Christa L. Pawlowski, PhD • Haima Therapeutics
Episode Summary
Most people credit brilliant ideas for breakthrough companies. Dr. Christa Pawlowski, PhD, is living proof that it's the person who picks up the idea and runs with it that actually changes the world.
Christa is a biomedical engineer, co-founder of Haima Therapeutics, and operations lead at Alnair Therapeutics — two Cleveland-based companies working on a synthetic platelet analog to stop bleeding and a treatment for pulmonary hypertension and COPD, respectively. She's also a 2025 Next 25 honoree, and when I sat down with her, I quickly realized she's exactly the kind of founder my work is built for: a brilliant operator who knows that execution is 90% of the job.
We talked about the decision to bring in an external CEO for Haima while she stayed behind the scenes running operations — and why that self-awareness was one of the smartest moves she made. We also got into the Cleveland biotech ecosystem's funding gap, the creative paths Haima is pursuing to get to market faster (including a veterinary product and emergency use authorization), and what it actually takes to build a functioning team in a startup running 100 miles an hour.
The moment that stood out most to me: when Christa talked about the biggest lesson she learned as a leader. She said she didn't realize early enough how much team culture and the "soft skill side" of the business impacts outcomes — that trust between team members is the leading indicator of a high-performing organization. Dr. Christa also confirms the need and value of having an intentional operating system and culture (instead of an accidental one). Culture doesn't build itself. You have to choose your rituals, your artifacts, your language — and then actively cultivate them.
Clarity is kind. Expectations become agreements. And the best organizations are built by people who understand that operationalizing a great idea is the hardest and most important work there is.
Show Notes
Guest: Dr. Christa Pawlowski, PhD — co-founder of Haima Therapeutics, operations lead at Alnair Therapeutics, 2025 Next 25 honoree
What we cover:
* How a PhD researcher convinces her advisor to co-found a company — and what it means to be "radicalized by the data"
* The decision to bring in Mike Bruckman as CEO of Haima and why knowing you're an operator (not a front-facing CEO) is a competitive advantage, not a limitation
* Haima's synthetic platelet analog: what it does, why the military is interested, and the faster path to market through veterinary applications and emergency use authorization
* Why the Cleveland biotech ecosystem has the talent and the innovation but struggles with the middle-stage funding and the exit infrastructure needed to make it self-sustaining
* The leadership lesson Christa didn't see coming: culture is not a byproduct — it's a practice. Trust, accountability, and respecting your team's time and energy are the things that separate functional teams from burned-out ones
* Mentors who shaped her: Dr. Anirban Gupta, Lizzie Barazowski, Douglas Hay (CEO, Alnair Therapeutics), and Tim Pelora (Executive Chair, Haima Therapeutics)
Key insight from Jim: You have a culture whether you chose it or not. The question is whether it's intentional. Rituals, artifacts, and language are the three elements sociologists point to as the building blocks of culture — and every founder gets to choose them. Most don't. The ones who do build something that lasts.
Connect with Haima Therapeutics: [haimatherapeutics.com] Connect with Alnair Therapeutics: [alnairtherapeutics.com]
Keywords
biomedical engineering, Haima, entrepreneurship, team culture, mentorship, commercialization, OhioX, Next 25 award, biotech ecosystem, funding challenges, leadership
Takeaways
* Dr. Krista Pawlowski is a scientist and entrepreneur in the biotech field.
* Haima Therpeutics focuses on developing novel therapies for bleeding and other conditions.
* Team culture and soft skills are crucial for startup success.
* Recognition from the Next 25 award highlights the importance of small startups in biotech.
* Funding challenges exist in the life sciences, particularly in Ohio.
* Commercialization timelines can be accelerated with adequate funding.
* Building trust within a team enhances productivity and morale.
* Mentorship plays a significant role in personal and professional development.
* The biotech ecosystem in Ohio lacks large pharma players, impacting growth.
* Operationalizing ideas is essential for turning innovations into successful products.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christa-l-pawlowski-phd-7a34b764/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christa-l-pawlowski-phd-7a34b764/]
#121: Michael Bruckman (Haima Therapeutics)
https://www.layoftheland.fm/121-michael-bruckman-haima-therapeutics/ [https://www.layoftheland.fm/121-michael-bruckman-haima-therapeutics/]
Haima Therapeutics
https://www.linkedin.com/company/haima-therapeutics/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/haima-therapeutics/]
http://www.haimatherapeutics.com/ [http://www.haimatherapeutics.com/]
Allinaire Therapeutics
https://www.linkedin.com/company/allinaire-therapeutics/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/allinaire-therapeutics/]
https://www.allinaire.com/ [https://www.allinaire.com/]
BioMotiv
https://www.harringtondiscovery.org/partners/biomotiv [https://www.harringtondiscovery.org/partners/biomotiv]
Anirban Sen Gupta
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirban-sen-gupta-03702bb/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anirban-sen-gupta-03702bb/]
Douglas Hay
https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglashay/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglashay/]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruckman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebruckman/]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-pelura-2aa334/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-pelura-2aa334/]
Don Pawlowski ( the husband)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmpawlowski/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmpawlowski/]
