The Active Ingredients podcast dissects the very essence of exceptional leadership in the life sciences. Our quest is to educate, motivate, and inspire life science professionals to soar to new heights of visionary leadership.
Join host Thomas Dove, Co-Founder at Fraser Dove International, as he delves into enriching discussions at the intersection of science and leadership. Wherever you are in your career journey, whether just starting out or leading a team or department, you'll discover a wealth of practical insights and wisdom to carve your leadership journey in the life sciences.
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Building Teams With Heart With Paul Janssen (00:53:47)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Paul Janssen, Regional Vice President and General Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland at Advanz Pharma.Paul's career shows how principled leadership under pressure can reshape pharmaceutical organisations. From turnarounds to scaling challenges, his journey highlights the power of listening, building trust through presence, and creating entrepreneurial cultures that put patients first.The conversation dives into how leaders stay clear in crisis, build teams with heart, and develop talent using frameworks that value learnability as much as experience. Paul shares stories from military leadership to million-euro mistakes, demonstrating how vulnerability and accountability fuel psychological safety and innovation.Key TakeawaysLearn how the three L's framework guides crisis leadership through listening to every level of the organisation, leading with clear direction, and letting teams execute with trust once alignment is achieved.Gain insights into building companies with heart by establishing patient-centric cultures where teams achieve exceptional market share through responsiveness and genuine commitment to improving lives.Discover why calm presence matters more than perfect solutions when leading through regulatory challenges or market disruptions that threaten patient access and team morale across multiple markets.Understand how patient immersion creates entrepreneurial fire by visiting patients in their homes and witnessing first hand the daily impact of therapies on quality of life and treatment burden.Explore the five-element hiring framework Paul uses to build high-performing teams by assessing winning attitude, impact, learnability, adaptability, and judgment rather than prioritising industry experience.Take away strategies for creating psychological safety where team members can make mistakes, admit errors early, and maintain entrepreneurial courage without fear of punishment when acting in good faith.Apply principles for talent development over experience hiring, understanding that learnability and adaptability predict long-term success more accurately than therapeutic area expertise or established relationships.Snippets"Listening is a very important element to be a successful leader.""In the beginning, I wasn't selling because I didn't know that you have to listen and not talk. That was a big learning for me at the time.""You need to be very calm….You need to be pulling people together, and you need to tell them this is the situation."Timestamps & Topics00:37:12 - Three Active Ingredients: Listening, leading, and letting teams execute with trust00:42:28 - Entry into Pharma: Consulting experience that revealed product safety issues and sparked industry passion00:54:08 - Leading in the Fire: Military leadership lessons applied to pharmaceutical crisis management01:04:02 - Building with Heart: Patient-centred startup philosophy that drove 50% market share growth01:12:04 - Million Euro Mistakes: Creating cultures where teams report errors early without fear01:15:30 - Hiring for Talent: Five-element framework prioritising learnability over industry experience01:24:01 - Future of Life Sciences: AI integration, digital therapeutics, and human-centred leadership evolutionResourcesFollow Paul Janssen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-janssen-ma-mba-msc/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune in to our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
The AI-Enabled Procurement Leader With Alan Rankin (01:04:38)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Alan Rankin, Chief Procurement Officer at Moderna.Alan's career trajectory from organic chemist to transformational procurement leader spans some of pharma's biggest names, including Novartis, Sandoz, and Moderna. His journey reveals how technical expertise combined with people-centric leadership creates extraordinary value in life sciences. The conversation explores bold career transitions, the private equity mindset, and how AI-enabled procurement teams will reshape pharmaceutical operations in the coming decade.Key TakeawaysDiscover how AI agents will sit alongside human teams in pharmaceutical procurement, with Alan explaining Moderna's approach to managing digital and human workforces together, positioning AI capabilities within HR rather than IT.Understand why experimentation with AI technology matters more than fear of job replacement, as Alan shares how Moderna's culture allows people to learn and build with AI tools, enabling workforce reinvention rather than displacement.Learn how curiosity, connection, and the ability to lower judgment form the foundation of impactful leadership, especially in procurement roles where stakeholder influence is crucial in driving organisational change.Discover why asking questions instead of providing answers fosters accountability in teams and strengthens ownership, as Alan explains how this shift transformed his leadership approach from content-driven to people-centred.Understand the private equity lens as a value multiplier rather than cost-cutting pressure, where delivering bottom-line impact translates to exponential enterprise value at exit.Explore the critical importance of data quality as the foundation for procurement value creation, with Alan's framework: data > insights > ideas > projects > savings.Take away strategies for successful transitions from big pharma to smaller organisations, recognising that moving from thousand-person teams to lean operations requires building systems from scratch without the corporate machine behind you.Gain insights into defining personal success internally rather than through external validation, as Alan shares how working with coaches helped him discover that self-defined success metrics around wellbeing and detachment matter more than titles.Snippets"Your job as a leader is to make people who work for you successful. And the theory is if they're successful, then you'll be successful.""Data leads to insights. Insights leads to ideas. Ideas lead to projects. Projects, when executed well, lead to money in the bank. But at the end of the day, it all starts with the data.""The private equity lens is just a wonderful appreciation of what procurement can do and what procurement can bring to the table."Timestamps & Topics00:30:17 -- Three Active Ingredients: Curiosity, connection, and the ability to lower judgment00:42:23 -- First Leadership Role: Managing a unionised workforce as the youngest production lead00:52:13 -- Big Pharma to PE Transition: Building procurement systems from scratch at Stata01:00:25 -- Moderna Mission: Joining to advance platform mRNA technology in oncology01:16:46 -- Procurement of the Future: Integrating AI agents alongside human workforceResourcesFollow Alan Rankin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-rankin-a2733a6/ Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune in to our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
