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

1. How a political campaign loss led to a media career during COVID
2. How to handle interviews when you’re introverted
3. 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:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denaminninggrayson/
2. 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...

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

1. What makes Antag Therapeutics’ culture unique
2. The hardest leadership call: deciding when the problem is you vs them
3. 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:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-nkulikiyinka-66336014/
2. 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...

In this episode, I talked with Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch, Head of Oncology Europe and Canada at Daiichi Sankyo Europe, about what it really means to lead with empathy, perseverance, and purpose in today’s biopharma world. Markus shared how losing his father to cancer at 21 shaped his commitment to oncology — and why that experience still guides his decisions decades later.

After ten years in the hospital system, he faced a turning point: realizing that to help more patients, he’d have to step outside the clinic. That leap led him into industry at a time when ADCs were still an emerging idea — and he’s since built a career around transforming long-term scientific perseverance into patient impact.

Markus opened up about layoffs and restructuring, learning to lead through influence rather than authority, and why “patient-centricity” has to be more than a corporate phrase. He also shared how Daiichi Sankyo invests in nurses, why he values authenticity above experience in hiring, and how he handles tough conversations — including a live role-play on what to do when an employee asks for a promotion that isn’t possible.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

1. How to lead through influence, not authority
2. What patient-centricity really looks like inside Daiichi Sankyo
3. How perseverance and ikigai fuel innovation

Timestamps

03:00 – From hospital to industry — how his first pharma role came about

07:15 – Leading through influence instead of authority

08:10 – Guiding teams through restructuring

09:45 – How empathy and transparency define good leadership

12:10 – Patient-centric culture at Daiichi Sankyo

17:45 – Japanese lessons in ikigai

20:40 – Hiring authenticity

25:00 – Role-play: handling promotion requests and career plateaus

About Markus

Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch is Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo, with extensive leadership experience in oncology and global pharma. Before joining Daiichi Sankyo, he spent 16.5 years at Wyeth and Pfizer in senior roles. Trained as a physician, Markus worked for a decade treating cancer patients before moving into the pharmaceutical industry.

His early personal experience with cancer — losing his father at age 21 — shaped his commitment to patient-centric innovation. Known for connecting scientific excellence with responsibility and perseverance, he focuses on advancing breakthrough oncology therapies, particularly Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs). He is passionate about leadership, collaboration, and embedding patient needs at the center of every decision.

Connect with Markus

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-kosch/
2. Daiichi Sankyo Europe: https://www.daiichi-sankyo.eu/

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...

In this episode, I talked with Myriam Cherif, former Regional Medical Lead for Oncology & Emerging Markets at GSK and founder of Kalyx Medical—a consultancy focused on Medical Affairs strategy, mentoring, and AI training.

I invited Myriam to join me here because she posts some of the most insightful and practical content about what life is really like as a Medical Affairs professional. She shares her journey from academia to pharma, and what it really takes to succeed in Medical Affairs without losing your sense of purpose. She opens up about the early days at Novartis, the steep transition from the lab to corporate life, and the practical lessons she learned through trial and error—most especially the KOL meeting that didn’t go as planned.

She also shares the turning point that came when her role at GSK was made redundant, how that moment became the spark behind founding Kalyx Medical, and why she now helps MSLs and Medical Leads use AI with intention, and not as a gimmick. Along the way, she reflects on mentorship, resilience, and how to stand out in an industry that tests both your patience and adaptability.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

1. Why mentorship can make or break your first MSL year
2. The “so what” factor that makes a CV stand out
3. How AI can help MSLs read smarter, not harder

Timestamps

01:15 – From PhD in molecular biology to Medical Affairs

03:07 – The reality behind the MSL role

05:30 – Starting at Novartis and feeling out of depth

06:52 – Her first KOL meeting—and what went wrong

08:08 – Why mentorship changes everything

10:17 – How long it took to land her first MSL role

15:34 – Turning objections into opportunities

22:42 – From GSK restructure to starting Kalyx Medical

25:26 – Two big mistakes companies make with AI

28:37 – How AI gives MSLs a competitive edge

About Myriam

Dr. Myriam Cherif is the former Regional Medical Lead – Oncology, Emerging Markets at GSK and the Founder of Kalyx Medical, a consultancy focused on medical affairs strategy and AI training. With over 14 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Myriam has worked across a wide range of therapy areas, including cardiovascular, immunology, and oncology, and held leadership roles spanning the UK and emerging markets.

At GSK, she led medical strategy and scientific engagement across diverse regions, ensuring compliance and excellence in oncology communication. Through Kalyx Medical, Myriam also supports biotech and pharma companies by enhancing their medical affairs capabilities and preparing teams for the evolving landscape of AI-driven drug development and engagement.

Connect with Myriam

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-cherif-phd-977a911/
2. Kalyx Medical: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kalyx-medical/about/

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...

