A Dose of Reality with Charles Spence

Hosted by Charles Spence

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Aug 2026

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Welcome to “A Dose of Reality”, the podcast where we infuse insight, laughter, and practical wisdom into the world of clinical leadership and career development. Hosted by Charles Spence, each episode offers a deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of clinical leadership, providing listeners with meaningful conversations, career insights, and a dose of inspiration to navigate their professional journeys. Whether you're a director, a C-level executive, or a clinical researcher in oncology bio-techs, this podcast is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in your field. So, visit our website at www.discera-search.com, and tune in to A Dose of Reality for your prescription of career wisdom, leadership insights, and a healthy dose of laughter. Subscribe now and join us on the journey to becoming global clinical leaders!

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August 24, 202639 min

Michael Zaiac, Medical Affairs Lead for Oncology at Daiichi Sankyo on 30 Years of Hiring Lessons, The ADC Wave, and Building Teams in a Fast-Moving Pipeline

In this episode, I talked with Michael Zaiac, Medical Affairs Lead for Oncology across Europe and Canada at Daiichi Sankyo — a trained surgical oncologist who walked away from the operating table, moved through clinical development, bone health at P&G, GSK, and Celgene, and eventually landed at the centre of one of the biggest oncology stories in recent memory: the HER2 ADC wave. Michael has spent over 30 years hiring people in pharma and brings some of the most grounded, no-nonsense views I've come across on what the job actually demands — and what most people aren't told before they take it. We covered the rapid build-out of Daiichi Sankyo's medical affairs team off the back of their ADC pipeline, what Michael now wishes he'd prioritized when hiring in the early days, how the function needs to reinvent itself over the next decade, and the honest conversation that rarely gets had — about hours, stability, and what life in this industry really looks like. Michael trained and studied in Berlin, has family roots in London, and brings the kind of directness you'd expect from someone who spent years making high-stakes decisions in an operating room. Here's What You're In For The one global role he calls his "only real disaster" in the industry — and why he takes full ownership of it What Michael looks for in a CV: agility, humility, and the ability to lead without authority The honest truth about working hours, stability, and what industry life really looks like vs. what candidates are sold Timestamps 02:24 – Why he left surgery and how he landed his first pharma role 05:43 – Career highlights: reshaping a compound's development, Imatinib UK market access, and building regional teams 07:47 – The global role that didn't work — and why he takes full responsibility for it 09:42 – What Daiichi Sankyo is, where it came from, and how they cracked the ADC problem 17:02 – What Michael looks for in a CV — and what he's really testing for in the interview room 22:17 – The biggest shift in pharma hiring over 30 years: from technical knowledge to agility 26:03 – The hard skill gaps coming: data literacy, AI fluency, and legal frameworks around data 28:41 – How medical affairs will evolve — and what "double personalization" means in practice 34:15 – The honest truth about working hours, stability, and what industry life actually looks like 36:25 – How companies and individuals can do better for female talent trying to climb beyond the MSL level 38:03 – What Michael would tell his younger self about ego, cooperation, and learning faster About Michael Michael Zaiac is the Medical Affairs Lead for Oncology across Europe and Canada at Daiichi Sankyo. He trained as a surgical oncologist, specialising in breast cancer, sarcoma, melanoma, and other malignancies. Motivated by a desire to bridge science with patient care and broaden treatment options for cancer patients, he transitioned into industry research and has since led teams of varying sizes across clinical research, development, commercial functions, and medical affairs. His work has supported the development and launch of therapies spanning oncology, immunology, cardiovascular disease, transplantation, and infectious diseases across companies including P&G, GSK, Celgene, and now Daiichi Sankyo. Connect with Michael: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-zaiac-45ab191/ Daiichi Sankyo: https://www.daiichisankyo.com About Charles My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

August 10, 202637 min

Juho Jalkanen, CEO at Faron Pharmaceuticals on From Surgeon to CEO, Rethinking Boards, and Fighting for the Right Science

