Cover image of show Holding on to Unicorns and Rainbows

Holding on to Unicorns and Rainbows

Podcast by Elena Schuh & Kerstin Papenfuss

English

Business

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About Holding on to Unicorns and Rainbows

A podcast for female founders and leaders in health and tech, and for everyone who believes innovation should make the world better.Kerstin and Elena are two scientists, businesswomen in the pharma and biotech space, and mothers. They are passionate about health, innovation, and the women shaping the future, but they also know the real-life juggle of combining business, ambition, and family life.This podcast is about bold ideas, scientific breakthroughs, startups, and meaningful change, but also about the small shifts that can have a big impact. It is about more than tech. It is about personal stories, behind-the-scenes realities, and the often messy process of building something meaningful, in work and in life.About the Hosts: Kerstin Papenfuss is a scientist, entrepreneur, and systems thinker. As Director of Pharma at Deep Science Ventures, she leads the creation and development of novel therapeutics for unmet medical needs. With more than a decade of experience across oncology, signal transduction, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical markets, she brings a rare blend of scientific depth and strategic vision. Kerstin is also a mother of two young children, sports-enthusiast and is based in London. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ Elena Schuh is a scientist and (visual) storyteller. As founder of Benchtime Stories, she has spent the past decade helping pharma and biotech teams communicate complex science in a clear yet fun way. Drawing on her previous experience in both big pharma and academia, she brings multiple perspectives to the table. Elena is also a sports-lover, outdoors-enthusiast, mother of three young children and lives in the Netherlands. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/

All episodes

7 episodes

episode Tracking Hype: Are We Measuring What Matters? artwork

Tracking Hype: Are We Measuring What Matters?

Can health data actually change behavior, or are we just getting better at measuring? In this episode, Elena and Kerstin explore the world of health tracking technologies, sharing insights from their personal experiments with devices like Fitbit, Oura Ring, and continuous glucose monitors. They discuss the potential benefits, limitations, and future possibilities of health data, with a particular focus on behavior change, data integration, and what it would take for tracking to truly improve health outcomes. LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

21 Apr 2026 - 40 min
episode Working Smarter Not Harder: Lessons from a Business Strategist artwork

Working Smarter Not Harder: Lessons from a Business Strategist

In this episode, hosts Kerstin and Elena welcome Merel Brouwer, a business coach specializing in productivity and scaling businesses. Merel shares her transformative journey from the corporate world to establishing her own consulting and coaching practice. She emphasizes the importance of building scalable systems through a structured methodology, ensuring both quality and growth. Merel advocates for a scientific approach to business, focusing on data-driven decision-making and key metrics. Throughout the conversation, Merel provides valuable insights into balancing entrepreneurship with family life, ultimately creating a business that supports one's ideal lifestyle. #BusinessScaling #SystemsThinking #DataDriven #Productivity #WorkLifeIntegration #FounderGrowth LinkedIn Merel Brouwer (Dutch): https://www.linkedin.com/in/brouwermerel/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brouwermerel/] Homepage De productieve ondernemer (Dutch): https://deproductieveondernemer.nl/ [https://deproductieveondernemer.nl/] LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

12 Mar 2026 - 45 min
episode From Science to Startup: Founding Ovo Labs artwork

From Science to Startup: Founding Ovo Labs

In this episode, Elena and Kerstin welcome Melina and Agata, co-founders of Ovo Labs, a startup focused on improving egg quality and fertility treatments. They discuss their backgrounds, the journey of founding Ovo Labs, the science behind egg aging, and the emotional impact of infertility. The conversation highlights the importance of innovative solutions in reproductive health and the challenges faced by startups in the biotech industry. #FemTech #FertilityTech #ReproductiveHealth #EggQuality #BiotechStartups #WomenInSTEM Homepage Ovo Labs: https://www.ovo-labs.com/ [https://www.ovo-labs.com/] LinkedIn Agata Zielinska: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agata-zielinska-18a97494/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/agata-zielinska-18a97494/] LinkedIn Melina Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melina-schuh-841894311/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melina-schuh-841894311/] LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

16 Feb 2026 - 48 min
episode 2025 Retrospective and the 2026 Game Plan artwork

2025 Retrospective and the 2026 Game Plan

In this end-of-year episode, Kerstin and Elena reflect on their personal and professional journeys throughout the year. They discuss the challenges faced in the biotech investment sector this year, celebrate their wins, and share insights on navigating the ups and downs of business. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI, the importance of maintaining personal connections, and their aspirations for the upcoming year, 2026. #BiotechInvestment #YearInReview #AIImpact #FounderJourney #TechTrends2026 #Resilience LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

25 Dec 2025 - 32 min
episode Exercise: How Do We Boost Perseverance With This Miracle Pill? artwork

Exercise: How Do We Boost Perseverance With This Miracle Pill?

In this episode, hosts Kerstin and Elena discuss the importance of exercise for health and longevity, sharing personal experiences and insights on how to incorporate physical activity into busy lives. They explore strategies for making exercise enjoyable, the role of accountability, and the impact of childhood sports on adult fitness habits. The conversation also touches on innovations in fitness technology and the importance of building sustainable habits for long-term well-being. #Longevity #HealthSpan #ExerciseScience #HabitFormation #FitnessTech #HealthyAging LinkedIn Kerstin Papenfuss: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/] LinkedIn Elena Schuh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/]

2 Dec 2025 - 36 min
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