In this episode, I talked with Sven Van den Berghe, CEO of Pantera, about his 25+ years in nuclear physics, from his early days at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center to stepping into the high-stakes world of radioisotope production.

Sven speaks openly about the toughest move of his career: leaving the safety of a government research institute to run a startup where pressure, governance disputes, and fundraising could make or break the company. He explains why independent boards are essential, how culture must be defined from day one, and why money and trust suddenly matter a lot more when you’re no longer in a state-funded environment.

He also shared the fine line between science and marketing in radiopharmaceuticals—the misleading claims, the half-truths about isotope supply, and how exaggeration risks turning investors and the public away from the whole field. Sven also gives a clear picture of Pantera’s mission to expand actinium-225 production, what real diversity in a team looks like, and why letting people go quickly can be the fairest option for everyone.

We also spoke about Sven’s view on recruiters—the practices that cross the line and what still makes collaborations worthwhile.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• Governance clashes with corporate founders in Pantera’s early years
• Building a leadership team that complements each other’s strengths
• Sven’s frustrations with recruiter behavior

Timestamps

01:06 – Choosing a PhD and landing at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center

03:05 – The hardest step: leaving government research for startup life

04:49 – Governance disputes and the need for independent boards

06:32 – Lessons learned: business plans, money, and building trust in leadership teams

08:24 – Culture as the foundation of Pantera’s identity

09:02 – How hype and half-truths distort isotope marketing

10:50 – Why reliability, cost, and scale matter more than technical ability

12:13 – The danger of running down competitor isotopes

14:00 – What Pantera is building: actinium-225 supply today and long-term plans

22:22 – Hiring and why letting people go quickly can be the right call

24:08 – Sven’s frustrations with recruiter behavior

About Sven

Sven Van den Berghe is the CEO of PanTera, a company that aims to expand the supply of medical isotopes for cancer therapies. With a background in physics and a PhD in materials science, Sven spent more than two decades at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK CEN), where he rose through the ranks to become Institute Director. In 2021, he made the bold move from a secure government institute to leading a biotech startup—an inflection point he calls one of the hardest, but most rewarding, decisions of his career.

Throughout his career, Sven has combined deep technical expertise in nuclear research with leadership in complex organizations. Today, he leads Pantera in its mission to expand the global supply of medical isotopes, drawing on his background in science, governance, and international collaboration.

Connect with Sven:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svenvdberghe/
• Website: https://pantera-life.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...

In this episode, I talked with Catello Somma, Partner at Seroba, to learn about his nonlinear journey from academia and biopharma into venture capital—and the realities behind building funds, backing biotech founders, and surviving industry downturns.

Catello shares the turning points that shaped his career: walking away from his PhD to get closer to patients, breaking into VC after years in biotech operations, and the hard decision to leave a fund when partnership opportunities weren’t on the table. He also gives an insider’s view on what people get wrong about venture capital—the pressure of fundraising cycles, the competition for partnership seats, and why the job is far from the traditional perception of “writing checks from a couch.”

And to round things off, he takes on some quick-fire questions, from his daily coffee intake to the advice he wishes he’d heard earlier in his career.

(Find out more in the episode.)

Here’s What You’re In For

• The skills biotech professionals often lack when they first enter VC
• The hard truth about career progression in VC—why few ever make partner
• How the biotech funding downturn is reshaping investor behavior

Timestamps

1:45 – Leaving academia, dropping a PhD, and first steps into industry

4:02 – Pros and cons of entering VC from biotech vs finance-only backgrounds

8:13 – What differentiates Seroba: flat structure, collegiality, and no egos

10:02 – How the biotech recession and closed IPO window reshaped strategies

13:11 – The biggest misconceptions about venture capital work

16:14 – The insecurity of VC careers: five-year fund cycles and job risk

17:29 – Hard lessons: breaking into VC and walking away when promotion wasn’t possible

19:35 – Quick-fire round: coffee habits, books, family life, funniest dinner with Kevin

About Catello

Catello Somma is a Partner at ROA Ventures, where he invests in early-stage life science companies across Europe and North America. His path into venture wasn’t straightforward: after leaving a PhD program to get closer to patients, he built his career in CROs and biotech operations, later completing an MBA to bridge the gap between science and finance.

Before joining Seroba, Catello worked on both sides of the biotech ecosystem, from building operational teams to structuring deals. Currently, he focuses on supporting founders through the toughest parts of the journey: scaling companies, navigating funding cycles, and preparing for exits. Known for his pragmatic approach and emphasis on culture, Catello brings a long-term mindset to venture—balancing the pressures of short-term market shifts with the resilience needed to build enduring biotech businesses.

