Building Biotechs

In this episode, Heather E. Williams, PhD, MBA, MS, PgD, ErCLG, CG (ASCP) MB, the Chief Operating Officer of Cache DNA, chats about her career journey and the importance of always learning. Heather's passion for medicine and genetics has led her from childhood dreams of being like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman to training as a clinical laboratory geneticist and eventually becoming a COO. She talks about the value of making connections, grabbing every chance to learn, and how genetic results can really make a difference in patient care. Tune in to hear more about Heather's career story and get a sneak peek into what she does at Cache DNA.Get Heather's favorite book: The Poisonwood Bible: A NovelLink In with HeatherCache DNAConnect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview00:30 Heather's Early Career Aspirations01:28 Current Role at CacheDNA02:34 Building and Leading a Team03:36 Transition to Flagship and Executive MBA07:27 Gene Between and Endless Frontier Labs11:28 Networking and Mentorship Insights21:29 Challenges in Precision Medicine28:27 Future Goals and Book Recommendations30:46 Conclusion and Contact Information

This week, we had a conversation with Catharine Smith - the Executive Director at the Termeer Foundation. Catharine is passionate about supporting biotech founders in growing patient-centric companies. We are thrilled about the Termeer Foundation and have been delighted to witness the Termeer Fellows thrive through the support, training, and community that this organization provides. If you're interested in making a difference in human health through biotech, this episode is definitely for you.Get Catharine's favorite book: The Covenant of WaterLink In with CatherineThe Termeer FoundationConnect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub 00:00 Introduction to Catherine Smith and the Termeer Foundation00:20 Catherine's Early Career and Passion for Healthcare01:57 Role and Mission of the Termeer Foundation04:04 Challenges and Support for Early Stage Biotech Leaders06:56 Day-to-Day Life as Executive Director08:56 Previous Experience at the Clinton Health Matters Initiative11:46 The Termeer Fellows Program13:48 Common Challenges for First-Time Founders16:36 Global Reach and Diversity in Biotech23:06 Nonprofit Career Insights and Mentorship31:31 Future Aspirations and Book Recommendations34:54 Conclusion and How to Connect with Catherine

In this episode, we chatted with Isaac Stoner, M.B.A., the CEO of Octagon Therapeutics. Isaac is known for his expertise in building small companies and embarking on adventurous missions such as recovering airplane black boxes (yes, you read that correctly!). He also hosts a science enthusiast networking group in Cambridge, where attendees drink beer and discuss science. Link In with Isaac!Isaac's favorite book: Children of TimeIsaac's favorite book: A Heart That WorksGet Isaac's favorite book: The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New HumanOctagon TherapeuticsConnect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub 00:00 Introduction and Background02:41 Isaac's Early Aspirations and Career Path05:17 Insight into Octagon Therapeutics08:20 Company Focus and Structure13:00 Guidance on Business Operations and Growth16:13 Networking and Community Building19:37 Industry Trends and Future Prospects25:23 Fundraising Strategy and Advice30:02 Building an Effective Board34:12 Managing Company Growth and Exit Strategies38:00 Long-term Plans and Personal Goals40:10 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts

This week we sat down with Kyriakos Economides, PhD, VP of Translational  Pharmacology at Werewolf Therapeutics. If there’s one constant in biotech, it’s change. We discussed the evolution of a career, rolling with the punches, and the importance of a solid clinical plan early in the drug development lifecycle. Kyriakos's favorite book: The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of CancerGet Kyriakos's favorite book: The Lost Empire of Atlantis: History's Greatest Mystery RevealedWerewolf Therapeutics Inc.Linked In with KyriakosConnect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub

This week, we had an insightful conversation with Leen Kawas, PhD, Managing General Partner at Propel Bio Partners. She shared her journey from studying pharmacy to founding a successful company (with a great exit) and now running a venture fund. She emphasizes the business case for the importance of DEI in the company leadership and in clinical trials. We also touched on tips on managing conflict in teams, fostering healthy communication, and the value of building a strong network and connections in the industry.Get Leen's favorite book: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin OlympicsPropel Bio PartnersLink in with Leen!Connect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview00:42 Early Aspirations and Career Path02:46 Transitioning from Academia to Entrepreneurship04:03 Founding a Fund and Supporting Companies05:03 Day-to-Day Life and Global Interactions07:54 Building and Managing Effective Teams13:11 The Importance of Diversity in Clinical Trials18:53 Navigating the Current Economic Environment25:12 Conflict Management and Effective Communication31:10 Networking and Future Goals36:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This week, we had the pleasure of chatting with Andrew Fraley, PhD, Entrepreneur in Residence with Atlas Venture. We chatted about his journey from bench chemist to entrepreneur, and some of the things he learned in the process. He also shared valuable insights on structuring a pitch deck for those on the funding trail. Tune in to learn from Andrew's fascinating experiences and fantastic advice!Get Andrew's favorite book: Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business ProfessionalsAtlas Venture - We build breakthrough biotechnology companies.Link In with Andrew!Connect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub

In this episode, Rikin Mehta, Pharm.D., J.D., LL.M. co-founder of Lactiga and co-founder and CEO of Licentiam, discusses the importance of looking at biotech through a regulatory lens. Rik shares insights on the significance of regulatory knowledge across an organization and reflects on how his diverse career journey helped shape his outlook on building solid companies. He shares how regulatory knowledge plays a vital role in every aspect of the organization, and how you can apply that knowledge to your company.Get Rik's favorite book: A Tale of Two CitiesLicentiamLactigaLink In with Rik!Connect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub

This week we sat down with Sarah Hein, PhD, co-founder and CEO of March Biosciences. She shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, the story of her first company and successful exit, and how she’s leveraging strategic partnerships to grow her current company. She also gave some actionable frameworks for early-career founders. Tune in to learn about her experience working with a venture fund and launching two exciting startups.Sarah's favorite book: For Blood and Money: Billionaires, Biotech, and the Quest for a Blockbuster DrugGet Sarah's favorite book: We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse Book 1)March BiosciencesLink In with Sarah!Connect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub

In this episode, John Doyle, PhD, Education Director at the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, discusses the valuable opportunities the Academy offers for biotech companies through its internship program. He highlights how the program impacts the science workforce and provides insights into their curriculum, which trains students for professional careers in biotech and life science labs. Tune in to learn more about how the Academy supports and prepares students for success in the biotechnology industry.Gloucester Marine Genomics InstituteLink In with John!Connect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub

This week, we sat down with Tania Philipp, Chief People Officer at Vor Bio. Vor’s mission is to cure blood cancers through cell and genome engineering. Tania shares insights from rapid growth, hiring for culture during a pandemic, and taking a company public while maintaining culture and transparency.Get Tania's favorite book: Lessons in Chemistry: A NovelVor Bio | Cell & Genome Engineering Biotechnology CompanyLink In with TaniaConnect with us!Link In with CarinaSubscribe here:AppleSpotifyGoogle PodcastRSS feedLearn more about Recruitomics ConsultingCheck out our reading listDownload our free startup resources guide to grow your biotech efficientlyIf you're on the job market, visit the Collaboratory Career Hub