds multiple patents for novel therapeutic approaches for ALS and has contributed to publications in multiple high impact journals such as Nature Communications, Nature Genetics, and Science Translational Medicine. Fernando earned a degree in biological engineering from the University of Florida and his MD from Harvard Medical School. Outside of his professional life, Dr. Vieira is a dedicated father to a high school-aged son in Newton. He actively participates in his son's activities with a local Scouting America troop. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, and playing basketball.

Dimitrios Skaltsas, CEO and co-founder of Intelligencia AI, shares his inspiring journey from studying law in Greece to pioneering AI in healthcare. He discusses the decline in R&D productivity and how AI can transform risk assessment in drug development. Dimitrios highlights the importance of blending human intuition with data-driven insights, emphasizing AI's role as a decision-support tool. He also reflects on the connection between creativity and leadership, advocating for caring leadership practices and a focus on prevention in healthcare.

In this episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, I am joined once again by my longtime friend and colleague, John Bamforth, to celebrate the launch of his new book Race to Innovation. John’s remarkable journey has taken him from his roots in Wigan, England, to building global brands at Eli Lilly, and most recently, leading the Eshelman Institute for Innovation at UNC-Chapel Hill. He was my very first guest when I started this podcast four years ago, and it’s a joy to welcome him back as we reflect on his career, his growth, and the bold ideas he is now championing. John shares the story behind Race to Innovation, which highlights the often-overlooked history of innovation and entrepreneurship in marginalized communities, particularly African American communities. The book blends untold stories of past trailblazers with interviews of today’s innovators, all grounded in the belief that unlocking potential in underrepresented groups creates value for all of us. This is not a zero-sum game; rather, encouraging diversity of thought and entrepreneurship helps societies thrive together. Our conversation goes beyond the book, touching on the meaning of innovation, the intentionality required to build diverse, trusting teams, and the essential role of purpose in uniting people around bold goals. John’s insights remind us of the power of assuming potential in every individual and of leading with genuine care for one another. His vision is a hopeful call to see difference not as division but as a force for solving the world’s most pressing challenges - together. "Innovation starts with assuming potential in every individual - and unlocking it benefits us all." MEET OUR GUESTS John P Bamforth, independent Director for Humacyte and a member of the commercialization committee. Dr John Bamforth PhD is an independent director for Humacyte Inc (NASDAQ: HUMA) and a member of the commercialization committee. In addition, he has served on the Boards of the Structural Genomics Consortium (https://www.thesgc.org) and READDI (https://readdi.org). On the READDI Board, John recruited 4 independent Board members including Sen Richard Burr and Lydia Ogden PhD (JNJ) and he chairs the compensation committee. He is an advisor to several privately owned biotech and healthcare companies and is an active investor. John is co-founder of the B and M Impact Foundation (BMimpact.org) which is focused on creating wealth and health in disadvantaged communities. John had a 30-year career at Eli Lilly and Company culminating in the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) role from 2016 to his retirement in 2018. He was also CMO of Lilly's $10B US operation from 2012-2016. Over his career at Lilly John was known for building highly engaged teams and launching multiple brands across the globe. Probably, his best-known success was the building of Cialis globally, the $2B a year blockbuster brand. On his retirement from Lilly, John was hired to lead Eshelman Innovation at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, an institute that was founded by a $100M gift, the largest gift in UNC's history. The institute leverages industry practices and the University's $1.5B research enterprise to develop novel therapeutics alongside digital health technologies. He stepped down from the role in 2025 after 6 years to focus on his board work and philanthropic endeavors. John has a pharmacy degree and PhD from his education in the United Kingdom. Pharmavoice named John one of Pharma's top 100 'Inspirational Leaders' in 2007 and his alma mater, Aston University, awarded him an Honorary Doctorate for service to the Pharma Industry in 2012. John lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his wife Sue, and has two adult children, Thomas and Rebecca. More about the Book on this link!