From Manufacturing Floor To Commercial Leadership Success With Thomas Wilson (01:18:00)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Thomas Wilson, Chief Commercial Officer at AmbioPharm, a global peptide CDMO.Thomas Wilson brings a unique perspective that spans 30 years at Pfizer, from elite manufacturing and supply chain roles to his current commercial leadership position in the biopharma CDMO space. His journey from military service through frontline manufacturing supervision to senior commercial roles demonstrates how operational fluency can fuel authentic commercial leadership.The conversation explores the critical transition from technical operations to commercial excellence, the mentors who shaped his servant leadership philosophy, and how to build high-performing teams where people are empowered to win.Key TakeawaysLearn how having a clear mission serves as your fundamental leadership compass, ensuring every decision aligns with what truly motivates you and drives meaningful results for your organisation.Discover the power of working for your people by giving them a fighting chance, creating conditions where team members can succeed rather than setting them up for failure.Understand why being the honest voice in difficult situations defines leadership credibility, especially when accurately assessing challenges before attempting to solve problems.Explore how servant leadership transforms from management concept to a practical framework, putting leaders in a position to enable others' success rather than seeking personal recognition or ego gratification.Take away strategies for transitioning from superhero to sidekick mentality in CDMO, recognising that commercial success comes from being 'Alfred to your customer's Batman' rather than trying to be the hero.Gain insights into creating non-toxic workplace cultures through structured disagreement, teaching teams how to challenge ideas without being disagreeable and fostering permission structures for open dialogue.Apply the 'Practice of 3' technique for better decision-making under pressure, consciously considering multiple response options before reacting to challenging situations or difficult conversations.Uncover how patient-centricity serves as the ultimate motivational foundation, connecting daily operational challenges to real human impact in the life sciences.Snippets"There's a patient at the end of everything you do."“You have to work for your people. You've got to put your people in a position where they can win.”“Disagreement is where the best ideas come from.”“Sometimes you need to lose to win.”“Make your own choice. You are your own agent”Timestamps & Topics00:50:16 -- Active Ingredients: Mission, working for your people, and being the honest voice00:52:00 -- Early Formation: Military service, career transition through What Color is Your Parachute00:58:05 -- Corporate Adjustment: Moving from military precision to union manufacturing environments01:01:44 -- Natural Leadership: Boy Scouts leadership retreat and connecting the dots mentality01:02:52 -- Early Lessons: Learning to lose strategically for better team culture01:05:05 -- Manufacturing Foundation: Converting raw materials and building deep product knowledge01:08:57 -- Virtual Plant Innovation: Transforming procurement model to engagement-based CDMO relationships01:25:08 -- Commercial Transition: From manufacturing interface to selling what you loveResourcesFollow Thomas Wilson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-p-wilson-pfizer-centreone/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune in to our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
Multidimensional Leadership and Failing Forward with Cliff Pacaro (01:07:33)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Cliff Pacaro, an HR executive with an illustrious career in the life sciences. Cliff's unconventional journey from aspiring astronaut to transformational HR leader reveals how multidimensional thinking and embracing failure can create exceptional leadership in the life sciences.His experience spans biopharma, CDMO, and beverage industries, demonstrating how stepping outside traditional HR boundaries and into business leadership roles builds the adaptive capabilities pharmaceutical executives need to thrive. The conversation explores how authenticity, calculated risk-taking, and leading through the messy middle of transformation drive organisational success in an industry facing talent development challenges and increasing consolidation pressures.Key TakeawaysDiscover how recognising everyone's human lays the foundation for effective leadership, especially when navigating pressure-filled transformations in pharmaceutical and biotech environments.Uncover why viewing failure as testing and evolution rather than defeat builds resilient leaders who can navigate the uncertainty inherent in drug development and organisational change.Understand the power of multidimensional leadership by stepping into different functional seats, allowing you to view business challenges through finance, operations, and supply chain lenses beyond your primary role.Explore how curiosity and asking "why" help develop authentic leadership, rather than simply copying other leaders and taking only the pieces that resonate, while staying true to yourself.Take away strategies for leading through the messy middle of transformation by celebrating small milestones, reassessing progress, and maintaining momentum even when things don't go to plan.Gain insights into breaking linear career progression assumptions by placing strong leaders in unfamiliar roles, as Cliff demonstrates through his experience stepping into a general manager position.Apply frameworks for staying anchored during complex transformations through meditation, reflection, and connecting with mentors who can provide perspective when chaos threatens to overwhelm progress.Snippets“Don't be afraid of failure... failure is testing. It's evolving. It's trying something new.”“Leadership is coming with a clear understanding and direction, but it's also leveraging the skill sets and resources around you.”“We're all human, we're all trying to get through our lives, be successful, grow, develop, encourage others, make cool choices, build great humans ourselves, and experience the world around us.”“Become the leader you are meant to be through the eyes that you have.”“We're not developing dynamic leaders. We're developing a repetition of what we're seeing within leadership in the organisations today.”Timestamps & Topics01:35:52 -- Three Active Ingredients: Humanity, embracing failure, and authentic leadership01:39:22 -- The human foundation: Why people are not obstacles but essential to success01:44:19 -- The leadership spark: How a university program ignited leadership development01:56:22 -- Multidimensional leadership: Viewing business through multiple functional lenses02:00:39 -- Stepping outside HR: Taking on a general manager role without traditional qualifications02:12:23 -- Failing forward: Using failure as a learning tool rather than an anchor02:36:26 -- Future of life sciences: Talent development challenges and the need for dynamic leadersResourcesFollow Cliff Pacaro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliffpacaro/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune in to our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
Building High-Performing Teams Under Pressure With Jason Martin (01:07:24)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Jason Martin, a seasoned biotech leader with extensive technical operations experience across pharmaceutical and biotech organisations.Jason's career spans from pharma giants to smaller biotech companies, demonstrating how leadership fundamentals remain constant while adapting to different organisational sizes. The conversation explores building trust in new environments, managing CDMO relationships, and creating high-performing teams under pressure. Jason shares practical frameworks for life sciences executives navigating transitions between large pharma infrastructure and biotech agility.Key TakeawaysLearn how communication serves as the foundation of technical operations leadership, requiring clear messaging with validation loops to ensure teams execute effectively.Discover the trust equation framework for building credibility in new organisations, combining reliability, authenticity, and minimal self-interest to establish leadership reputation.Understand how to transition successfully between large pharma and biotech settings by adapting leadership style to match organisational resources and culture.Explore situational awareness when selecting CDMO partners, evaluating leadership quality, compliance history, and long-term relationship potential for strategic products.Implement practical hiring strategies that utilise personality assessment tools to complement teams with the