A Dose of Reality with Charles Spence

Leadership and Diversity in Drug Development with Anita Scheuber. In this episode, Charles talks with Anita Scheuber,the SVP of clinical development at Nimbus Therapeutics—a biotech firm using computational technology to develop medicines. She shares their pioneering work in AI-targeted drug discovery and her experience co-founding the biotech startup Hestia. Anita highlights how different backgro...

In this episode, Charles talks with Jackie Donovan, the VP and Chief Marketing Officer at Syndax Pharmaceuticals, an oncology-focused company. She shares her knowledge about her experiences in consulting, internal pharma roles, and her strategic approach to organizational planning. This conversation also touches on the importance of communication, the challenges of workforce planning, and how to b...

Hiring Practices and Transparency in Recruitment In this episode, Charles discuss with Patrizio Renzetti, the former Head of HR at Arrakis Therapeutics that discovers RNA-targeted medicines, the importance of cultural fit, psychological safety, and effective communication in the workplace. He also covers the role of recruiters in bringing diverse perspectives and ensuring a good organizational fit...

Cultural Fit vs. Technical Skills: Hiring Strategies for Biotech Startups with Sonal Gupta In this episode, Charles interviews Sonal Gupta, the SVP, Head of Clinical Development of AffyImmune Therapeutics-a biopharmaceutical firm focusing on affinity-tuned CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors. They discuss about how far does a company get with bad science if they have great leaders, the effective l...

In this episode, Charles interviews John Goldener, a former pediatrician who transitioned into a successful career as a pharmaceutical industry recruiter. He specializes in retained executive search for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With over 20-25 years in clinical development recruitment, John shares valuable lessons learned, common mistakes, and effective partnership strategi...

In this episode, Sumeet Ambarkhane, the Chief Medical Officer at Alligator Bioscience, which focuses on tumor-targeted immunotherapies, talks about the work his company does in creating new cancer treatments that help the immune system target tumors. He discusses their work on a drug called metazolamab and shares stories from his career, including a big success he had with a special antibody treat...

In this podcast episode Charles presents a unique approach to job searching by outsourcing various tasks to optimize your time and effort. He discusses the challenges of the current job market, especially with biotech layoffs, and offers practical steps to outsource tasks like finding job adverts and identifying hiring managers. Learn about resources like Upwork, Fiverr, and ChatGPT to streamline...

In this episode, Li Yan, the Managing Director of the US Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and the former CMO of Brii Biosciences, talks about the cultural and job differences in the biotech field. He also discusses clinical trials, new cancer drugs, and how U.S. and Chinese scientists collaborate. Li highlights how key mentorship is, the need for clear communication in clinical studies, and ways to...

In this episode Charles discusses with Val, the previous VP of Medical Affairs at ITM and AAA, the importance of genuine relationship-building and personal presence in the field of Medical Affairs and pharmaceutical industry leadership. Val emphasizes that success in this field isn't just about scientific knowledge or achieving immediate results. Instead, it's about how you behave as a person, you...

In this episode, Charles explore the concept of 'empathy bridges' and how they can be used to improve communication and relationships within the workplace. It also covers empathy in overcoming work challenges, featuring case studies and personal stories, and offers steps to build empathy bridges, vital for career progression. Here's what to expect: 01:36 How Empathy Helps in Talking to Others 01:5...

In this episode, Charles interviews Sabine Brookman-May, VP of Oncology R&D at Johnson and Johnson. They cover her path from being the first college graduate in her family to working at J&J, transitioning from hospitals to pharmaceuticals, and lessons from successful and failed drug trials. Sabine shares insights on balancing a demanding career with family, the importance of diversity in t...

In this episode, Charles dives into the often misunderstood art of selling. He corrects the misconception that selling is just about having the right answers and emphasizes the importance of asking good questions to uncover real needs and concerns, leading to more impactful conversations. He outlines a four-step sales strategy and go through relatable stories and practical advice, this episode gui...