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Juho Jalkanen, CEO of Faron Pharmaceuticals — a publicly listed Finnish biotech building novel immunotherapies for blood cancers. Juho's path is unlike most you'll hear in biotech: trained vascular surgeon, PhD in molecular biology, business school graduate, and father of five. He eventually left the operating table to join his parents' company, Faron, where his mother's decades of university immunology research became the foundation for what is now one of the most exciting programs in high-risk MDS. We covered the Traumakine Phase 3 failure, the deep frustration of being completely ignored during COVID when he believed they had the right drug, and how Faron rebuilt itself from a respiratory trial company into a serious oncology player. We also got into the board structure he's deliberately built to be unlike most you'll see, and what it really takes to scale a company when the pharma ecosystem around you is still finding its feet. We wrapped things up with a quick round of mystery questions Juho hadn't seen coming. Outside of running a listed biotech and raising five kids, he recharges the Finnish way — out in nature with his family. Here's What You're In For Why a vascular surgeon walked away from the operating table to run a biotech The family origin story behind Clever-1 and Faron Pharmaceuticals How a Phase 3 failure set the stage for what came next The COVID frustration: having the right drug and nobody willing to listen What Clever-1 is, why it matters, and why the biology can't be shortcut The MDS data turning heads at ASCO, ESMO, and ASH — and what comes next What a CEO actually thinks about when moving from early to the pivotal stage The CMC blind spot that catches most biotechs off guard How Juho built a board that mirrors the C-suite — and why that logic matters Why CMOs and CSOs can get onto boards, but have to start in the right place Timestamps 01:49 – Origins of Clever-1 and the family story behind Faron Pharmaceuticals 05:35 – Career highpoint: caring for a dying father-in-law and what it means to fight cancer 06:50 – Career lowpoint: Traumakine Phase 3 failure and two years of being ignored during COVID 12:53 – Faron's elevator pitch: what the company does and why it exists 14:42 – Bexmarilimab (BEX) and why macrophages are the hidden driver of treatment resistance 16:30 – The Phase 1/2 results: 64% response rate and 14.5-month survival in high-risk MDS 19:36 – Next 12–18 months: €40M raised, Phase 2b underway, investigator-led trials in sarcoma and beyond 23:12 – What CEOs have to think about at late stage: CMC, fundraising, and clinical navigation 27:42 – Mirroring the C-suite and deliberately avoiding the VC-heavy default 34:33 – Quick-fire questions: books, interferon biology, and what keeps him sane in Finland About Juho Dr. Juho Jalkanen is the CEO of Faron Pharmaceuticals, a publicly listed clinical-stage Finnish biotech developing novel immunotherapies for blood cancers, with a lead asset, bexmarilimab, targeting Clever-1 on immunosuppressive macrophages. He holds an MD (vascular surgery), a PhD in molecular biology, and a business school degree — and transitioned from active surgical practice into leading Faron, a company built on his mother's immunology research and spun out by his father from the University of Turku. His work sits at the intersection of deep biology and late-stage oncology drug development. Outside of leading a publicly listed company and raising five kids, Juho recharges in the Finnish outdoors — in nature with his family. Connect with Juho: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juho-jalkanen-md-phd-2176a83/ Faron Pharmaceuticals: https://faron.com/ About Charles My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

June 15, 202639 min

Tobias Kampfenkel, MD, MHBA, Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine, on Transformative Drugs in Oncology and Autoimmunity: It's Always the Team!