right mix of drivers, integrators, and analytical guardians.Apply the "teams" framework of trust, engagement, accountability, and making stars to create psychological safety and ground rules for pharmaceutical teams.Gain insights into managing upwards through breadcrumb communication, helping leaders reach conclusions gradually rather than overwhelming them with direct feedback.Snippets"I love the life sciences. I love the aspect of creating health care, and that's pretty much what drew me into the desire to be a surgeon…Using science to help people with my hands.""Trust is not instantly given or taken away. It's really a history of experience that people trust you or not.""Every role in the company has a purpose. Every role in the company is precious and valuable.""Always leave relationships and jobs in a better state than when you joined""Walk the floor, talk to people, understand what's going on in the organisation. You'll hear and learn things that you would never get from a conference room."Timestamps & Topics00:14:50 -- Three Active Ingredients: Communication, trust building, and visionary leadership as core foundations00:25:52 -- Transition to Leadership: Moving from managing to leading leaders at Novartis Sandoz00:34:18 -- Trust Equation: Building credibility through reliability, authenticity, and minimal self-interest00:43:08 -- Startup Mindset: Adapting to smaller organisations and wearing multiple hats effectively00:52:19 -- CDMO Management: Navigating contract manufacturing relationships and leadership assessment00:59:07 -- High-Performing Teams: Building excellence under pressure during pivotal clinical trials01:10:30 -- Team Ground Rules: Creating psychological safety and accountability frameworksResources Follow Jason Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-741bb98/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune in to our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
The Unconventional Path to Life Sciences Leadership with Jesse Sibarium (00:58:15)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Jesse Sibarium, a seasoned life sciences executive with experience spanning supply chain and commercial leadership across multiple continents. Jesse's unconventional path from Manhattan to Moldova, Romania, the Netherlands, and Switzerland demonstrates how cultural immersion and calculated risk-taking can create what he calls "leadership luck." His journey through organisations, including Amgen and PTC Therapeutics, offers insights into building credibility through lived experience rather than traditional career progression.The conversation explores global adaptability, decision-making under pressure, and the evolving landscape of pharmaceutical leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.Key TakeawaysLearn how curiosity and inner drive serve as foundational leadership qualities, particularly when entering unfamiliar territories or industries where traditional experience may not apply.Discover the critical importance of selecting diverse teams with complementary skills, personalities, and nationalities who will challenge you while supporting your vision through difficult periods.Understand that resilience and grit become essential when carefully crafted plans inevitably face unexpected challenges, requiring leaders to adapt quickly without losing momentum.Explore how cultural immersion creates competitive advantages, with Jesse's language learning experiences in Moldova and the Netherlands opening doors that traditional qualifications could not.Take away strategies for creating "leadership luck" by positioning yourself in uncomfortable situations where unique opportunities may emerge for those willing to take calculated risks.Gain insights into transitioning between large pharma and smaller biotech environments, understanding when each setting serves different career development purposes.Apply frameworks for building international teams that can operate seamlessly across multiple jurisdictions and cultural contexts in today's globalised pharmaceutical landscape.Uncover how soft skills increasingly function as hard skills in leadership roles, particularly in relationship-building and cross-cultural communication within life sciences organisations.Snippets"Some people see things as they are and ask why. Some people dream things that never were and ask, why not?" "I thought, there is no way I can quit, because if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.""Don't underestimate those soft skills, because the soft skills are really the hard skills."Timestamps & Topics00:16:27 -- Introduction: Jesse's journey from Manhattan to international pharmaceutical leadership00:17:56 -- Three Active Ingredients: Curiosity, team selection, and resilience as leadership foundations00:23:05 -- Early Formation: High school performing arts lessons that shaped professional mindset00:28:12 -- Global Awakening: Meeting international people and developing an appetite for a European career00:30:01 -- The Moldova Gamble: Taking risks through Peace Corps to create an unconventional pathway to Europe00:42:59 -- Leadership Luck: Creating opportunities through cultural immersion and language learning01:02:25 -- Future of Leadership: Diverse backgrounds, international experience, and evolving pharmaceutical landscapeResourcesFollow Jesse Sibarium on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sibarium/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune in to our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
Building Global Leadership Through Cultural Curiosity with Erin Federman (00:59:20)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Erin Federman, a Global Life Sciences Commercial Leader.As a seasoned "global American" who truly integrated into European culture over a decade, Erin shares her transformation from a fired retail manager who was "a baby dictator" to a seasoned life sciences leader. Erin discusses the reality of "de-Americanising" your worldview, from navigating salary perceptions to rewiring your brain for slower, more integrated ways of working. The conversation explores how leadership isn't a template but lived experience, why career curiosity trumps straight-line progression, and how internal mobility challenges strangle talent development across the life sciences.Key TakeawaysLearn why leadership isn't a template but lived experience, moving beyond "be yourself" advice to understand that authentic leadership comes from trial, error, and evolution through real challenges.Discover the reality of "de-Americanising" your worldview when relocating to Europe, including salary evaluation beyond dollar amounts and embracing slower, integrated working styles.Explore how career curiosity beats straight-line progression, with Federman demonstrating how following intellectual spark across functions creates more valuable leaders than rigid career ladders.Understand moving from judgement to curiosity as a leadership tool when managing diverse, international teams.Take away Federman's framework for breaking down complex challenges by working backwards from end goals and creating manageable 30, 60, and 90-day implementation chunks.Apply practical strategies for internal mobility by demonstrating capabilities and advocating for team members to cross functional boundaries, especially for diverse candidates facing higher barriers.Gain insights into building teams as "living recipes" where different communication styles and personalities create stronger outcomes than homogeneous skill sets.Uncover how to maintain your spark through career transitions, recognising when you've outgrown systems and need to seek new challenges to avoid professional burnout.Snippets"Leading is not being a dictator. Because you grow up thinking leading is telling people what to do."It's not just doing the thing, it's actually being able to communicate what you're doing in a way that gives other people trust and confidence that you can do the thing.”“Curiosity versus judgment, which sounds so obvious when you say it, but it's so easy to come from a place of judgment without even thinking."“It is a responsibility to not just climb the ladder and holler down some advice. Reach not only reach down and pull people up, but look to the side who is also trying to get somewhere and they just need a bridge across."Timestamps & Topics00:40 -- Introduction: Erin's background across pharma, biotech and diagnostics05:42 -- Leadership Foundations: Beyond templates to lived experience and three key ingredients15:33 -- Early Leadership Lessons: Retail management failure and learning that leadership isn't control25:15 -- Global American Transformation: The reality of relocating from Seattle to Europe35:20 -- De-Americanising Your Worldview: Salary perception, lifestyle changes, and cultural integration45:18 -- Career as Curiosity: Following intellectual spark across functions and building capabilities55:12 -- Internal Mobility Challenges: Breaking down barriers and advocating for career transitionsResourcesFollow Erin Federman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinfederman/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
