Not a scientist? No problem. In this episode, Andy Wilson shares how he successfully pivoted into the world of biotech and health innovation—without a background in science.

Now VP of Business Development for Health Affairs at USC and former leader of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, Andy explains how he built a purpose-driven career by connecting capital, universities, and entrepreneurs.

Listen in to learn:

• How to break into biotech from a non-traditional path

• Why ecosystems matter more than résumés

• How to find your “why” and build a career around it

• What students get wrong about career planning

If you’re a student or early-career professional wondering how to pivot into biotech without a research background, this episode is your playbook.

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we’re joined by Engie Salama, a passionate scientist and Program Manager at Xencor, where she leads teams working on cutting-edge immuno-oncology therapies. Engie’s journey from the lab bench to biotech program management is a masterclass in navigating career pivots, developing leadership skills, and finding purpose in the life sciences industry.

We dive into:
🌱 How Engie transitioned from scientific research to program management.
🧬 The mindset shifts that helped her grow in her career.
🎯 Her advice for students and early professionals exploring careers in biotech.
🌐 The importance of communication and cross-functional collaboration in life sciences.

Whether you're a student exploring biotech, a young professional finding your fit, or a scientist curious about leadership, this episode is packed with insights that can help you think bigger.

🎧 Listen now and unlock a fresh perspective on building a meaningful biotech career.In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we’re joined by Engie Salama, a passionate scientist and Program Manager at Xencor, where she leads teams working on cutting-edge immuno-oncology therapies. Engie’s journey from the lab bench to biotech program management is a masterclass in navigating career pivots, developing leadership skills, and finding purpose in the life sciences industry.

We dive into:
🌱 How Engie transitioned from scientific research to program management.
🧬 The mindset shifts that helped her grow in her career.
🎯 Her advice for students and early professionals exploring careers in biotech.
🌐 The importance of communication and cross-functional collaboration in life sciences.

Whether you're a student exploring biotech, a young professional finding your fit, or a scientist curious about leadership, this episode is packed with insights that can help you think bigger.

🎧 Listen now and unlock a fresh perspective on building a meaningful biotech career.

In this episode of It’s Bigger Than Biotech, we sit down with Dave Whelan, Chief Business Officer at Big4Bio, to talk about how you can do more than just join biotech—you can shape it. With a career spanning Stanford, UCLA Anderson, startups, VC, digital health, and wellness innovation, Dave has helped bring breakthrough health ideas to life and built thriving biotech communities along the way.

We dive into:
🔹 How to filter opportunities and choose the right career path
🔹 Why strategy, connection, and ecosystem building are the real superpowers in biotech
🔹 The biggest green flags (and red flags) when evaluating founders, startups, or your next move
🔹 What students and early-career professionals need to know about the real biotech landscape

🚀 Bonus:
As he shared at the end of the episode, Dave is offering It’s Bigger Than Biotech listeners free lifetime access to his value-based healthcare courses! Use the promo codes below by May 29:

• Introduction to Value-Based Healthcare
  https://www.udemy.com/course/valueintel-intro-premium/?couponCode=IBTB-INTRO

• The 3 Keys to Improving Quality in Value-Based Healthcare
  https://www.udemy.com/course/quality-in-value-based-healthcare/?couponCode=IBTB-QUALITY

All we ask is that you leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to encourage others to check it out too!

🎧 Hit play to learn how to think bigger, build smarter, and carve your own space in the future of biotech.