In this episode, Charles talks with Crystal Zuckerman, the VP HR of PMV Pharma. They discuss her transition from a large biotech firm like Celgene to a startup biotech. They also talk about how she handles layoffs carefully and the power of personal connections in advancing a career. Crystal shares how she brings a personal touch to HR by emphasizing authenticity, accountability and community-buil...

In this episode, Charles shares a story about a talented medical oncologist who struggled to progress in his career, both internally and externally at his company, despite being highly skilled technically. The main issue was the candidate's inability to effectively sell his achievements and communicate his worth. This inspires Charles to create a series focused on helping professionals, especially...

In this episode,Charles talks with Amber Tong, a senior editor at Endpoints News, about how the Biosecure Act could impact the biotech and pharma sectors. Amber shares thoughts on how this law could change U.S.-China biopharma ties, jobs, and making medicines. We also look into how things are changing in this area, who might benefit or not, and the big global tensions that affect these shifts. He...

In this episode, Charles talks about his top rules for success in recruiting, which he calls 'The 10 Commandments of Recruitment.' He believes that having principles or commandments as a person or business is what sets us apart. He also shares a bit of fun insight about who he is and what he believes in business. Here's what you are in for: 00:08 The 10 Commandments of Recruitment 00:14 Commandmen...

In this episode, Colin Hayward, CMO of Telix- a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, talks about his contribution to the success of Rituximab which culminated in transforming it into a $3 billion radiopharmaceutical giant. He also shares invaluable insights into the challenges of leadership, the burden of firing people, and the strategic decisions that drive success in the fast-paced world...

This podcast episode, Charles drops some real talk on communicating well when hiring people.  He tells a story about how poor communication can really upset candidates and from this story, he gives three tips for hiring managers. This episode emphasizes that it's good to give rejected candidates helpful, positive feedback and to keep talking to them for possible jobs later on rather than ghos...

In this episode, Ben Pais, Senior Vice President at Ariceum Therapeutics, discusses innovative cancer treatments. His company develops drugs that use radiation to combat cancer. He explains their strategies and adjustments in medical technology, focusing on radiotherapy.  He talks about the challenges of producing and distributing these drugs and the importance of having capable leaders. Ben...

In this episode, Charles talks about how to craft authentic and genuine stories that can sell yourself and stand out from the rest. He points out that many resumes lack persuasive pitches and unique stories, so he offers 5 tips on creating these narratives. He stresses the need for authenticity and alignment with one's CV and interview responses. He also discusses typical mistakes, like not showin...

In this episode, Charles talks with Riccardo Canevari, the managing director and CEO of Radiopharm Theranostics, a company that is innovating the way we see cancer. They talked about his leadership journey in transitioning from leading 110k employees to a 3-man startup team. He also discusses launching innovative cancer treatments such as Luziterra and BluVicto and the challenges of selling them....

In this episode, we're exploring the latest in radiotherapy, especially radioligand therapy for cancer treatment. Charles spotlights some promising trials coming up in 2024 that involve companies like Ymabs, Marianao Oncology, and many more fighting hard-to-treat cancers with new techniques and talks about big deals in the industry, like when Point Pharma and Ray's bio were bought. These deals sho...

In this episode, we talk about ADCs or antibody-drug conjugates with Ilaria Contis, a VP at ADC Therapeutics. This Swiss company is a commercial, global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). It is known for being a one-stop-shop for ADC development, handling everything from research to selling their products. Ilaria shares about how ADCs (antibody-drug conjugates) are...

In this episode, Charles covers the steps before applying, the application process, and how to negotiate your salary. He also explores the reasons behind the discomforts that may arise during these conversations and provides practical tips and strategies to help you navigate salary negotiations confidently. Here's what you are in for:  00:00 - Introduction 01:49 - Salary Negotiation Topic Int...

In this episode, we explore radiotherapy biotech with Mats Hansen. He is the CEO of Spago Nanomedical AB, a biotech firm advancing cancer treatment with new radiopharmaceuticals.  Mats discusses the challenges and opportunities in the radiopharmaceutical space and provides insights into nanomedical radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment using lutetium-177.  He also shares his experien...