Leading Through Crisis and Self-Awareness with Rochelle Trow (00:59:01)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Rochelle Trow, Founder of The Change Canvas and Interim HR Executive. Rochelle shares her transformational journey from growing up under apartheid in South Africa to leading in European boardrooms, ultimately experiencing burnout and discovering the power of conscious leadership. The conversation explores fear-based versus values-driven leadership, the hidden costs of corporate performance culture, and practical frameworks for emotional regulation. Rochelle reveals how leaders can stay authentic in corporate environments without losing themselves, offering actionable insights on self-awareness, conscious decision-making, and leading with courage and compassion in today's challenging life sciences landscape.Key TakeawaysDiscover the three pillars of conscious leadership: self-awareness that extends beyond behaviour to triggers and empathy, conscious choices that serve the greater good rather than self-interest, and courage paired with compassion.Learn to distinguish between fear-based and values-driven leadership using Rochelle's framework of 20 questions that help identify when decisions stem from fear versus authentic alignment.Understand how burnout manifests differently - not from workload volume but from the quiet erosion of self and constant misalignment between personal values and corporate demands.Explore the concept of radical self-responsibility as the foundation for surviving toxic environments, focusing on your response and choices rather than blaming external factors or waiting for organisational change.Apply the "smoke alarm" decision-making approach by pausing before choices to ask where the decision stems from, whether it represents real warning signals, and how it aligns with your core values.Gain practical methods for giving difficult feedback to managers and colleagues by focusing on situations and impact rather than personality traits, maintaining integrity while preserving professional relationships.Take away tools for emotional regulation that enable leaders to maintain authenticity and effectiveness even in challenging corporate environments, proving that internal strength can overcome external toxicity.Identify the warning signs of becoming a "problems sponge" and learn strategies to avoid absorbing organisational dysfunction while still caring deeply about team and company success.Snippets"Now what I do is, or at least what I think is important, is to actually pause before you make that decision and ask yourself, where am I making this decision from?""My entire philosophy is you don't need to burn out. You need to focus on leading yourself first.""So one of the biggest shifts in myself is before I judge somebody, I go, what might be driving that person's actions."Timestamps & Topics00:00 -- Intro: Rochelle's journey from apartheid South Africa to European boardrooms05:42 -- Three Key Ingredients: Self-awareness, conscious choices, and courage with compassion18:33 -- Career Wake-up Call: The toxic positivity meeting that changed everything36:12 -- From Security Guard to Regional Manager: Early leadership lessons at Woolworths45:16 -- Fear-Based Leadership: How corporate environments erode authentic leadership55:30 -- Burnout Reality: The emotional weight of misalignment, not workload67:45 -- Radical Self-Responsibility: Taking ownership in toxic environmentsResourcesFollow Rochelle Trow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochelletrow/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
Leading at Different Altitudes with Derek McCaig (00:51:12)
In this episode of the Active Ingredientspodcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Derek McCaig,Commercial Strategist and Transformation Leader.Derek brings decades of experience launching life-changing medicines across some of healthcare's most complex corners, from the first wave of HIV treatments in the 1990s to rare diseases and gene therapy today. His career spans leading organizations at Big Pharma, scaling biotech startups, and bringing commercial clarity to breakthroughs. In this conversation, Derek shares insights on leading at different altitudes, balancing compassion with pragmatism, and why the most meaningful wins often come from the people and lessons rather than the product itself.Key TakeawaysDiscover how trust, empowerment, and adaptability form the foundation of exceptional leadership, fostering environments where teams take calculated risks and deliver outstanding performance in life sciences organizations.Discover practical approaches for leading through uncertainty in emerging therapeutic areas, such as gene therapy, where answers aren't predetermined, and teams must collaborate to explore new solutions together.Understand the art of intellectual leadership when navigating between commercial realities and scientific passion, helping R&D teams broaden perspectives whilst respecting their life's work.Explore how to scale leadership across different organizational sizes, from managing 200-person sales forces to intimate rare disease teams, whilst maintaining core empowerment principles.Take away Derek's framework for building a high-performing team that incorporates diverse perspectives, robust debate, consensus-driven decision-making, and an unwavering focus on patient outcomes.Gain insights into leading during setbacks and failures, understanding how commercial leaders can maintain team motivation when clinical trials fail but still contribute valuable data to the industry.Apply lessons from Derek's experience transitioning between Big Pharma and biotech, learning when to trust teams versus when to roll up sleeves in smaller, agile environments.Uncover strategies for maintaining purpose-driven leadership in rare diseases and gene therapy, where individual patient stories provide powerful motivation for commercial teams.SnippetsI think it's really important to build trust with your team within the organization. I think a big part of that is also integrity.""When people don't feel that trust and don't feel that integrity, they're just a little more reticent.""There's nothing better than working on genuine innovation. Where you are helping the community...to really solve those problems.""The wisdom is in a team, you know, it's not in me. "I do believe that everybody comes to work in this industry with the ultimate aim of getting medicines that really change diseases and change people's lives."Timestamps & Topics00:08:00 -- Introduction: Derek McCaig's journey from HIV treatments to gene therapy00:09:30 -- The Three Active Ingredients: Trust, empowerment and adaptability in leadership00:12:30 -- Early Career Foundation: From pharmacy school to first leadership role at age 2100:17:00 -- Leading Through Innovation: HIV treatments and working at the cutting edge00:28:00 -- Scaling Leadership: Managing large sales forces versus intimate rare disease teams00:35:00 -- Intellectual Leadership: Bridging commercial realities with scientific passion00:47:00 -- Building High-Performance Teams: Risk-taking, debate and consensus in biotechResourcesFollow Derek McCaig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-mccaig-51a15638/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/ Don’t Miss an Episode Remember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.FeedbackShare it with your friends, family or your peers!
