It's a Journey, Not a Racetrack: A Conversation with Johan Vermeulen

More Than Methodology: The Statistician as Teacher, Translator, and Advisor

In This Episode What makes a statistician valuable beyond technicalmethodology? In this episode, I speak with Jeff Davidson, PhD, a longtimebiostatistician and consultant whose career began in a very different place: special education. Jeff shares how more than 14 years as a teacher shaped the communication, listening, and leadership skills he later brought into clinicalresearch. After earning his PhD in statistics, Jeff moved into the pharmaceutical industry and built a career spanning biostatistics leadership, with deep experience in regulatory submissions, FDA interactions, DMCs, and clinicaldevelopment strategy. We discuss why statisticians need to understand themedicine, not just the method, and how strong statistical judgment can help teams ask better questions, design better trials, and make better decisions. Jeff also shares examples from his career, including how experience in one therapeutic area helped him develop a novel analysis approach to solve a trial design challenge in another. Listen as Jeff reflects on the importance of bringingstatisticians in early, the difference between a technical answer and a useful recommendation, and what it takes to grow from a strong statistician into a broader biometrics leader. What You’ll Learn How Jeff transitioned from special education into statisticsand clinical research Why communication skills can set statisticians apart How teaching shaped Jeff’s approach to listening,explaining, and leading What separates a technically correct answer from a usefulstatistical recommendation How experience across therapeutic areas can strengthenstatistical judgment Why medical writers should also be brought into the processearlier How the role of the statistician differs across pharma, CRO,and consulting environments What skills are needed to grow from statistician tobiometrics leader Why knowing what you do not know is an important leadership strength Quote of the Episode “Your goal is not to be patient enough to let them finish sothat you can speak up. Your goal is to actually listen to what they’re saying and learn from them.” Resources Follow Jeff Davidson on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyadavidson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyadavidson/] Visit Alpha Kappa Statistics [https://www.alphakappastatistics.com/] Follow Amanda Cross on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacross/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacross/] Subscribe to the Biometrics Leadership Lab newsletter [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7255662947639652352] onLinkedIn Guideline for the Format and Content of the Clinical andStatistical Sections of an Application (Clin Stat) https://www.fda.gov/media/71436/download [https://www.fda.gov/media/71436/download]

It's a Journey, Not a Racetrack: A Conversation with Johan Vermeulen

In This EpisodeWhat does career growth in clinical data management really look like today? It's a journey, not a racetrack.In this episode, I speak with Johan Vermeulen, Data Management Director at Metronomia Clinical Research, about the evolution of clinical data management careers and the leadership perspective that develops as responsibilities expand. Johan shares his unexpected journey into clinical research, how the role of data management has shifted from primarily execution-focused work to a more strategic and collaborative function, and why career growth today looks less like the traditional race up the ladder and far more like a journey.We discuss the increasing importance of cross-functional collaboration, the shift required when moving into leadership roles, and how broader exposure across the clinical trial ecosystem helps professionals develop stronger perspective and influence. Listen as Johan reflects on moving from operational execution to enabling others, balancing people and business needs, and why some of the most valuable growth opportunities are not always the most comfortable ones.________________________________________What You’ll Learn - How Johan transitioned from criminology into clinical research - How the role of clinical data management has evolved over the last decade - Why communication and stakeholder engagement are now critical skills for data managers - What Johan means by “CDM is not a racetrack, it’s a journey” - Why career growth today is often driven by broader exposure rather than strictly vertical progression - What shift is required when moving from execution-focused work into people leadership - Why enabling teams is different from simply solving operational problems yourself - How broader organizational responsibility changes the way leaders think about influence and decision-making - Why some of the most challenging roles often create the strongest long-term growth________________________________________Quote of the Episode“Your success is not something necessarily you deliver, it’s about what the team brings.”________________________________________ResourcesFollow Johan Vermeulen on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/johan-vermeulen-30b587101/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johan-vermeulen-30b587101/]Follow Amanda Cross on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacross/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacross/]Subscribe to the Biometrics Leadership Lab newsletter on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7255662947639652352 [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7255662947639652352]White Paperhttps://metronomia.net/about-us/whitepapers-and-publications/whitepaper/sustainable-scale-designing-people-centric-operating-models-for-complex-trials.html [https://metronomia.net/about-us/whitepapers-and-publications/whitepaper/sustainable-scale-designing-people-centric-operating-models-for-complex-trials.html]

