Why is leadership development a bit like working out?

How does a self-confessed introvert and data-driven scientist rewire themselves to make high-stakes decisions with incomplete information?

What does it really mean to lead a biotech as an outsider – an immigrant, a woman, an introvert - who never set out to be a CEO?

Today I’m joined by Ola Wlodek, CEO of Constructive Bio based in Cambridge UK.

Constructive Bio is a biotechnology company specializing the manufacturing and design of proteins and peptides with new chemistries for pharma and other industries.

We’ll talk 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.

Timestamps

4:12 From Medicine to Molecular Biology

6:13 The Path to a PhD and an Unconventional Career

6:57 Leading from the Lab: An Unexpected CEO

7:52 Building Leadership Muscles as an Introvert

10:57 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in the C-Suite

15:55 Navigating Cultural Identity and Bias in Biotech

19:33 Women in Science: Systemic Barriers and Advocacy

22:55 Intentionality as a Strategic Leadership Tool

26:44 The Science of Sustainable Peptide Manufacturing

33:29 CEO Loneliness and the Power of Peer Networks

Why is celebrating failure in life science just as important as celebrating success?

How do you make the psychological shift from being one expert among many in the room to being a leader of experts?

And what does a near-industry wide clinical failure have to do with a potential new treatment for half a billion osteoarthritis patients?

Today I’m joined by Eliot Forster, CEO of Levicept based just south of Oxford in the UK, looking into novel treatments for the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.

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.

Timestamps

1:03 - From Big Pharma to Biotech: Why Cross the Table?

4:33 - The Moment You Decide to Lead

7:41 - The Personal Toll of the CEO Role

9:39 - Practical Habits That Protect Your Bandwidth

11:04 - Leading in a Crowded Capital Environment

13:02 - Transitioning from Expert to Leader of Experts

17:36 - Why Celebrating Failure Is Non-Negotiable in Drug Development

24:40 - The Maturing European Life Science Ecosystem

28:07 - A Novel Approach to Osteoarthritis: From Industry-Wide Failure to Phase 2 Success

35:13 - Optimism as a Professional Imperative in Life Science

How do you lead a company that’s one of the first of its kind?

What can a geocaching game on a company retreat teach you about leadership style?

Can AI tackle the big challenges in drug discovery today?

Today I’m joined by Szabolcs Nagy, CEO of Turbine, based in Budapest, Hungary. Founded 10 years ago, Turbine is virtualising biology from the cellular level upwards using AI.

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.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & Background

1:19 - From Cybersecurity to Life Sciences

6:18 - Becoming CEO: Leadership Transition

10:14 - Early Challenges: Learning the Space

14:22 - Navigating Imposter Syndrome

19:03 - Leadership Lessons from Geocaching

22:44 - Building in Hungary: Ecosystem Challenges

26:05 - Virtualizing Biology: The Vision

32:01 - Industry Challenges: Data, AI & Business Models

37:48 - Leadership Reflection: Letting Go