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The Agency Advantage

The Agency Advantage

Written by: Sian Kneller
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About this listen

The world of pharmaceutical careers can be dynamic and sometimes overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be! With nearly a decade in medical affairs, a bioscience master’s degree, and a background in medcomms, I’m here to make your transition into pharma exciting, accessible, and rewarding.

Whether you're considering a career change, moving from an agency to pharma, or coming from a clinical or bioscience background, this podcast is designed for you. I’ll share my own experiences—from earning a bioscience master’s to thriving in pharma—along with practical tips to help you find the right path.

Join me and industry experts as we break down insider knowledge, career strategies, and encouragement to help you make informed moves in pharma and biotech.


🎙 Sponsored by Pulsetto – Use code Agency101 for 5% off their amazing products!


📲 Follow me on Instagram (@theagencyadvantage101) for extra career tips, job interview hacks, and networking strategies in the pharma world. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe—let’s make this journey fun and rewarding together!


☕ Want to support the podcast? Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/siankneller


🔹 Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer. All content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.

© 2025 The Agency Advantage
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Episodes
  • The patient voice is missing: We're here to change that | with Michelle Warner & Sian Feller
    Aug 7 2025

    Send us a text

    In this episode, I’m joined by two pharma powerhouses, Michelle Warner and Sian Feller: co-founders of The Patient Project. Born out of personal caregiving journeys and deep experience in global pharma, their mission is powerful: to put the patient voice at the centre of healthcare conversations and decisions.

    We get into why patient input often gets deprioritised, how to break through internal barriers (hello, compliance), and what real partnership with patients actually looks like in today’s industry.

    🎧 Expect:

    - The difference between talking about patient centricity vs living it
    - Tips on handling internal red tape without losing momentum
    - How their “Living Proof” programme is changing the game
    - Why they left big pharma to lead with purpose—and what they’ve learnt since

    💡 Sponsored by Pulsetto – use code Agency101 for 5% off
    📩 Subscribe to my LinkedIn newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7167252755626115072/?displayConfirmation=true
    🧠 Read the blog: siankneller.com/blog
    📱 Follow me on Instagram for pharma/biotech careers: @theagencyadvantage_
    🌐 Explore free career resources: www.theagencyadvantage.info
    🔗 Learn more about The Patient Project: thepatientproject.com
    🌍 Join the global patient engagement community: ISPEP – International Society for Patient Engagement Professionals: https://www.ispephub.org

    Hit play to hear how Michelle and Sian are flipping the script on patient engagement—and why it’s long overdue.

    Pulsetto is a vagus nerve stimulator that biohacks your parasympathetic nervous system. I used mine every day for around 5 mins as part of my mental health routine. Sponsored by Pulsetto – Use code Agency101 for a 5% discount on their products!

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    42 mins
  • LinkedIn: Show Up Like a Pro (Even If You're Still a Student)
    Jul 24 2025

    Send us a text

    In this episode, we’re diving into what it really takes to get noticed on LinkedIn if you're a recent graduate or early-career professional looking to break into the pharmaceutical industry. Whether you're aiming for a role in medical affairs, regulatory affairs, market access, or commercial functions, this episode will give you a roadmap for using LinkedIn as your launchpad.

    We talk through how to start building your personal brand before you even get your foot in the door—by showing up online like you already have the role. That means thinking and posting like someone already in the job, sharing your take on real industry challenges, and demonstrating that you understand the space. If you're a student, a PhD, a clinician, or someone moving from an adjacent industry like an agency or CRO, this approach works.

    We explore the idea of “learning in public,” with examples of junior professionals who are absolutely crushing it by reading guidance docs, analyzing press releases, and breaking down regulatory updates—then turning that knowledge into insightful content that adds value. One standout example is Mitali Metha, who’s doing an incredible job of this on LinkedIn. You can check out her profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitali-metha

    We’ll also talk about the kind of content that actually performs well on LinkedIn (spoiler: it’s not always what you think), and why personal stories tied to professional insights often get more traction than the polished, hyper-technical posts. I share my own LinkedIn experiments, including which of my posts have gained the most visibility and why.

    If you’re serious about breaking into pharma and want to start showing up as a thought leader—even before you land your first role—this episode is packed with real talk and practical advice you can start using right now.

    As always, if you have questions or want to connect, drop me a message on LinkedIn. And if this episode helped you, don’t forget to subscribe and stick around for more.

    Pulsetto is a vagus nerve stimulator that biohacks your parasympathetic nervous system. I used mine every day for around 5 mins as part of my mental health routine. Sponsored by Pulsetto – Use code Agency101 for a 5% discount on their products!

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    10 mins
  • The Pharma Mindset Shift You Need to Hear Before You Make the Move
    Jul 10 2025

    Send us a text

    Think working in pharma is just like agency life, academia, or clinical practice, just with a shinier salary? Think again.

    In this episode, I’m breaking down the real talk about what it’s like to move into biopharma — and why most people underestimate the mindset shift required to thrive here. Whether you're coming from a med comms agency, CRO, academia, or clinical background, you’re going to need to seriously rethink how you work, how you manage your time, and how you handle uncertainty.

    I’m pulling no punches: from the frustration of endless stakeholder input, to the reality that perfectionism won’t help you here. This is the stuff no one puts in the job description.

    Hit play if you want the inside scoop, so you can show up ready, not shell-shocked. 👀

    Don’t forget to follow/subscribe if you want more no-fluff pharma career content. Let’s get into it.

    Pulsetto is a vagus nerve stimulator that biohacks your parasympathetic nervous system. I used mine every day for around 5 mins as part of my mental health routine. Sponsored by Pulsetto – Use code Agency101 for a 5% discount on their products!

    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
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