Building Leadership Through Bold Career Moves with Vlad Makarenko (01:01:34)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Vlad Makarenko, Global HR Leader at Alphasigma. Vlad shares his unconventional path through the life sciences industry, from achieving the head of HR role by age 32 to boldly stepping out of HR to gain firsthand business experience.This episode explores the essential components of effective leadership through Vlad's "leadership triangle" framework, the importance of owning your career direction, and why self-development often represents the most challenging yet critical work a leader can undertake. His journey from the Soviet Union to global pharmaceutical companies offers unique insights into building credibility and leading across cultures.Key TakeawaysDiscover the leadership triangle framework, comprising strategic leadership, people leadership, and decisive execution.Learn how to own your career direction by establishing a clear North Star and acting as if you're already in the role.Explore the power of seeking discomfort as a development strategy, where 6-7 out of 10 tasks should challenge you enough to "pull your hair out".Understand why stepping into the business from enabling functions like HR provides invaluable credibility and empathy when serving stakeholders in pharmaceutical and biotech organizations.Take away the importance of psychological investment in coaching, mentoring, and self-analysis before pursuing traditional qualifications like MBAs or professional certifications.Gain practical approaches for global leadership that emphasize authentic connection, servant leadership principles, and genuine care for team members across virtual environments.Uncover how AI can enhance human leadership by handling administrative tasks, freeing leaders to focus on empathy, coaching, and meaningful feedback conversations.Apply the fundamentals of outstanding leadership through empathy, asking coaching questions, providing constructive feedback, and understanding individuals' long-term career aspirations.Snippets"The CEO is normally for me, the chief people officer.""If you really mean well for the organization and for the people and for the business, try to get to a position of leadership where you can influence things in a positive way"."So whenever I felt that I was comfortable, that was a signal for me to look to fork.""Get the basics right. Feedback, constructive, open, sometimes hard but honest feedback. How often do leaders do that? Unfortunately, not that often."Timestamps & TopicsThe following timestamps are approximations:00:00 -- Intro: Overview of Vlad's unconventional career path and leadership philosophy05:42 -- Leadership Triangle: Strategic leadership, people focus, and decisive execution framework18:33 -- Career Ownership: Setting North Stars and acting as if you're already in the role28:15 -- Bold Moves: Leaving comfortable positions and embracing discomfort for growth36:12 -- Business Experience: Why HR leaders benefit from stepping into commercial roles45:30 -- Self-Development: The critical importance of psychological coaching and mentoring52:18 -- Global Leadership: Leading authentically across cultures and virtual environmentsResourcesFollow Vlad Makarenko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vlad-makarenko-global-hr/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Loved this episode?Share it with your friends, family or your peers!
Loud, Proud and Authentic Leadership with Audrey Greenberg (00:47:57)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Audrey Greenberg, CEO at AG Capital.Audrey shares her remarkable journey from investment banking and real estate to founding a cell and gene therapy CDMO that scaled to a billion-dollar valuation. This conversation explores how C-suite authenticity, executive flexibility, and people-first leadership have powered her success across pharmaceutical, biotech, and MedTech industries.Key TakeawaysLearn how C-suite authenticity breeds trust and respect in pharmaceutical and biotech leadership by being genuine rather than following corporate norms, especially when handling high-stakes patient programs.Discover the power of executive flexibility in today's dynamic life sciences market, where political changes, biotech funding shifts, and pharmaceutical disruptions require senior leaders to pivot quickly.Understand why putting people first drives success in MedTech and biopharma, from hiring exceptional talent in pharmaceutical companies to respecting and learning from life sciences clients.Explore how curiosity and connection accelerate career growth for biotech executives by genuinely wanting to help others, taking cold calls, and building authentic relationships.Take away practical methods for making bold career transitions within biopharma by combining thorough research with gut instinct, ensuring the right people and aligned investors are part of your journey.Apply the "GSD" (get things done) hiring philosophy for biotech talent acquisition by screening for grit, positive attitude, and the ability to move multiple pharmaceutical initiatives forward.Uncover strategies for transitioning from corporate pharmaceutical roles to private equity advisory by marketing operational excellence to investors and packaging your track record for life sciences-focused funds.Snippets"Authenticity. It matters because people know you're not faking it. A lot of people can spot a fake from a mile away.""Playing safe being a sheep doesn't work. You get average returns and average results when you play it. Safe opportunities come from saying yes to high-risk, high-potential moves.""If I'm the smartest person in the room, I need to leave that room. I want everybody around me to be smarter than me.""I come from a perspective of abundance instead of scarcity. People generally want to help other people. So reach out to people. Don't be afraid. People will help you.""Don't be afraid. Make bold moves. Leadership is taken, not given."Timestamps & Topics00:14:49 -- Three Key Leadership Ingredients: Authenticity, flexibility, and people first00:24:55 -- The GSK Building Story: How real estate led to cell and gene therapy CDMO00:30:24 -- Becoming a Leader: Being "loud, proud and ready" in life sciences00:32:08 -- Boardroom Authenticity: Communicating transparently with investors00:41:12 -- Fixing the Broken, Growing the Bold: Helping investors spot opportunities00:47:23 -- Leading as the Only Woman: Using visibility as an advantage00:51:40 -- Transitioning to Private Equity: Marketing operational excellence to investors00:56:00 -- Future of Leadership: Convergence of digital biotech and personalised medicineResourcesFollow Audrey Greenberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreygreenberg/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring leadership insights from preeminent leaders in the life sciences. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Feedback?Have questions or feedback about the podcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at activeingredients@fraserdove.com
Building Resilient Global Supply Chains With Frank Binder (00:59:47)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Frank Binder, Global Supply Chain Transformation Leader and former executive at Santen, Celgene, and Novartis.Frank shares his remarkable journey from a self-described "non-born leader" to becoming one of the most trusted voices in global pharmaceutical supply chain leadership. This episode examines how supply chain leaders can elevate their role from operational support to strategic boardroom influence while developing the leadership capabilities necessary to thrive in today's complex global environment.Key TakeawaysDiscover the three essential ingredients of successful leadership: ambition with purpose, listening and engaging with people, and developing a clear vision that guides team direction and decision-making.Learn how to transform reluctant team members into confident leaders by creating safe spaces for feedback, demonstrating vulnerability as a leader, and coaching through career transitions.Explore Frank's approach to building diverse, high-performing global teams by seeking people with complementary strengths rather than hiring clones of yourself.Understand practical techniques for managing across cultures, including the traffic light feedback system that enables honest input without direct confrontation in hierarchical cultures.Gain insights into creating constructive