In this special episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, I had the honor of hosting Dr. François Nader and Khalil Barrage, the visionary co-founders of BioLink. This New York–based nonprofit is on a mission to connect biosciences professionals of Lebanese origin around the world, while building a sustainable life sciences ecosystem in Lebanon. François shared his inspiring journey from physician in Lebanon to global biotech leader, including turning around NPS Pharma before its $5B acquisition by Shire. Khalil reflected on his path from Lebanon to becoming one of the most active biotech investors through The Invus Group, with landmark investments in companies such as Moderna. Both leaders opened up about the origins of BioLink, which were born out of tragedy but fueled by hope. In the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion, they witnessed the strength and generosity of the Lebanese diaspora in the life sciences community. This moment of crisis revealed an incredible network of Lebanese talent across the industry and sparked the idea to create a global platform. BioLink was established not only to bring these leaders together, but also to lay the foundation for a life sciences economy in Lebanon that can create opportunities for the next generation. Throughout our conversation, François and Khalil emphasized values of vision, resilience, and credibility in leadership. They reminded us that true leadership shines in times of crisis, and that success in biotech requires grit, integrity, and long-term commitment. Above all, they shared a dream: to harness the collective power of Lebanese professionals worldwide to contribute back to Lebanon and build something enduring. This episode is a testament to purpose-driven leadership, collaboration, and the belief that together, we can inspire change. "Leaders show the most leadership during a crisis." -François Nader "In biotech, there are no shortcuts — integrity and the right team matter.” - Khalil Barrage MEET OUR GUESTS Francois Nader chairman of GEn1E Lifesciences, and board director of Moderna and Ring Therapeutics. MEET OUR GUESTS Khalil Barrage Managing Director at The Invus Group. This is a special episode, the first of a series in partnership with Biosciences Lebanese International Network – BioLink. This New York-based non-profit is on a mission to build a global community of professionals in biosciences of Lebanese origin, like me, and it turns out, there’s quite a few of us. Most interestingly, it has set a bold vision, which is to catalyze a life sciences ecosystem in Lebanon by working with local talent and academic centers, with the support of the Lebanese diaspora community. This is an ambitious goal, but BioLink.org’s founders Dr. Francois Nader and Khalil Barrage are some of the most accomplished people in the industry, and if anyone can pull it off, they can. I’m thrilled to have them with me today! Francois is a pharma veteran who sits on the board of several biopharma companies. He is chairman of GEn1E Lifesciences, and a board director of Moderna and Ring Therapeutics, as well as a senior advisor to Blackstone Life Sciences. Francois became well known within the industry, when he took the helm of NPS Pharma in 2006. The company was then on the verge of insolvency. Francois turned it around and sold it less than a decade later for more than $5 billion to Shire.  Khalil is a managing director at The Invus Group, a New York-based global investment firm. He established the Public Equity Group which invests in emerging innovative biotech companies, and co-manages private biotech investments, making Invus one of the most active investors in biotech, according to PitchBook. Khalil also sits on the board of several biotech companies, including ElevateBio, Sensorion, Onxeo, Protagenic Therapeutics, and Orthobond.