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Tobias Kampfenkel, Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine. Tobias spent nearly a decade at Janssen building the daratumumab story from the German launch and HTA negotiations through global pivotal trials and regulatory submissions — and then did it again with two bispecific antibodies in multiple myeloma. In early 2025, he made a deliberate move to Miltenyi Biomedicine, stepping into an executive committee role to lead a CAR-T program now being tested in autoimmune diseases — one of the most fascinating and fast-moving intersections in drug development right now. We go deep on what it actually feels like when a late-stage program doesn't land, how to hold a team together after a major setback, and the real tension between hiring for hard skills versus hiring for cultural fit. We also explore what the CAR-T revolution in autoimmune disease could mean for patients who have been on lifelong immunosuppression — and why some people are beginning, very carefully, to use the word "cure." Outside the office, Tobias is a racket sports enthusiast, a recreational runner, an avid reader, and an occasional piano player — and someone who will happily trade a busy schedule for a quiet weekend on a small Dutch island with no traffic and nothing to do. Here's What You're In For Why leadership during failure is about being active, not assuming everyone is okay Why some hard skills in drug development can only be built through repetition, not reading What it's like to move intentionally from Big Pharma to a smaller, more entrepreneurial company Timestamps 03:39 – Whether his MHBA at Erlangen-Nürnberg was coincidence or connected to the CASEL trial 04:54 – A decade with daratumumab and what deep team ownership really feels like 07:13 – When a major readout doesn't land and what that does to a team 12:49 – Miltenyi's core strengths in CAR-T manufacturing and the blind spots of a multi-business organization 15:55 – Bridging oncology and autoimmunity across zamtocell and zorpocell 19:59 – Balancing modality expertise, disease experience, seniority, and culture when building a team 23:44 – What moving deliberately from J&J to a smaller company actually teaches you 27:32 – Tobias's first time in autoimmune drug development and the learning curve that came with it 29:39 – The first ever CAR-T treatment in a patient with systemic lupus in 2021 32:52 – What early safety data from CAR-T in autoimmune patients is starting to show 34:13 – In vivo CAR-T, solid tumors, and where cell and gene therapy is heading in the next 10 years 38:19 – Why this is one of the most exciting times to be working in this space About Tobias Tobias Kampfenkel, MD, MHBA, is the Vice President of Early Clinical Development and Translational Research at Miltenyi Biomedicine, and a member of the company's executive committee. A board-certified internist and hematologist/oncologist, Tobias spent nearly a decade at Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), where he led clinical development across multiple myeloma programs including daratumumab (Darzalex) and bispecific antibodies teclistamab and talquetamab — spanning the German launch and HTA negotiations through to global pivotal trials and regulatory submissions. In early 2025, he joined Miltenyi Biomedicine to lead their CAR-T programs in autoimmune diseases, including studies in systemic lupus and systemic sclerosis. He also holds a Master's in Health Business Administration from the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. Outside the office, Tobias is a racket sports enthusiast — tennis and badminton both — a recreational runner, an avid reader, and an occasional piano player. Above all, he values time with family and friends, which keeps him grounded amid a demanding professional life. Welcome, Tobias. Connect with Tobias LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-kampfenkel-m-d-mhba-026b54b9/ Miltenyi Biomedicine: https://www.miltenyi-biomedicine.com/ About Charles My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

May 31, 202638 min

Sofia Heigis, CEO of OncoPeptides, From Sales Rep to CEO, Being "Present", and Hiring for Self-Insight

In this episode, I talked with Sofia Heigis, Chief Executive Officer of OncoPeptides, about a career path that did not start where she expected. Sofia originally wanted to move into clinical operations, but her first role in pharma ended up being in sales — a move that shaped everything that came after it. We talk about why early career detours can matter more than people think, what tough roles teach you about value and resilience, and why some of the best foundations are built in jobs people do not initially want. Sofia also opens up about the more personal side of leadership: raising three children while building a senior career, dealing with the guilt that can come with travel and time away, and learning how to be fully present instead of constantly split between work and home. We also get into OncoPeptides’ journey through a difficult period, why she stepped into the CEO role internally, how she thinks about culture and hiring, what is next for the business in Europe and glioblastoma, and the reality of board roles and strategic decision-making. Toward the end, we also touch on more personal quick-fire reflections, including what she is most grateful for and the soft skill she most wants her children to develop. Here’s What You’re In For What “being present” really looks like at work and at home Why self-insight matters more than polished interview answers How she thinks about board roles, contribution, and strategic fit Timestamps 02:59 – How Sofia got her first pharma role after aiming for clinical operations 05:03 – Why she believes sales can be one of the best starts in pharma 07:38 – Career, motherhood, and the myth that you have to choose one 11:30 – Dealing with guilt, travel, and being away from family 13:47 – What OncoPeptides does and why its peptide drug conjugates stand out 15:44 – Why she stepped into the CEO role and what she wanted to stabilize 19:28 – The culture she wants at OncoPeptides and how she hires for it 24:42 – What 2026 and 2027 look like for OncoPeptides across Europe, glioblastoma, and Japan 28:42 – What a board really does and how people can position themselves for board roles 37:43 – What she is most grateful for and the soft skill she wants her children to develop About Sofia Sofia Heigis is the Chief Executive Officer of Oncopeptides, a Swedish biotech listed on Nasdaq Stockholm that focuses on targeted therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers. Sofia started her career at Astrazeneca, first as a Sales Rep in 2006, then into Clinical Operations, then Medical Affairs and then eventually into VP positive leading the Medical and Regulatory teams across the entire Nordic + Baltic regions. And similarly at Onco she joined to lead their Global Medical Affairs and then moved into CCO and GM positions and now the CEO. Outside of this she is a mother of 3, and loves nature. Connect with Sofia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-heigis-%E2%99%A6%EF%B8%8F-00b9205/ Website: https://oncopeptides.com/en/ About me My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

May 18, 202633 min

Jens Lindberg, CEO at Medivir, on The Biotech Rollercoaster - Medivir´s Previous Four Months (and Biotech Today in 2026)

In this episode, I talked with Jens Lindberg, CEO of Medivir AB, a Swedish biotech developing innovative therapies in liver cancer and rare disease. Jens brings over 30 years of late-stage development and commercialisation experience—including 25 years at AstraZeneca—where he worked on blockbuster drugs such as Tagrisso and Lynparza. Jens opens up about the moment he was handed the global commercial lead role for what the company believed would be its next blockbuster—only to realise the asset was significantly overvalued. What followed was one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do professionally: telling senior leadership that the people who licensed the asset were wrong—without making them feel that way. We also get into Medivir's turbulent last few months: a forced pivot from a multi-country Phase 2b study, a round of layoffs, and then a dramatic reversal with new investors coming on board and two programs now moving forward at the same time. For anyone trying to understand what fundraising truly looks like in today's biotech environment, Jens is direct about how completely his approach to investor relations has had to change since 2022. When he's not steering Medivir through the ups and downs of biotech, Jens is out on the cross-country ski trails—and has been for most of his life. Here's What You're In For How Jens landed his first job as a sales rep at Astra—without fully knowing what the role was—and ended up staying 25 years The art of managing expectations upward when senior leadership doesn't want to hear the truth Why Jens now starts building investor relationships two years before he needs the money—and what investors actually want to see before they commit Timestamps 02:04 – First job in pharma: starting as a sales rep at Astra and staying 25 years 03:25 – Career highlight: joining AZ Investor Relations and defending against Pfizer's hostile takeover bid 08:07 – Career low: being promoted to global commercial lead for a late-stage asset—then realising it was overvalued 10:29 – The challenge of managing senior leaders who in-licensed the asset themselves 13:07 – What Medivir is: history, liver cancer program, and osteogenesis imperfecta 14:45 – Medivir's recent rollercoaster: funding challenges, the pivot from Phase 2b, and layoffs 20:30 – How Jens describes Medivir's culture: agile, transparent, and built on helping each other 23:05 – How Jens integrates consultants into the company's culture as if they were permanent employees 26:32 – How Jens's approach to investor relations changed dramatically since joining in January 2022 32:34 – Perseverance in biotech: herd mentality in capital markets and why doing the right thing eventually pays off About Jens Jens Lindberg is the CEO of Medivir AB, a Swedish biotech focused on development of drugs in rare and orphan diseases with high unmet medical need. Jens brings over 30 years of late-stage development and commercialisation experience in pharma and biotech, including 25 years at AstraZeneca where he held roles spanning sales, commercial leadership, investor relations, and global brand strategy—working on blockbuster drugs including Tagrisso and Lynparza. He has also held roles at Sedana Medical. Outside of work, Jens is an enthusiastic cross-country skier with over 30 years on the trails—which, given the pace he keeps professionally, is probably the only time he slows down. Connect with Jens: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jens-lindberg-2585903/ Medivir: https://www.medivir.com About Charles My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

May 4, 202628 min

Hubert Truebel, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, on Creating Own Career Opportunities...and a Practical Approach to Longevity

