She Leads Biotech

S4 E23 - Melody Keel, CEO of The Research Associate Group

Beyond Burnout: Rethinking Leadership and Identity with Melody Keel In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Melody Keel, CEO of The Research Associate Group, for a candid conversation about clinical operations, leadership, burnout, and building a life beyond your job title. With more than 20 years of experience in clinical operations, Melody shares what she’s learned about leading teams, navigating high-pressure environments, and why empathy is one of the most powerful tools a leader can have. We also discuss the changing biotech job market, the importance of personal branding, and why your career should never become your entire identity. Whether you work in clinical operations or any area of life sciences, this episode is packed with practical insights and honest reflections. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Falling into Clinical Operations 05:00 Why Great Leaders Put People First 09:30 The Reality of Burnout in ClinOps 14:00 Sponsor vs CRO Life 17:20 A Personal Wake-Up Call 20:00 Building a Life Beyond Work 23:00 The Future of Careers in Biotech 27:00 Why Your Personal Brand Matters 30:00 Supporting Women Through Career Change 33:00 Finding Your Purpose Beyond Your Job #SheLeadsBiotech #ClinicalOperations #Leadership #WomenInBiotech #CareerGrowth #LifeSciences #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch

S4 E22, Dr. Jennifer Daily - Biotech Executive & Founder

Building Your Own Table with Jennifer Daily In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Jennifer Daily, neuroscientist, biotech executive, and founder, for a conversation about leadership, drug development, and the journey from employee to entrepreneur. Jennifer shares how working across clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and preclinical research gave her a unique perspective on what it really takes to move therapies from concept to patient. We also discuss the realities of gene therapy, why execution is often more important than great science alone, the power of building a strong network, and what inspired her to launch her own company in the neuroscience space. A thoughtful conversation about leadership, risk-taking, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for them. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Discovering Science & Neuroscience 05:00 Moving from Academia to Industry 08:00 What Industry Looks for in Scientists 10:00 Seeing the Full Drug Development Picture 13:00 Why Great Science Isn't Enough 16:00 Funding Plans, Not Hope 19:00 From Executive to Founder 22:00 Building a Company in Neuroscience 25:00 Creating a Culture Where Every Voice Matters 28:00 Risk, Decision-Making & Leadership 31:00 The Future of Gene Therapy 34:00 Career Advice, Networking & Growth #SheLeadsBiotech #WomenInBiotech #BiotechLeadership #GeneTherapy #Neuroscience #FemaleFounder #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch

S4 E21, Ivana Muncie-Vasic - CEO & Founder of Vitra Labs

Rethinking IVF with Ivana Muncie-Vasic In this episode of She Leads Biotech, we’re joined by Ivana Muncie-Vasic, CEO & Founder of Vitra Labs, for a conversation about fertility innovation, bioengineering, and building a biotech company from the ground up. Ivana shares how her work in stem cell biology led to the development of hormone-free IVF technology designed to reduce the physical and financial burden of fertility treatment for patients. We also talk about the realities of becoming a first-time founder, navigating imposter syndrome, building resilience as a CEO, and how becoming a new mother has deepened her connection to the mission behind Vitra Labs. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Finding Bioengineering & Stem Cell Research 07:00 Why Patient Impact Became the Focus 10:00 From Academic Research to Founding Vitra Labs 14:00 The Science Behind Hormone-Free IVF 19:00 Why Traditional IVF Is So Difficult on Women 23:00 Becoming a First-Time CEO 27:00 Panic Attacks, Pressure & Founder Reality 31:00 The Importance of Support & Coaching 34:00 Becoming a Mother While Building a Startup 37:00 Advice for Future Founders #SheLeadsBiotech #WomensHealth #FertilityInnovation #IVF #WomenInBiotech #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch

S4 E20, Saundra Pelletier & Mitch Rosen from EvoFem Biosciences

Changing the Conversation Around Women’s Health with Saundra Pelletier & Mitch Rosen In this episode of She Leads Biotech, we’re joined by Saundra Pelletier and Mitch Rosen from Evofem Biosciences for a candid conversation about women’s health, education, intimacy, and the importance of normalizing these discussions. We explore why women deserve more options, why men need to be part of the conversation too, and how a new generation is changing the way people think about sexual health and communication. From access and advocacy to stigma, healthcare gaps, and the power of education, this episode is honest, insightful, and surprisingly fun. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Evofem, Phexxi & Women’s Choice 07:00 The “Say Vagina” Campaign 12:00 Why Men Need to Join the Conversation 16:00 How Mitch Found Women’s Health 21:00 What’s Changing in Women’s Healthcare 26:00 Shared Responsibility & Communication 31:00 Generational Shifts Around Intimacy 35:00 Myths & Misconceptions in Women’s Health 40:00 AI, Access & The Future of Care 45:00 What Real Progress Looks Like 49:00 Final Advice & Takeaways #SheLeadsBiotech #WomensHealth #HealthcareInnovation #WomenInBiotech #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch

S4 E19, Anna Polak-Andersen, CEO of AnRes Clinical

Trusting Your Judgement in Biotech with Anna Polak-Andersen In this episode of She Leads Biotech, we’re joined by Anna Polak-Andersen, CEO of AnRes Clinical, for a thoughtful conversation about clinical development, leadership, and navigating the biotech industry across Europe. Anna shares her journey from studying pharmacy in Poland to leading a clinical development consultancy supporting biotech companies and rare disease programs across the industry. We talk about the realities of clinical research, the importance of strategic thinking in development, the current European biotech landscape, and why learning to trust your own judgement is one of the most important leadership lessons of all. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:00 Why Anna Chose Clinical Development 08:00 Early Career at Pfizer 11:00 Staying Connected to Patient Impact 15:00 What Makes AnRes Clinical Different 20:00 Choosing the Right Clients & Partnerships 24:00 European Biotech & Funding Challenges 28:00 Women in Leadership & Self-Doubt 32:00 Trusting Your Own Judgement 35:00 Advice for the Next Generation #SheLeadsBiotech #ClinicalDevelopment #WomenInBiotech #BiotechLeadership #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch