She Leads Biotech

S4 E25, Dr. Nerissa Kreher - Chief Medical Officer of Alltrna

Reimagining Rare Disease Drug Development with Nerissa Kreher In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Nerissa Kreher, Chief Medical Officer of Alltrna, for a conversation about rare disease innovation, precision medicine, and the future of drug development. With more than 20 years of experience in rare diseases, Nerissa shares her journey from pediatric endocrinologist to biotech executive and explains how Alltrna is taking a novel approach to treating genetic diseases through mutation-defined therapies. A fascinating discussion about science, innovation, leadership, and hope for families living with rare diseases. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 From Medicine to Biotech 05:00 Falling in Love with Rare Disease Research 08:00 Understanding Rare Disease Communities 12:00 The Challenge of Clinical Trials in Rare Diseases 16:00 Mutation-Defined Therapies Explained 21:00 How Alltrna Is Rethinking Drug Development 26:00 Regulatory & Clinical Development Challenges 31:00 Public vs Private Company Leadership 35:00 What Makes a Great Biotech Executive 39:00 Leadership, Mentorship & Authenticity 43:00 The Role of Patients in Drug Development 47:00 The Future of Rare Disease Innovation 51:00 Bringing Hope to Patients & Families #SheLeadsBiotech #RareDisease #PrecisionMedicine #GeneTherapy #BiotechLeadership #WomenInBiotech #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch

S4 E24, Sarah DiSalvatore, Fractional SVP of Clinical Operations & Biotech Executive

Leading with Purpose in Rare Disease with Sarah DiSalvatore In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I’m joined by Sarah DiSalvatore, Fractional SVP of Clinical Operations & Biotech Executive, for a conversation about leadership, rare disease, and the realities of bringing innovative therapies to patients. Sarah shares her journey from bench research to executive leadership, why quality and compliance are fundamental to successful clinical development, and how fractional leadership is helping early-stage biotech companies build smarter and more efficiently. We also discuss the deeply personal experience of becoming a rare disease parent, and how that has transformed the way Sarah approaches patient advocacy, programme development, and the importance of building centres of excellence for underserved communities. A thoughtful conversation about resilience, strategy, and keeping patients at the centre of every decision. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 A Childhood Dream of Medicine 06:00 From Bench Research to Clinical Operations 11:00 Why Quality and Compliance Matter 16:00 Growing into Leadership 20:00 The Rise of Fractional Executives 25:00 Becoming a Rare Disease Parent 30:00 How Personal Experience Changed Clinical Development 34:00 Building Centres of Excellence for Rare Diseases 38:00 The Future of Clinical Operations 42:00 Advice for Parents, Caregivers & Leaders #SheLeadsBiotech #RareDisease #ClinicalOperations #BiotechLeadership #GeneTherapy #WomenInBiotech #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch

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