In this episode, I talked with Hubert Truebel, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, to discover a career that wasn’t built traditionally—but through creating opportunities where none formally existed. Hubert shares how his journey started as a physician in intensive care, before a simple conversation over dinner—pitching a research idea—turned into his first step into pharma. What stands out isn’t just the transition, but the mindset behind it: creating the conditions for “serendipity” to happen. We go through the key moments in his career, from leading translational work at Bayer to stepping into smaller biotech environments, and how each shift required a completely different way of thinking and operating. We also explore his current role at DEBRA Research, where he now connects patients, biotech, and pharma to move treatments forward in rare diseases—often bringing together groups that wouldn’t naturally collaborate. And in the latter part, we talked about his book on longevity, where Hubert challenges the industry around supplements, breaks down what actually drives healthspan, and explains why most people focus on the wrong things when trying to live longer, healthier lives. (Find out more in the episode.) Here’s What You’re In For How a simple conversation led to his first role in pharma The hidden complexity of bringing a drug from idea to market How to think about longevity using an “investment” mindset Timestamps 02:45 – How a Dinner Conversation Led to His First Pharma Role 06:27 – What “Serendipity” Really Means in a Career 07:41 – The Emotional Turning Point in Pediatric Intensive Care 10:08 – What DEBRA Research Does Differently in Drug Development 13:52 – Moving from Big Pharma to Biotech: What Actually Changes 15:46 – Acting as the Connector Between Patients, Biotech, and Pharma 19:29 – Why He Wrote a Book on Longevity 21:00 – The Reality About Supplements: “Almost Zero Data” 22:00 – The 10-Year Healthspan Loss Most People Ignore 24:00 – Why Exercise Outperforms Medication in Longevity About Hubert Hubert Truebel has built his career across medicine, pharma, and biotech. After starting as a physician in intensive care, he spent nearly 15 years at Bayer, ultimately as SVP Translational Medicine, working on major drug programs and clinical trials. He later moved into biotech as CMO at AiCuris, helping advance Pritelivir through late-stage development, shortly before the company was acquired for just under $1 billion. Today, Hubert works with DEBRA Research, focusing on ultra-rare skin diseases like epidermolysis bullosa through a patient-driven drug development model. Alongside this, he is a strong advocate for health and longevity, and recently published his book “Longevity – Die Anti-Bullshit-Formel.” Connect with Hubert: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hubert-truebel/ Website: https://www.debra-research.org/ About me My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

March 30, 202642 min

Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, on Launching Without a Playbook, Hiring Mistakes, and Leading with Equity

In this episode, I talked with Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of the Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, about what it really takes to lead high-stakes launches — and what leadership looks like when things don’t go to plan. Sampreet shares how graduating into the 2008 financial crisis forced him to rethink his career from day one. What was meant to be a short stop in oncology turned into an 18-year commitment to the industry. We talk about leading the commercialization of CAR-T in Germany, writing a launch playbook from scratch, and why excellence in launch is rare. We also discussed hiring mistakes — from overselling a role to ignoring a gut feeling — and why culture isn’t what you write on slides, but what you accept, celebrate, and tolerate, gender equity, the motherhood penalty, and what leadership responsibility truly means when it’s personal. Outside his professional work, Sampreet is someone who intentionally steps into discomfort — whether that’s learning tennis from scratch, snowboarding, practicing yoga, or picking up a camera as a hobby photographer. For him, growth isn’t just professional — it’s personal, physical, and ongoing. Here’s What You’re In For Building teams that can handle stress, scrutiny, and speed The moment he hired someone “perfect on paper” — but ignored his gut The real meaning of gender equity — and the career fear he witnessed at home Timestamps 02:17 – Graduating into the 2008 crash and taking an oncology role by necessity 02:32 – From tech in India to committing to pharma 09:11 – Commercializing CAR-T and pioneering a new launch model 10:18 – Writing a playbook from scratch for cell & gene therapy 13:03 – What’s changed (and what hasn’t) in launches 18:53 – Building great launch teams: mindset, resilience, experimentation 24:30 – Overselling a role and watching it unravel 27:18 – Ignoring a gut feeling in hiring 30:01 – Gender equity, motherhood penalty & parental leave 36:56 – Ending up in the emergency room — and rethinking ambition About Sampreet Sampreet Ramachandra is Head of the Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, with over 18 years of experience across global, regional, and country leadership roles. He has led multiple best-in-class and first-in-class launches, including pioneering the commercialization of CAR-T in Germany. Originally starting his career in tech in India before graduating into the 2008 financial crisis, Sampreet built his path in pharma through purpose-driven decisions and continuous learning — holding degrees from Harvard, LSE, and India. Beyond commercial leadership, he is a strong advocate for gender equity and a supporter of youth education initiatives in India. Outside work, he’s a hobby photographer, snowboarder, yoga enthusiast, and is currently learning tennis Connect with Sampreet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampreetramachandra/ Website: https://www.novartis.com/de-de/ About me My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