cultures where mistakes are acceptable, ideas can be critiqued regardless of source, and team members feel safe to disagree with leadership.Take away strategies for cross-cultural negotiations that emphasise respect, patience, and understanding different approaches to confrontation and consensus-building across regions.Apply lessons from Frank's military leadership breakthrough, where he learned that effective leadership involves achieving outcomes through others that cannot be accomplished individually.Uncover how supply chain leaders can maintain strategic relevance by managing expectations transparently, explaining trade-offs clearly, and positioning supply chain as a critical business enabler.Explore the future of supply chain leadership in an era of increased geopolitical complexity, where leaders must consider political factors alongside traditional metrics.Snippets"If you want to be a leader, you have to know where you want to go. And because that's what people want to know from you.""For me, a productive discussion is when somebody in my team is able to tell me, hey, Frank, you're wrong.""Supply chain is not complicated, but it's complex. It's like a reflection of life. Everything fits together and is influenced by so many factors.""You have to trust in each other, and you have to have a unity of purpose.""As a leader of a cross-cultural team, you need to provide a space where people feel safe to really give their opinion."Timestamps & Topics00:22:27 -- Leadership Philosophy: The three key ingredients of successful leadership00:27:46 -- Leadership Discovery: Swiss Air Force experience that revealed leadership potential00:45:17 -- Building High-Performing Teams: Creating diverse, complementary leadership teams00:50:07 -- Cross-Cultural Leadership: Managing teams across different cultural contexts01:03:26 -- Post-COVID Supply Chain: How the pandemic elevated supply chain's strategic importance01:09:14 -- Future of Supply Chain: Next five yearsResourcesFollow Frank Binder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pharmaglobalsupplychain/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don't Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring leadership insights from preeminent leaders in the life sciences. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms.Feedback?Have questions or feedback about the podcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at activeingredients@fraserdove.com
Channeling Energy and Building Excellence with Tom Merriam (01:01:03)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Tom Merriam, Head of Corporate Strategy and Chief of Staff to the CEO at Organon.Tom shares his remarkable journey from MedTech manufacturing to McKinsey consulting and into pharmaceutical executive leadership, driven by a personal mission to expand access to healthcare. After experiencing serious health challenges in his teens,Tom developed a deep appreciation for quality healthcare and has dedicated his career to solving complex problems at scale across biotech and biopharma organizations. Throughout the episode, Tom explores how C-suite leaders and senior executives can effectively harness their energy, build resilient teams during crises, and drive meaningful change in life sciences organisations.Tom's insights on vision-driven leadership, thoughtful execution, and caring for stakeholders provide essential guidance for pharmaceutical and biotech executives navigating talent acquisition challenges and the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.Key TakeawaysLearn how pharmaceutical and biotech executives can identify and channel their natural energy toward solving complex biopharma challenges that align with personal mission and organizational values.Discover how C-suite leaders can translate organizational vision into compelling narratives that motivate teams across medtech and pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.Understand how crisis management reveals executive character in life sciences organizations and the importance of establishing clear dual mandates in pharmaceutical leadership.Explore strategic career navigation for life sciences professionals by choosing opportunities based on potential impact rather than conventional wisdom.Apply the principle of progress over perfection to drive incremental improvements across pharmaceutical operations that C-suite executives can implement immediately.Gain insight into building competitive team dynamics within pharmaceutical manufacturing environments through KPI tracking and operational excellence.Take away leadership strategies for managing high-energy executive talent by creating environments where intensity becomes a strategic asset for life sciences organizations.Timestamps & Topics05:42 -- Three Key Leadership Ingredients for life sciences executives13:18 -- Becton Dickinson medtech rotational program and manufacturing leadership21:40 -- Building pharmaceutical team culture through competitive dynamics32:18 -- Executive mentorship and growth in pharmaceutical operations36:37 -- Crisis leadership in life sciences during pandemic response56:10 -- Future of life sciences leadership: Innovation, M&A, and regulatory predictionsSnippets"The most difficult managerial challenge you will have in your entire life is that of managing yourself.""If you can't find a way for your people to care, you're going to have a really difficult time accomplishing whatever it is that you're after.""The energy is the capacity to do work right. That's the physics definition of energy.""We were losing money on every prescription, right, because of the cost of the airfreight. But we still kept the product flowing because that was the right thing to do.""Progress versus perfection. If you allow yourself to just focus on what perfect is, you oftentimes miss a lot of things."ResourcesFollow Tom Merriam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasmmerriam/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don’t Miss an Episode Remember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms. Feedback?Have questions or feedback about the podcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at activeingredients@fraserdove.com
Empowering Teams and Building Legacy With Ian Wells (00:57:27)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Ian Wells, former CFO at Hoya Vision Care, whose leadership approach redefines what finance leadership can be. Ian reveals himself as "a business-focused and people-focused person" rather than just a numbers specialist, sharing how this mindset helped him build teams with zero attrition over five years.His journey from KPMG to the mining industry and finally to life sciences showcases how finding purpose in each role shaped his leadership style.Ian's philosophy of "eliminating the pedestal" in hierarchical structures and his commitment to being "a good human being" have created remarkable business results. With insights on empowerment through his "RA" framework - resource, authority, responsibility, and accountability - Ian demonstrates how modern CFOs can drive transformation through human connection. Key TakeawaysDiscover the three key ingredients for leadership success according to Ian Wells: purpose, passion and vision; empowering teams to succeed; and being a good human being who is approachable and open.Learn how empowering teams directly impact financial results through increased engagement, better performance, and remarkably lower attrition - Ian experienced zero direct report turnover in five years.Explore the concept of "eliminating the pedestal" in leadership by asking "stupid questions," giving credit to team members with frontline knowledge, and creating a more flat organisational structure.Take away a practical framework for resource management using Ian's "RARA" approach - providing the right resources, authority, responsibility and accountability that allow teams to execute their responsibilities and be accountable for results.Understand how purpose-driven leadership transcends industry boundaries. Ian shows how finding meaning in mining and life sciences helped him connect teams to larger societal impacts beyond profit.Uncover strategies for building high-performing finance teams by defining the right structure, bringing in the right people, setting up regular touchpoints, and defining multi-year development paths.Gain insight into Ian's "traffic light" leadership style, where leaders primarily direct, support, and remove barriers for