This week on Careers in Discovery, we're joined by Tim Sparey, Executive Chair at Tay Therapeutics and Non-Executive Chair at Concr.

Tim shares his journey from early days as a medicinal chemist at Merck to a career spanning business development, CEO roles, and now chairing multiple early-stage Biotech companies. He talks about the shift from operator to portfolio leader, how he evaluates new opportunities, and why capital efficiency is a critical part of Biotech success - especially in the current market.

We also dive into Tay’s approach to doing more with less, how Concr is applying AI to reshape precision oncology, and what Tim looks for in founding teams. Along the way, he reflects on the value of learning from setbacks, building trust with investors, and why simplicity, storytelling, and timing make all the difference.

Ashley Zehnder is the CEO & Co-founder of Fauna Bio, a company that uses comparative genomics and evolutionary biology to identify novel drug targets by studying how other species resist and recover from disease.

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Ashley shares her journey from exotic animal vet to cancer biology PhD, and how that unique background leads her to explore biology through a completely different lens. She talks about the science behind Fauna’s work - how hibernating squirrels, among other species, reveal new insights into heart failure, obesity, and more - and how the company translates those discoveries into real therapeutic programs.

Ashley also reflects on what it means to build a platform company as a non-traditional founder, the challenges of raising capital for a truly novel idea, and why she believes in running a company built on trust, focus, and adaptability.

Søren Melsing is the CEO of EXOCURE, a company harnessing the therapeutic and delivery potential of exosomes across oncology, inflammation, and beyond.

In this episode of Careers in Discovery, Søren shares his journey from chemical engineer to Biotech CEO, including leadership roles in R&D, commercial strategy, and company-building across Europe. He talks about learning by doing, transitioning from large pharma to start-up environments, and what it really takes to turn a scientific platform into a viable business.

We also explore the promise of exosomes as a new therapeutic modality, the realities of raising investment in a tough market, and why surrounding yourself with the right people - and staying curious - makes all the difference.