In this episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji Gehchan had the pleasure of hosting Catharine Smith, the inaugural Executive Director of the Termeer Institute. The Institute honors the legacy of former Genzyme CEO Henri Termeer by supporting biotech leaders who are driven by patient impact. Catherine shared her powerful journey, from growing up with limited access to healthcare, to leading initiatives at the Clinton Foundation and Harvard, and now shaping a movement that empowers early-stage biotech CEOs to tackle some of healthcare’s biggest challenges. Her personal story, rooted in seeing healthcare as a human right, set the stage for our inspiring conversation. Throughout our discussion, Catherine highlighted the importance of leadership as a catalyst for systemic change. Drawing from her experience in hospital medicine, primary care, and crisis response, she emphasized that effective leadership goes beyond technical expertise —it’s about training, mentoring, and empowering people to drive meaningful improvements in patient care. At the Tamir Foundation, this philosophy translates into supporting biotech founders not only with resources and technical skills, but also with values-aligned networks, mentorship, and leadership development tailored to their journeys. Catherine also shared her perspective on the future of biotech as a powerful lever for change in healthcare. From the promise of rare disease therapies to the growing energy in women’s health, she stressed how science and innovation must be matched with responsibility, equity, and human-centered leadership. For her, the “human variable” is the most crucial factor in whether breakthroughs succeed in transforming lives. As we closed, Catherine reminded healthcare leaders to hold onto their “why,” seek partnerships, and focus on solving big problems together. It was a conversation full of hope, responsibility, and a call to action for leaders across healthcare and biotech. "Biotech can be a lever to change healthcare." MEET OUR GUEST Catharine Smith, Executive Director of the Termeer Institute. Catharine Smith serves as inaugural Executive Director of the Termeer Institute (Former Termeer Foundation), which carries on the bold legacy of former Genzyme CEO Henri Termeer, who was committed to mentoring emerging leaders and whose dedication to patients resulted in groundbreaking treatments for rare diseases. The Termeer Foundation understands that bringing new treatments to patients is grueling work with a low probability of success and believes we can improve these odds by positively impacting the human variables in healthcare. By supporting biotech leaders, the Foundation seeks to increase the probability of creating cures and solving healthcare’s greatest challenges. Prior to the Termeer Foundation, Catharine served as the CEO of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative at the Clinton Foundation where she led a team focused on stigma reduction and overdose prevention related to the opioid epidemic. Before that role, Catharine was the Executive Director of the Harvard Center for Primary Care where she led business development, strategy, and operations for a think-tank focused on improving value-based, patient-centered care. Catharine holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a graduate degree in social science research from the University of Chicago.

In this episode, Naji Gehchan welcomes Selin Kurnaz, CEO and co-founder of Massive Bio, a health tech company using AI and data-driven solutions to expand access to cancer clinical trials. Selin shares her personal journey from a structured career in engineering and private equity to founding Massive Bio after her family’s experience with cancer. What started as a side project quickly became her full-time mission, as she realized the immense challenges and dedication required to drive change in healthcare. Since 2015, she has led Massive Bio to impact over 160,000 patients worldwide, with a focus on underserved communities and equitable access to clinical trials. Selin highlights the importance of applying engineering principles to clinical operations, particularly in solving the long-standing challenge of patient recruitment in oncology trials. By combining systematic problem-solving with regulatory knowledge, Massive Bio addresses inefficiencies across the patient enrollment journey—identification, pre-screening, and last-mile enrollment. She explains how AI enables scalability, reducing the time it takes to match patients with clinical trials from months to minutes. This approach not only empowers patients to advocate for themselves but also helps physicians and pharma companies accelerate drug development, creating both individual and population-level impact. Discussing leadership and growth, Selin emphasizes resilience, teamwork, and the importance of early adopters in driving healthcare innovation. She speaks candidly about the challenges women face in senior roles within health tech and the need for true meritocracy. At Massive Bio, she fosters a flat, mission-driven culture where every team member feels empowered and connected to the purpose of improving patients’ lives. Her closing advice to healthcare leaders is to remain resilient, embrace humility, and stay grounded—focusing on what truly matters: health, team, and impact. "I’m not seeking fairness in life, but success in the unfairness of life." MEET OUR GUEST Selin Kurnaz, CEO and co-founder of Massive Bio, a health tech company improving access to cancer clinical trials through AI and data-driven solutions. Selin Kurnaz is the CEO and co-founder of Massive Bio, a health tech company improving access to cancer clinical trials through AI and data-driven solutions. She holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and brings over a decade of experience in life sciences strategy and operations. Inspired by her family’s cancer journey, Selin launched Massive Bio in 2015 to make cutting-edge treatments more accessible, particularly in underserved communities. Under her leadership, the company has onboarded over 160,000 patients and built a global network of sites, partners, and advocates. Selin is also a recognized voice for women in tech and digital health innovation. About Massive Bio: Massive Bio is a healthcare technology company using AI to match cancer and rare disease patients with clinical trials and optimize drug use for better outcomes. Founded to address the barriers patients face in accessing advanced treatments, the platform simplifies and personalizes the clinical trial journey. With over 160,000 patients onboarded and partnerships with top pharma companies across 17 countries, Massive Bio is transforming oncology care. Its solutions reduce inefficiencies, accelerate drug development, and improve treatment access globally. The company is now expanding beyond trial matching into broader oncology services to become a leading data-driven cancer care platform.