their teams rather than do the tactical work themselves.Learn why healthy leadership practices focusing on physical and mental well-being create better leaders. Ian shares his journey toward health-conscious leadership without becoming preachy.Snippets“Give a man a fish or teach them how to fish. I’d rather teach people how to fish.”I'm not a finance-focused person. I'm a business-focused person and a people-focused person.""Without a doubt, you cannot be a modern leader if you're not empowering teams because, without the team's success, you as a leader will not be successful.""Bad leadership is just a lesson to make every leader better. Good leaders drive engagement. They have passion. They drive psychological safety, which is one of my non-negotiables of a workplace."Timestamps & Topics00:15:13 - Three key ingredients of successful leadership00:31:32 - Becoming CFO and COVID challenges00:36:30 - Eliminating the pedestal in leadership00:44:33 - Building teams with zero attrition00:50:20 - Healthy leadership and wellbeing01:00:59 - The future of leadershipResourcesFollow Ian Wells on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianwells-globalcfo/ Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don’t Miss an Episode Remember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms. Feedback?Have questions or feedback about the podcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at activeingredients@fraserdove.com
Leading With Impact and Authenticity With Kenneth Lee (00:49:09)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Kenneth Lee, EVP and Head of Biopharma at Impact Global.Kenneth shares his unconventional career journey across Eastern and Western business cultures, from his beginnings as an introverted researcher to becoming a commercial leader.The conversation explores his formula for balancing precise metrics with genuine human connection, his experiences adapting leadership styles between Korea's intensive work culture and America's remote teams, and how taking calculated risks shaped his success.Throughout the episode, Kenneth reveals practical approaches to leadership that combine structured systems with the freedom for teams to excel independently.Key TakeawaysDiscover how genuine care transforms leadership effectiveness by dedicating meaningful time to team member. Kenneth follows a "70/30 rule" where 30% of his time is set aside for his team beyond task-focused interactions.Take away Kenneth's strategy for building credibility within your team by taking a challenging, high-impact project off their shoulders, demonstrating you're in the trenches with them.Understand how quantifiable, measurable metrics create freedom in remote and hybrid work environments, allowing team members to be rewarded for efficiency rather than hours worked.Explore the power of breaking down KPIs across the business cycle, measuring effort throughout the process rather than focusing solely on end financial results.Gain insight into the transformative impact of thinking in other people's shoes, a principle Kenneth applies to leadership, relationships, and business negotiations.Uncover how cultural transitions can catalyse personal growth. Kenneth shares his journey from being an introverted student in Korea to becoming an extroverted business leader after moving to the United States.Snippets"Think in other people's shoes. If you do that, you will be successful as a leader, as a husband, as a friend, whether it be your career, your life, you will be liked and respected.""I had a personal motto at the time, challenge over stability, happiness over money. And that was when I was in my 20s, I set that motto and I completely followed that rule of my life.""It's not the work hour. It's about people's happiness, people's incentive, and a measurable and very well-defined KPI that drives people naturally."Timestamps & Topics00:00 - Introduction: Thomas introduces Kenneth Lee and his unique leadership journey06:09 - Kenneth's three key ingredients of successful leadership07:07 - Genuine care and the 70/30 rule for leadership attention08:42 - Smart but "lazy" leadership: creating systems that run themselves09:42 - Taking on tough projects to demonstrate capability and build trust12:00 - Early life and transformation from introvert to extrovert14:25 - Career transition: from researcher to business development leader17:28 - Choosing passion over finances: cutting salary in half for opportunity19:23 - First leadership role and early misconceptions about leadership21:51 - The most important leadership principle: thinking in others' shoes24:02 - Moving back to the US to lead commercial operations28:15 - Contrast between Korean and US work cultures34:04 - Kenneth's commercial leadership formula and comprehensive KPI approach36:32 - Creating structure that provides freedom: Kenneth's meeting framework44:04 - Reflections on risk-taking and career developmentResourcesFollow Kenneth Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scholarken/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Don’t Miss an EpisodeRemember to tune into our next episode for more inspiring insights. You can also subscribe to the Active Ingredients podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other leading podcast platforms. Feedback?Have questions or feedback about the podcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at activeingredients@fraserdove.com
Vision, Integrity & Taking Chances with Alexandre Montague (01:04:39)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Alexandre Montague, a purpose-driven CEO in the vision care space whose leadership philosophy centres on integrity, transparency, and empathy.Alexandre's journey takes us from launching businesses in Japan with just "a desk and a phone" to leading global organisations with over 20,000 employees. His career path began with a teacher's comment about Japan that sparked a lifelong passion and shaped his entire trajectory.With a mission focused on helping people see better and preventing childhood myopia, Alexandre shows how purpose drives business growth. He shares insights about building teams by empowering experts and then "being as lazy as possible" – stepping back to let them excel in ways he couldn't himself.This episode reveals how serendipity and the courage to take chances have built Alexandre's career across continents. From eye care camps in Africa to strategies for the global myopia epidemic, his story demonstrates leadership that combines commercial success with meaningful social impact.Key TakeawaysEmbrace Alexandre's three leadership essentials: integrity to build trust, transparency to create clarity, and empathy to connect with and support your team's needs.Discover how chance moments can reshape your path, as a single comment about Japan in school sparked a passion that defined Alexandre's entire career trajectory.Shift from "taking risks" to "taking chances" — a mindset focused on opportunities rather than downsides when making bold career moves.Use purpose as a business accelerator that drives team engagement while creating market differentiation and opportunities for growth.Practice "lazy leadership" by hiring experts, providing clear direction, then stepping back to let them excel in ways you never could yourself.Welcome "stupid questions" that challenge assumptions and reveal the blind spots that inevitably come with industry experience.Create boundaries between work and life, following Alexandre's example of strict disconnection from Friday evening to Monday morning.Snippets"I like to use the word risk. I like to use taking chances. Chances come, they come with risks. But it's about taking chances. And no one is looking actively for risk. But people are looking for opportunities.""I think it's leaders who believed in me that drove my career. It's all about people.""The only thing that I know is that I don't know anything. And I think that's a very powerful statement. And I think we should all try to keep at the back of our mind.""When you have a mentor leader who is supportive, who helps you and says, go for it. We'll support you. Whatever happens."Timestamps & Topics00:17:50 - Intro: Overview of Alexandre Montague and his leadership philosophy 00:19:49 - The Three Key Ingredients: Integrity, transparency, and empathy 00:21:57 - Early Life: Education and the teacher who sparked interest in Japan 00:30:47 - First Steps into Life Sciences: A serendipitous career beginning 00:40:50 - Leadership Development: Influential mentors and taking chances 00:54:54 - Purpose-Driven Leadership: Using vision care to impact communities 01:00:26 - The "Lazy" Leadership Style: Empowering experts and stepping back 01:10:39 - Future of Leadership: The importance of empathy and transparency 01:18:49 - Work-Life Balance: The importance of disconnecting and "wine time"ResourcesThe Blue Line Imperative by Kevin Kaiser - Book mentioned by Alexandre about building trust in organisationsFollow Alexandre Montague on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/medtechchiefexecutiveofficer/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Loved this episode?Subscribe to the channel for more inspiring leadership stories. Feedback?Have questions or feedback about the podcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at activeingredients@fraserdove.com
