Why is condensing information a critical skill for a CEO?

How do you keep dozens of people across different functions of a company feel like one team?

And why should you keep patients and caregivers at the centre of drug discovery?

Today I’m joined by Susan Hill, CEO of Mestag Therapeutics, a Cambridge-based company developing new programs for cancer and inflammatory disease.

We’ll touch on the science towards the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

0:00 – From Lab to Boardroom

6:23 – The Call to Lead

10:26 – Knowing When to Jump

14:12 – Comfortable with Uncertainty

16:33 – Shared Challenges at the Top

21:01 – The Art of Condensing

27:56 – Tackling Solid Tumors

32:46 – Multiple Teams, One Mission

34:36 – Closing the Gap for Patients

39:00 – Sailing Toward the Horizon

How does a cancer diagnosis completely rewire your leadership style?

Why is maintaining your mindset a core responsibility of a CEO?

And what is the question every leader should ask themselves before they make a decision?

Today I’m joined by Danuta Jeziorska, the former CEO and co-founder of Nucleome and current CEO and co-founder of Uncover Therapeutics based in Oxford. Uncover is an immuno-oncology company turning cancer’s immunoshield into an immunobeacon.

And we’ll get more into the science of that towards the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

0:58 — Fascination With the Code of Life

5:06 — The CV in the Suitcase

12:54 — From the Lab to the Boardroom

17:20 — A Pandemic, a Diagnosis and a Company to Run

21:03 — Leading From Purpose Not Fear

25:26 — The CEO's Most Underrated Responsibility

30:48 — Why She Said Yes to Oncology

32:34 — What Europe Must Do Differently

What happens when the science you built a company on becomes the science you desperately wish could save someone close?

How do you transform as a leader as your company evolves?

And why should you actively seek out friction when building your company?

Today I’m joined by Stephanie Flueckiger, co-founder and CEO of TOLREMO Therapeutics based in Basel, Switzerland. TOLREMO is developing small molecules to reprogram cancer for longer patient benefit.

As usual, we’ll talk a bit more about the science at the end of the episode.

About LifeScience ORG

It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare.

The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms.

Chapters

0:00 — From Science to Purpose

1:17 — A Founder's Call to Action

5:52 — Tragedy at the Start

9:27 — Evolving as a Leader

14:41 — Leading Calmly Under Pressure

17:54 — The Swiss and European Ecosystem

21:30 — Communicating Across Cultures

24:42 — The Science of Drug Resistance

29:49 — Embracing Friction