Thoroughly Thriving

From Operator to Strategic Leader with Tara Hun-Dorris | #31

What does it take to lead effectively in today’s fast-moving biotech and clinical landscape? In Episode 31 of Thoroughly Thriving, Tara Hun-Dorris shares powerful insights on leadership, decision-making, and navigating complexity in life sciences. From managing high-stakes environments to developing strong, resilient teams, this conversation is packed with real-world wisdom for current and aspiring leaders. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How leadership evolves in clinical and biotech environments * The importance of adaptability in high-pressure roles * How to build trust and alignment across teams * Why strong decision-making defines great leaders * The mindset required to lead through uncertainty If you’re in biotech, pharma, or clinical operations — this episode will challenge and sharpen your leadership approach. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with top leaders in life sciences. 👉 Share this episode with someone building or leading a team. (00:00) Welcome to Thoroughly Thriving (00:35) Meet Tara Hun-Dorris (02:40) Leadership in Biotech Today (06:10) Navigating Complexity (10:05) Decision-Making Under Pressure (14:30) Building Strong Teams (18:20) Adaptability in Leadership (22:45) Aligning Teams for Success (26:10) Leading Through Uncertainty (29:00) Final Thoughts and Takeaways

The Leadership Blueprint for High-Performance Teams with Junior Laysa | #30

In Episode 30 of the Thoroughly Thriving Podcast, Darren and Sean sit down with Junior Laysa, VP and Head of Operations at Nkarta, Inc, to explore what truly drives high-performing teams in biotech. Junior shares real-world leadership insights from scaling operations in complex, highly regulated environments where cross-functional alignment isn’t optional — it’s essential for survival. From building intentional culture to creating psychological safety for innovation, Junior reveals the leadership practices that transform average teams into exceptional ones. In this episode, we discuss: * Why culture is the foundation of operational excellence * How leaders build connection and trust across teams * The importance of psychological safety in innovation * Breaking down silos across R&D, manufacturing, and quality * Practical strategies for developing future leaders * The cultural signals that reveal whether a team is thriving If you lead teams in biotech, pharma, life sciences, or any high-stakes industry, this conversation offers powerful leadership lessons. 👉 Subscribe for more leadership insights from biotech and life sciences leaders. 👉 Share this episode with someone building teams in complex environments. (00:00) Welcome to Thoroughly Thriving (00:46) Meet Junior Laysa (02:04) The Importance of Leadership in Operations (03:49) Building Culture While Scaling Teams (06:13) Leading Through Organizational Change (09:15) Developing Future Leaders (13:13) Culture and Innovation in Biotech (17:09) Breaking Down Organizational Silos (21:12) Collaboration and Team Connection (23:26) Measuring Healthy Team Culture (27:09) Leadership Takeaways and Closing Thoughts

Why Strong Leaders Still Struggle with Jerlyn| #29

In Episode 29 of the Thoroughly Thriving Podcast, we sit down with Jerlyn to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership challenges — avoiding conflict. Jerlyn shares powerful insights on why unaddressed tension quietly grows, how it impacts teams and performance, and what it actually takes to lead through discomfort with clarity and confidence. If you’re in leadership, building a team, or navigating high-stakes environments, this conversation will challenge how you think about communication, accountability, and growth. In this episode, we cover: * Why avoiding conflict creates bigger problems later * How tension builds beneath the surface in teams * The mindset shift required for effective leadership * Practical ways to approach difficult conversations * How strong leaders create clarity instead of comfort 👉 If this episode challenges you, share it with someone in leadership. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with top leaders in biotech, pharma, and beyond. (00:00) Introduction to Jerlyn (02:15) Why leaders avoid conflict (06:40) The hidden cost of unaddressed tension (12:05) How conflict impacts team performance (18:30) Shifting your mindset around hard conversations (25:10) Practical ways to address tension early (31:45) Building a culture of clarity (38:20) Leadership growth through discomfort (44:10) Final thoughts and key takeaways

Scaling Biotech Without Losing Focus with Abby Kennedy | #28

In Episode 28 of Thoroughly Thriving, we sit down with Abby Kennedy, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Jasper Therapeutics, to explore what leadership truly looks like inside today’s evolving biotech landscape. With over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical and biotech organizations, Abby shares practical wisdom on: * Navigating difficult workplace dynamics * Leading with curiosity instead of frustration * Resetting toxic team patterns * Integrating contractors effectively into core teams * Scaling small biotech organizations strategically This episode dives deep into the human side of clinical operations — from conflict resolution to building high-performance teams in unpredictable development phases. If you’re a clinical leader, biotech executive, or emerging manager looking to strengthen your leadership approach in 2026 and beyond, this conversation is packed with real-world insights you can apply immediately. Resource: * Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) by Amy Gallo 👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your network. #ClinicalOperations #BiotechLeadership #DrugDevelopment #PharmaCareers #ThoroughlyThriving #LifeSciencesLeadership 00:00 – Welcome to Thoroughly Thriving02:07 – Abby Kennedy Introduction04:00 – First Podcast Experience05:17 – Handling Challenging Colleagues07:36 – Taking the High Road in Leadership10:54 – Curiosity vs. Frustration in Management12:55 – Resetting Toxic Team Dynamics14:50 – Working Agreements That Actually Work16:38 – Build vs. Buy: Scaling Clinical Teams18:43 – Contractor Models Explained20:41 – Integrating Contractors Into Core Teams22:22 – Creating Inclusive Culture for Contractors24:21 – Why Contractors Follow Great Leaders26:34 – Final Leadership Reflections

How AI Is Redefining Precision in Psychiatry with Jonathon Parker | #27

In this episode of Thoroughly Thriving, hosts Sean Burroughs and Darren Thevathasan sit down with Jonathon Parker, a seasoned neuroscience and regulatory leader with experience across Big Pharma and innovative biotech. Jonathon shares how human-centered leadership, curiosity, and patient-first thinking shape better regulatory strategies—especially in an era driven by AI, digital biomarkers, and precision medicine. From navigating neuroscience complexity to mentoring the next generation of biotech leaders, this conversation explores what it really takes to move science forward. Key Takeaways: * Why leadership psychology matters in drug development * How AI and digital biomarkers are transforming neuroscience * Keeping patients at the center in data-heavy environments * Career advice for emerging biotech and clinical leaders * Why the next decade may be a new golden age for neuroscience 👉 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and life sciences. 👉 Connect with us if you’re a professional looking to collaborate or partner. (00:00) Jonathon Parker’s Background (01:25) Leadership Across Global Pharma Cultures (03:45) AI & Digital Biomarkers in Neuroscience (06:45) Keeping Patients at the Center (09:20) Motivation in Rare Disease (10:25) Career Advice for Biotech Leaders (14:20) The Future of Neuroscience Innovation (16:45) A New Golden Age Ahead