When Small CROs Earn Big Trust: A Conversation with Vahe Martirosyan

In This EpisodeWhat does it take for a small biometrics CRO to move beyond delivering services and become a trusted partner?In this episode, I speak with Vahe Martirosyan, Founder and CEO of Gurus CRO, about his journey from banking into clinical research and how he helped build one of Armenia’s leading biometrics organizations.We discuss what sponsors are really evaluating when selecting a biometrics partner, why transparency and credibility matter more than marketing claims, and how leadership decisions shape long-term trust with clients.Listen as Vahe shares the story behind Gurus CRO’s first client, the discipline required to say no to work that doesn’t fit, and how investing in training through Gurus Academy is helping develop the next generation of biometrics professionals in Armenia.________________________________________What You’ll Learn - How one career path into clinical research started in banking - How Gurus CRO secured its first client by standing behind its work - Why transparency and consistency are critical to building long-term trust - How face-to-face interaction strengthens professional relationships - Why smaller CROs often have nowhere to hide when it comes to delivery - The leadership discipline required to say “no” to work outside your capacity - How Gurus Academy is helping train a large portion of Armenia’s biometrics workforce________________________________________Quote of the Episode“Words can be persuasive, but actions are data.”________________________________________ResourcesFollow Vahe Martirosyan on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/vahmart/Follow Amanda Cross on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacross/Subscribe to the Biometrics Leadership Lab newsletter on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7255662947639652352 Please like and subscribe! Thank you for listening!

From CRO to Sponsor: A Conversation With Michael Inkman

What really changes when you move from the CRO side to the sponsor side and what lessons carry through no matter which side you’re working on? In this episode, I talk with Mike Inkman, a clinical data leader with more than 20 years of experience across CROs and sponsors, about his career journey and what crossing the CRO - sponsor divide taught him about leadership, oversight, and risk. We explore how early CRO roles shape flexibility and execution, why sponsor-side oversight feels fundamentally different, and how data management often identifies trends and risks others miss. Listen as Mike shares candid reflections on leadership growth, transparency, sponsor pressure, and the realities of managing data in complex clinical trials. What You’ll Learn * How many careers in clinical research begin by “falling into” the industry * Why early CRO roles build adaptability and prioritization skills * What it’s really like managing multiple studies across multiple sponsors * How CRO teams balance disclosure with solution-building * What changes when responsibility shifts from delivery to oversight * How scope limitations shape CRO data management work * Why data management often sees trends and risks before others * How leadership evolves from authority to advocacy * What Mike would tell his younger self about discretion and resilience Quote of the Episode “Nobody’s going to be better at overseeing a CRO than someone who has worked at a CRO.” Resources Follow Mike Inkman on LinkedIn Follow Amanda Cross on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacross/] Subscribe to the Biometrics Leadership Lab newsletter [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7255662947639652352]on LinkedIn Please like and subscribe! Thank you for listening!

CV and Interviews: A Discussion with Mark O’Brien

Episode Summary In this episode of the Biometrics Leadership Lab podcast, I sit down with Mark O’Brien, Founder and CEO of Warman O’Brien to talk candidly about what it takes to stand out in today’s life sciences job market. With more than 20 years in recruitment and deep specialization in biometrics placements, Mark shares practical guidance on CV structure, interview strategy, LinkedIn presence, and how hiring has changed in a post-COVID world. Whether you’re actively job hunting or quietly preparing for your next move, this conversation focuses on what matters now in your job search.What You’ll Learn * What three must-have sections every life sciences CV needs * Why accomplishments matter more than job descriptions * What recruiters really mean when they say “formattingmatters” * How to handle employment gaps with confidence * When a one-page CV works and when it doesn’t * What red flags hiring managers notice immediately * How to ask about work-life balance without asking about work-life balance * When the LinkedIn “Open to Work” banner helps and when it doesn’t Quote of the Episode: “If it’s not written on your CV, it didn’t happen.” Resources/Show Notes * Follow Amanda Cross on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacross/] * Follow Warman O’Brien on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/warman-o-brien-limited/posts/?feedView=all] * Subscribe [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7255662947639652352] to the Biometrics Leadership Lab newsletter for more professional development insights, tips, and strategies * Warman O’Brien website [https://www.warmanobrien.com/] * Warman O’Brien salary survey [https://www.warmanobrien.com/resources/download/extensive-biometrics-salary-report/] Thank you for listening! Please subscribe and hit the like button!