The Emerging Biotech Leader

Mattia Calissano, VP Medical at SSI Strategy, discusses moving from academic research into drug development, communicating scientific evidence to investors, and adapting to the commercial realities of biotech. 

Samir Ounzain, Scientific Co-Founder and CEO of HAYA Therapeutics, looks at how the founder's role changes as the science becomes a company and the team grows around it. 

Chris Kennedy, CEO of Pacific Genetech, examines a different approach to building leadership teams in early-stage biotech: building organizations around program needs rather than fixed leadership structures. 

Brendan Slagle, Senior Director, Medical at SSI Strategy discusses why operational feasibility needs to be built into study design from the beginning rather than addressed later during execution. 

Marshall Summar, CEO & Founder of Uncommon Cures, discusses why many conventional trial models break down in rare disease settings, and what stronger alternatives look like in practice.

Nicky Wisener explores how emerging biotechs can think more strategically about patient access well before commercialization. 

Matt Trudeau discusses what it means to operate within a family-run pharmaceutical company and how that model shapes decision-making differently than a public or venture-backed organization.  

Meaghan Powers, Senior Director of Clinical Operations at SSI Strategy, offers a clear view of where clinical operations drives strategic value and how early engagement can set emerging biotechs up for success.

Sharon Arnold, a seasoned clinical operations executive with more than two decades of experience in both large pharma and emerging biotechs, speaks about how operational leadership determines whether innovation reaches the clinic successfully. 

Podcast hosts, Kim Kushner and Ramin Farhood celebrate the anniversary of The Emerging Biotech Leader, marking three years, 50 episodes, and listeners across 50 countries.

Adriana Valenciano, Senior Vice President at SSI Strategy, takes a closer look at how leadership partnerships, the structure of a Target Product Profile, and the intentional use of AI all shape how young organizations grow. 

Dr. Ed Tucker talks about what he’s learned after serving as CMO in large pharma and startups.