Connect with Catello:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catellosomma/
• Website: https://serobavc.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:

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Kevin Heller, former biotech CMO and now advisor to VCs and funds, who’s built his career at the intersection of science, leadership, and investment. Kevin started out as a pediatric hematologist–oncologist before joining BMS, where he worked on one of the first checkpoint inhibitor programs. Since then, he’s held senior roles across biotech and now works closely with companies and investors on strategy.

Kevin opened up about the habits that nearly held him back early in his career, how a colleague’s honest feedback changed the way he leads, and why the quiet moments in meetings often say more about culture than the loud ones.

He also shared about today’s funding climate—why raising money feels tougher than ever, what investors really look for, and why every company needs a clear plan for when things don’t go as expected. And outside of biotech, Kevin’s focus is on mentoring the next generation of scientists through the Society for Science, an organization he’s been deeply involved with for years.

Here’s What You’re In For

• The subtle warning signs of a weak culture (and why silence is the biggest one)
• The kind of questions investors ask now that many companies aren’t ready for
• How mentoring young scientists through the Society for Science has become Kevin’s way of giving back

Timestamps

00:58 – How Kevin moved from academia into industry

06:00 – The colleague who bluntly told him to be quiet

10:20 – What Kevin has seen change in biotech fundraising over the past few years

12:34 – The advice he gives to early-stage companies heading into investor meetings

16:15 – What most outsiders don’t realize about being on the investment side

17:54 – What “culture” actually means to him, and why bad leadership kills it

20:14 – The subtle early signs of a broken culture: silence in meetings

26:48 – Kevin’s involvement with the Society for Science and mentoring future scientists

About Kevin

Kevin Heller is a former biotech CMO and a current advisor to funds and VCs. He serves as Investment Team Advisor at an equity fund investing in biotech. He is a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, and began his career at BMS where he contributed to the development of YUR-VOY.

He has held CMO roles at several biotech companies, worked on numerous early-stage programs (including at Incyte), and continues to influence the field through his advisory roles.

Kevin serves as a mentor, judge, and council member of Society for Science, a nonprofit that promotes science literacy and runs major student science fairs worldwide, in his way of giving back to the mentors who guided him early in his career. For him, it’s about inspiring the next generation to see science as something they can own and shape.

Connect with Kevin:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-n-heller-8bbb985/
• Society for Science:https://www.societyforscience.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

In this episode, I talked with Dr. Carl Deutsch, Chief Scientific Officer at NBE Therapeutics, where he shared about his path from chemistry into pharma and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Carl recalls how difficult it was to secure his first role when jobs were scarce, the pressure of multiple interview rounds, and how a non-linear career path led to both opportunities and doubts about fitting the expected mold.

He discussed the differences between biotech and big pharma cultures, what it means to lead in a “cultural sandwich” role, and why accountability and agility look different depending on the environment. Carl also spoke about age bias in hiring, the importance of curiosity during interviews, and the kind of toxic hiring process that made him withdraw his application early in his career.

He explained why he looks for “band members” instead of “rock stars” when building teams, how character matters more than buzzwords or tick-box credentials, and why blinded CVs often miss the real story behind a candidate. And, in a lighter moment, Carl answered a series of quick-fire questions—from his habit of quoting movies, to the kinds of conversations he avoids, to the advice he’d give to someone starting out in the industry.

Here’s What You’re In For

• The benefits and challenges of a non-linear career path
• Why networking often matters more than a “tick-box” CV
• Why blinded CVs fail to capture the real story behind a candidate

Timestamps

02:20 – Scarcity and the First Job Hunt

05:10 – Non-Linear Careers and Self-Doubt

07:00 – The CV Tick-Box Trap

14:00 – Leading in a Cultural Sandwich

17:00 – What Biotech Culture Really Means

20:00 – Hiring for Accountability and Fit

23:00 – Age Bias in Pharma Hiring

30:00 – Band Members vs Rock Stars in Building a Team

32:00 – Why Blinded CVs Miss the Story

33:30 – Quick-Fire: Movie Quotes, Habits, and Career Advice

About Carl

Dr. Carl Deutsch, Chief Scientific Officer at NBE Therapeutics. A chemist by training, Carl earned his PhD in Dortmund, Germany, and went on to broaden his scientific horizons in the U.S. and Japan. He later added a business edge to his profile with an MBA from Mannheim Business School and ESSEC Paris.

Carl played a key role in the development of Mercks first in-house antibody-drug conjugate, M9140, and also helped drive innovation as an intrapreneur, launching an award-winning project under Merck Life Science. Since 2022, he has been leading scientific strategy at NBE Therapeutics.

Outside the lab, Carl has a creative side, he once took the stage as a member of an acting group and joining wild podcasts like mine.

Connect with Carl:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-deutsch-phd-mba-82ba28168/
• NBE Therapeutics: https://nbe-therapeutics.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: