Voices of Innovation

Flavia Scialpi, Director Product R&D at AskBio

In this episode, I speak with Flavia Scialpi, Director of Product R&D at AskBio, about her journey from academia to biotech. From a PhD in Rome to postdoc life in the UK, Flavia shares what motivated her leap into industry via Synpromics, now part of AskBio. We discuss leaving academia, adapting to industry culture, leading scientific teams, and staying curious along the way – a candid chat for anyone weighing a move from lab to biotech.

Søren Ottosen, VP of Research at Sixfold Bioscience

In the second episode of Voices of Innovation, I chat with Søren Ottosen, VP of Research at Sixfold Bioscience. We explore his journey across academia, pharma, and biotech, and what it takes to lead diverse international teams in RNA therapeutics. Søren also shares his insights on leadership, team culture, and motivating scientists in a startup environment.

Mark Chadwick, Life Science Startup Specialist

In this episode, I speak with Mark Chadwick – biotech CEO with a background in gene therapy – about his transition from academia to industry, and how he moved from R&D into commercial and leadership roles. We explore what it takes to go from scientist to startup CEO, lessons learned along the way, and the importance of self-awareness when navigating career choices.

Don’t miss it if you’re thinking about exploring more commercial roles beyond the bench – this one’s packed with insight and lived experience!

Ada Chalkidou, Life Science Recruiter

BEHIND THE SCENES EDITION

In this episode, I chat with Ada Chalkidou, Senior Associate at Cavenagh Health — a firm specialising in executive recruitment and venture building for biotech startups.

Even though I’ve worked in this space with Ada for years, I put myself in your shoes — coming into the conversation with fresh curiosity and asking the kinds of questions you might have. Like: how are hiring decisions really made? What do candidates often miss? And how can scientists talk about their work in a way that makes sense to industry?

Mike Collins Ananiassen- Life Science Recruiter

BEHIND THE SCENES EDITION

In this episode, I sit down with Mike, Executive Recruiter in life sciences, to talk about how AI is changing biotech recruitment and what it means for scientists and startups. We discuss how AI is actually being used in recruitment and whether candidates should be concerned, what makes hiring for biotech startups different from big pharma, and how the rise of AI-driven biotech is changing the skills companies are looking for.

If you’re curious about how AI is reshaping both drug discovery and biotech careers, this one’s for you.

Chris Przybyszewski - President & Board Director of US Biologic

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Przybyszewski, President of US Biologics, to explore how scientific training can translate into meaningful careers beyond academia.

We talk about what it actually looks like to shift from academic research into entrepreneurial biotech settings, how to adapt your mindset when moving into faster-paced environments, and why storytelling and relationships matter just as much as technical expertise. We also get into the differences between working in startups and larger organisations, and how to think about building a career that has real-world impact.

If you’re exploring your next step into commercial roles, this episode is definitely one to save.

Massimo Mineo - Co-founder and CEO of Neurolieve Biosciences

In this episode I speak with Massimo Mineo, CEO of Neurolieve Biosciences, about his transition from senior roles in pharma to 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀. We discuss his path, the project behind Neurolieve, and his 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 in today’s biotech landscape.

Key themes from the episode:

Career Journey & Transition 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵
𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 Moving from Pharma to Startups
Science-to-Business Translation
How to 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀 “𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆-𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆” 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 & Investor Relations
Storytelling in 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
Advice for Aspiring Biotech Founders
Biotech Trends & Future Outlook