Holding on to Unicorns and Rainbows

Hosted by Kerstin and Elena, two good friends and visionary scientists, who believe that optimism and critical thinking can go hand in hand. This podcast is their place to question the status quo and imagine what could be – from the everyday mundane to the big ideas. From rethinking how we fund and develop drugs, to the mental load of working parents, to why female founders are still underrepresented – each conversation challenges how things are done and opens up new ways of seeing. Sometimes they'll bring in guests who have exciting stories to tell, sometimes it’s just them, unpacking the messy middle between vision and reality. A mix of facts (they do like things backed by solid data), ideas, and stories from their own and their guests’ experiences bring each topic to life. About the Hosts Kerstin Papenfuss is a scientist, entrepreneur, and systems thinker. As Director of Pharma at Deep Science Ventures, she leads the creation and development of novel therapeutics for unmet medical needs. With more than a decade of experience across oncology, signal transduction, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical markets, she brings a rare blend of scientific depth and strategic vision. Kerstin is also a mother of two young children, sports-enthusiast and is based in London. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerstin-papenfuss/ Elena Schuh is a scientist and (visual) storyteller. As founder of Benchtime Stories, she has spent the past decade helping pharma and biotech teams communicate complex science in a clear yet fun way. Drawing on her previous experience in both big pharma and academia, she brings multiple perspectives to the table. Elena is also a sports-lover, outdoors-enthusiast, mother of three young children and lives in the Netherlands. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-schuh-ph-d-31a88820/