Braving Ambiguity with Deanna Angello (01:03:29)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Deanna Angello, a veteran commercial leader in the life sciences industry with over two decades of experience. With a career spanning major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Genentech, Janssen, and Kite Pharma, Deanna has successfully launched seven blockbuster drugs, generating over £7 billion in revenue. Now mentoring seed to Series A CEOs, she helps early-stage companies scale with strategic clarity and a patient-first mindset. Deanna shares her remarkable leadership journey throughout the conversation, from her psychology background, consulting foundations, and taking on commercial leadership roles nobody else wanted. Her career has been defined by authenticity, adaptability, and resilience in the face of ambiguity.Key TakeawaysDiscover how authenticity creates trust in leadership, allowing teams to connect withyou as a person rather than just a Job title. Deanna's refreshing approachmakes others feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work.Learn to embrace ambiguity as a career accelerator. Deanna explains how taking oncomplex, uncertain situations that others avoided became opportunities thatadvanced her leadership journey.Understand the power of cross-functional leadership in life sciences, bringingdiverse expertise together with a genuine appreciation for each specialist'scontribution toward patient-focused goals.Explore the path from large pharma to advisory roles by recognising your transferableskills, building new networks, and finding the courage to follow your uniquepath.Gain insight into "market development" for successful drug launches,particularly when changing standards of care. Waiting until approval oftenlimits patient access to breakthrough treatments.Take away practical wisdom on career transitions by trusting your gut, aligningwith your values, and surrounding yourself with inspiring people who challengeyour growth.Uncover strategies for developing blockbuster drugs by putting patients at thecentre of decision-making and understanding their journey rather than relyingon outdated playbooks.Snippets"Being yourself, bringing your whole self to work and what you do in a career, and most importantly as a leader, helps people feel comfortable.""I consider this a gift; what do we get to do? But I always say to put the patient at the centre of our decision-making.""It's about having the courage to strike out and follow your path. We're not all the same.""Always bet on yourself. So believe in yourself and bet on yourself, and you'll never go wrong."Timestamps & Topics00:12:00 - Thomas introduces DeannaAngello 00:14:37 - The three key ingredients ofsuccessful leadership00:17:30 - Deanna's early career andeducational background00:21:04 - How consulting experienceprovided foundational skills00:25:18 - First steps into the lifesciences industry00:27:02 - When Deanna first felt like aleader00:36:56 - Pivotal career move from Pfizerto Genentech00:39:54 - Taking on leadership roles thatno one else wanted00:45:41 - Lessons learned from poorleadership experiences00:50:36 - Insights from launchingblockbuster drugs00:56:18 - The "Dolomitesmoment" - finding clarity and changing direction01:01:31 - Transitioning from corporatelife to advisory roles01:09:58 - The future of leadership inlife sciences01:12:15 - Advice to Deanna's younger self Resources• Follow Deanna Angello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannaangello/• Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Loved this episode?Subscribe to the channel for more inspiring leadership stories. Feedback?Have questions or feedback about the podcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at activeingredients@fraserdove.com
Adapting Leadership Across Borders with Laurent Abuaf (01:25:02)
In this episode of the Active Ingredients podcast, host Thomas Dove interviews Laurent Abuaf, a seasoned commercial leader with a diverse international career spanning industries, continents, and leadership levels. Laurent shares his fascinating journey from his early days in the automotive industry and consulting at BCG to senior leadership roles at AstraZeneca, where he spent over 15 years, and subsequently into the biotech world with Amarin. As a self-described "dreamer" who evolved into a strategic commercial leader, Laurent's story reflects the power of taking calculated risks and embracing new opportunities. With over 15 years as an expat across six countries including Belgium, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, and now Switzerland, Laurent offers valuable insights on adapting leadership styles across different cultures, building high-performing teams in diverse environments, and successfully transitioning between large pharmaceutical organisations and smaller biotech companies. Key TakeawaysDiscover the power of Laurent's "no regret philosophy" for making critical career decisions that align with personal values and build confidence.Learn how to transition from large pharma to SME by adopting an entrepreneurial mindset where impact outweighs function and roles extend beyond job descriptions.Uncover strategies for building a cross-cultural career through adaptability, local respect, and balancing global standards with cultural sensitivity.Explore how board experience enhances understanding of company dynamics at all levels, creating complementary insights between executive and non-executive roles.Take away insights on work-life harmony while pursuing an international career, including supporting your partner's growth and building strong foundations at home.Gain perspective on leading through challenges and recognising when some situations require the wisdom to step away.Learn why Laurent believes "people do what they do because they're smart" as a key leadership principle for building empathy and understanding motives.Snippets:"I have a sort of philosophy that I discovered a bit late in my career, which is the no regret philosophy. Making sure that whatever you do, whatever you decide in each of these critical points in your career, ask yourself the question: am I okay with this?""Fear is never a good advisor. It's good to keep you on your toes, though.""For the new generation, the sense of purpose is very important, and the sense of purpose is going far beyond making money for the shareholder. It's really making that difference. And being true to it."Timestamps & Topics00:08:21 - Thomas introduces Laurent Abuaf00:11:45 - The key ingredients of successful leadership00:15:15 - Laurent's early career and educational background00:27:01 - Transition from BCG consulting to the pharmaceutical industry00:43:18 - Laurent's international career across multiple continents00:52:36 - Building a strong foundation at home while pursuing a global career00:57:19 - Leadership challenges throughout his career01:03:25 - Transitioning from large pharma to smaller organisations01:09:55 - Experiences with board and non-executive director roles01:18:39 - The future of leadership and adapting to new generations01:21:25 - Advice to his younger self01:24:18 - The "Why Worry" decision-making framework01:26:37 - Quickfire questionsResources:Follow Laurent Abuaf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurentabuaf/Follow Thomas Dove on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearch/Loved this episode?Subscribe to the channel for more inspiring leadership stories. Feedback?Have questions or feedback about the podcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at activeingredients@fraserdove.com
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