March 9, 202629 min

Volker Wacheck, SVP at Taiho Oncology in Speaking Up, Asking vs. Accusing and Why Culture is So Important

In this episode, I talked with Volker Wacheck, SVP & Head of Clinical Development at Taiho Oncology, where he shared how a PI role in Vienna led him into industry, and why the hardest part wasn’t leaving academia, but learning the unseen sides of drug development: regulatory, compliance, and CMC. Volker talked about the risks of hiring KOLs straight into VP or CMO roles, and why some thrive while others struggle. He also mentioned Taiho’s unique setup—anchored in Princeton, embedded in Otsuka’s Japanese holding—and how that cross-cultural mix shapes everything from decision-making speed to communication style. He also shares his most personal leadership lessons: the regret of staying silent in work, the “ask, don’t accuse” method he uses now, and how to manage egos when science and careers collide. From Taiho’s pipeline to his views on hiring, recruiters, and why impact often starts only after 18–24 months, this was a candid look at the realities of building teams and drugs that last. (Find out more in the episode.) Here’s What You’re In For KOLs jumping straight to VP/CMO—when it’s transformational vs. a risky mis‑fit. Over‑prepared vs. under‑prepared interviews: what signals actually predict success. Recruiters who stick the landing: investing time upfront and optimizing for tenure, not just speed. Timestamps: 01:26 – Why he left academia and looked to industry 03:12 – Learning the “other side” of development: regulatory, compliance, CMC 05:00 – KOLs jumping to VP/CMO: when it works and why it’s risky 11:31 – Working US/EU/Japan: direct vs. indirect communication; shared principles 14:00 – Why candidates might love Taiho: “small enough to feel personal, big enough to win,” plus stability 16:20 – The biomarker‑assay story: when not speaking up backfired 23:22 – Hiring: over‑prepared vs under‑prepared—what Volker actually looks for 26:29 – Good vs excellent recruiters: the time they put in before the search About Volker Volker Wacheck is Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development at Taiho Oncology. A medical oncology background and now over two decades of industry experience its fair to say he knows a lot about cancer research. Taiho is known for its cancer drug development including, Futi-Ba-tinib their FG-FR inhibitor and Zipa-Ler-tinib which targets EGFR Mutations. Volker is also someone who comes highly recommended, Michael Lahn, Ilaria Conti and insert other great person in the field all know and respect Volker. We spoke a few weeks before ASCO, met at ASCO and now doing this - and of course its a pleasure to have him on here. Connect with Volker: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/volker-wacheck-b173248/ Website: https://www.taihooncology.com/us/ About me My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

February 24, 202631 min

Dena Grayson, MD, PhD, SVP Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics on Media Training, Communication within Biotech, and Dealing with Fake CVs