In this episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji Gehchan welcomes Christy Fernandez-Cull, CEO of DaVinci Wearables and a trailblazer in tech and health innovation. Christy shares her inspiring journey from childhood curiosity — designing a cereal dispenser to let her hardworking parents sleep in — to leading groundbreaking work at companies like Apple, Waymo, and Google. With a PhD from Duke and an MBA from MIT, Christy blends deep technical expertise with visionary leadership, always guided by a moral compass instilled by her family and a relentless curiosity about the world. Christy introduces her current venture, DaVinci Wearables, with the bold ambition of becoming the “body API for better health.” She describes a future where garments not only clothe us but also provide real-time biometric insights, especially focused on women’s health, a historically underserved field. With partnerships across universities and health systems, DaVinci is building a wearable ecosystem that tracks hydration, hormones, nutrition, and physical activity, empowering users through a smart companion app that educates and nudges healthier habits. Their unique platform blends data, personalized coaching, and community, aiming to democratize body intelligence for every stage of a woman’s life. Throughout the conversation, Christy speaks candidly about the challenges and joys of entrepreneurship, especially as a female founder in health tech. She emphasizes the importance of empathy — both toward others and oneself — and encourages founders to stay anchored in purpose by connecting directly with the people they serve. Christy’s reflections on leadership, equity in women’s health, and the role of love and service in organizations offer powerful inspiration for healthcare leaders seeking to drive meaningful change. "If you need to feel inspired, go directly to your customer… They’ll remind you why you started." MEET OUR GUEST Christy Fernandez-Cull, CEO of DaVinci Wearables and former leader of sensing teams at Waymo (Google Self-Driving) and Lyft's Self-Driving Division. Dr. Christy Fernandez-Cull is CEO of DaVinci Wearables and former leader of sensing teams at Waymo (Google Self-Driving) and Lyft's Self-Driving Division. She played a key role at Apple, contributing to autonomous systems and releasing the first LiDAR module in the 2020 iPad. Dr. Fernandez-Cull has experience in Defense technologies at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and consumer products at Apple. She advises VCs and startups in mobility, autonomous vehicles, and digital health, and serves on several boards. She holds a Ph.D. from Duke University and an MBA from MIT and lectures at Columbia University and MIT. Longer Dr. Christy Fernandez-Cull is the CEO of DaVinci Wearables. Previously, she led the sensing and perception system’s teams at Waymo - formerly Google Self-Driving. She was also the Head of Sensors at Lyft Level 5 Self-Driving Division, leading sensor architecture for Lyft vehicle platforms — designing machine eyes to help transform transportation of the future. Prior to Lyft, she was a senior technologist at Apple spanning autonomous systems and the Camera and Depth Hardware team that released the first-of-kind Light Detection and Ranging module in the 2020 iPad. She has spanned both the development of Defense technologies at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and at-scale consumer-product technologies at Apple. She is a senior science advisor to multiple VCs and startups in the areas of sensors and systems for mobility applications, autonomous vehicles and digital health and wearables. She’s a Board member of Omnitron and a Venture Partner and Deep Tech Advisor at L’attitude Ventures and serves on a non-profit board. She received her MS and Ph.D. in Engineering from Duke University and MBA from MIT and enjoys mentoring in STEM/STEAM fields and serves as a adjunct/lecturer at Columbia University, guest lecture and AI practitioner at MIT-LL and MIT Media Lab.