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Dena Grayson, a physician–scientist with over two decades in biotech drug development. At the time of this recording, she was SVP and Head of Clinical Development at Keros Therapeutics, leading programs in rare bone marrow disorders, and she has since become SVP of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics. Earlier in her career, she helped advance Repatha at Amgen, and her path has also included running for Congress and serving as a national media voice during COVID. Dena shares what it was like being the only MD–PhD in Amgen’s business development group, how she transitioned into clinical development, and the lessons she carried forward from her time in both politics and national media, where she became a trusted voice during the COVID pandemic. We dive into the real difference between presenting “the what” and explaining “the so what,” and why communication often makes or breaks careers in biotech. Alongside her professional journey, Dena opens up about the wildest recruitment experience she’s ever had, her approach to building strong teams, and why patience in hiring beats rushing a decision. And in our quick-fire round, she shares stories from her days as a state champion soccer player, her love of surfing, and how she unwinds outside biotech. (Find out more in the episode.) Here’s What You’re In For How a political campaign loss led to a media career during COVID How to handle interviews when you’re introverted The kinds of questions that truly impress hiring managers Timestamps 01:10 – Landing her first industry role at Amgen 03:24 – Repatha and investigational therapies at Keros 04:49 – Surfing, soccer, and state championships 07:08 – From political spouse to running for Congress 08:42 – Becoming a media commentator during COVID 10:41 – Communication lessons: from “what” to “so what” 15:14 – Advice for introverts in interviews and early career roles 17:37 – How thoughtful questions can change the dynamic in an interview 21:02 – Nearly 20 years as a hiring manager: what’s changed and what hasn’t 23:11 – Advice for junior hiring managers and why patience matters 25:37 – A candidate with a completely fabricated CV—the wildest recruitment story About Dena Dr. Dena Grayson is a physician–scientist (MD, PhD) with over 20 years in biotech drug development. At the time of this recording, she was SVP and Head of Clinical Development at Keros Therapeutics, leading programs in rare bone marrow disorders, and she has since become SVP of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics. Earlier in her career, she helped advance Repatha at Amgen, and her path has also included running for Congress and serving as a national media voice during COVID, experiences that shaped her belief that communication is as critical as science in driving biotech forward. Connect with Dena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denaminninggrayson/ Website: https://kyvernatx.com/ About me My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.

January 26, 202635 min

Richard Nkulikiyinka, Chief Medical Officer at Antag Therapeutics, on Career Pivots, Trust and Why Leadership Is Never Linear

In this episode, I talked with Richard Nkulikiyinka, Chief Medical Officer at Antag Therapeutics, a Copenhagen-based biotech developing GIPR antagonists in the obesity space. Richard’s career began in the NHS, where he spent five years practicing acute medicine and intensive care—until the moment he realized he couldn’t picture himself doing the same thing for the next 30 years. That realization sparked a pivot that many physicians quietly wrestle with: leaving behind the security of the ward for the uncertainty of industry. Richard also shares what it was like to walk away from a stable VP role at Bayer during a restructuring, take an intentional career break, and use those months to reflect on what really mattered before joining Antag Therapeutics. We talk about the shift from big pharma to biotech, what he learned from leading through severe stakeholder misalignment, and why authentic communication matters more than management theory when things get messy. And yes—there’s a light-hearted detour into Berlin life, bad currywurst, and how to tell when it’s time to make serious changes in your team. Here’s What You’re In For What makes Antag Therapeutics’ culture unique The hardest leadership call: deciding when the problem is you vs them The recruitment ghosting story that every hiring manager should hear Timestamps 02:08 – Leaving the NHS: deciding what he could be “happily bored with” 04:00 – Landing his first pharma job at Bayer in drug safety 09:33 – Overview of Antag Therapeutics and GIPR vs GLP-1 13:20 – Leaving Bayer and taking a sabbatical to reset 17:08 – What it’s like to work at Antag Therapeutics—and what he looks for in candidates 18:46 – The toughest chapter: extreme stakeholder misalignment in dermatology 25:16 – Leadership lessons: firing, feedback, and the “benefit of the doubt” 29:00 – Why managers struggle to act fast—and how structure slows decisions 31:48 – Richard’s worst recruitment experience: being ghosted by agencies About Richard Richard Nkulikiyinka, is the Chief Medical Officer of Antag Therapeutics, a biotech developing GIPR antagonists within the Obesity space. A UK-trained physician, he spent five years practicing in acute medicine and intensive care within the NHS - this is also where he developed his dry sense of humour - and now he transitioned into the biopharmaceutical industry, where he has built over 17 years of experience. Prior to joining Antag, Richard served as Vice President in Clinical Development at Bayer Pharma, where he played a central role in advancing four drugs to approval. He is now ein Berliner - where we often meet for clubbing and currywurst. Connect with Richard: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-nkulikiyinka-66336014/ Website: https://antagtx.com/ About me My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate. In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH. Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/ Website: https://www.discera-search.com/ Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.