Pharmaverse Podcast

Michael Pietrack
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  • Life Sciences
  • Updated Weekly

The Pharmaverse is a leadership podcast that brings you exclusive insights from the stars of the Pharma universe. Hosted by Michael Pietrack, a top Pharma and Biotech recruiter, whose team partners with the most recognizable Pharma companies in the industry, as well as the hottest of the emerging Biotechs. In each episode, Michael sits down with influential and innovative leaders in the Pharmaceutical and related industries. Listeners will hear from stars from all sectors of the Pharmaverse and will gain valuable insights to help lead their team or structure their careers. Whether you're a current leader, an aspiring leader, or a leadership enthusiast, the Pharmaverse Podcast has something for you. Tune in and subscribe!

  1. 1d ago

    New MSL? 6 Ways to Impress Your Manager in Your First 90 Days

    Starting a new Medical Science Liaison role? Your first 90 days can shape how your manager and team see you long after onboarding ends. In this episode of the **Pharmaverse Podcast**, host Michael Pietrack sits down with **Lee Ann McDowell, PharmD**, an experienced medical affairs leader with 15 years in industry, including 11 years as an MSL and six years leading MSL teams. Lee Ann shares **six practical ways new MSL hires can impress their managers, stand out during onboarding, and build a strong foundation for long-term success.** You'll learn: • Why being prepared means more than completing your assigned training • How to master your product, competitor data, science, tables, and graphs • Why managers notice MSLs who are proactive instead of waiting for direction • How curiosity can separate an average new hire from a standout MSL • Why going beyond the training manual matters • How setting goals demonstrates initiative and ownership • Why your existing skills can bring unexpected value to an MSL team • How speaking up and contributing during team meetings builds trust • What MSL leaders notice when a new hire isn't keeping pace • How to make the most of your critical first 90 days Lee Ann also shares the story of a candidate whose first presentation fell flat, but who took feedback, studied, improved, and ultimately became one of the best MSL hires she ever made. Whether you're an **aspiring MSL preparing to break into Medical Affairs**, a newly hired MSL navigating onboarding, or an experienced MSL joining a new organization, these strategies can help you demonstrate your value from day one. **The six takeaways:** 1. Be prepared 2. Be proactive 3. Go beyond what's given 4. Set goals 5. Let your skills shine 6. Jump in and contribute What do you think is the most important thing a new MSL can do during their first 90 days? Share your experience in the comments. Subscribe to the Pharmaverse Podcast for more conversations about MSL careers, Medical Affairs, leadership, professional development, and succeeding in pharma and biotech.

  2. Aug 3

    The Leadership Mindset Every Medical Affairs Leader Needs | Kim Tran

    What does it take to become an exceptional leader in pharmaceutical and biotech organizations? In this episode of The Pharmaverse Podcast, Michael Pietrack sits down with Kim Tran, PharmD, Senior Vice President and Head of Medical Affairs, for a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, trust, and creating cultures where people thrive. Kim shares the remarkable story of her parents escaping Vietnam by boat as refugees and how their resilience, humility, and compassion shaped her leadership philosophy. She explains why trust is the foundation of every successful team, how leaders should approach inherited organizations, and why transparency and communication matter more than ever. The conversation also explores what separates outstanding Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) from average performers, the importance of enterprise thinking, how to interview for critical thinking instead of rehearsed answers, and why leadership isn't about titles but about serving others. Whether you're an aspiring MSL, Medical Affairs professional, pharmaceutical executive, or anyone leading teams in healthcare, this episode is filled with practical leadership advice you can apply immediately. In This Episode You'll Learn: ✔ How childhood experiences shape authentic leadership  ✔ Why compassion and empathy create stronger teams  ✔ Building trust when inheriting an existing team  ✔ The importance of transparency and communication as a leader  ✔ Why representation and mentorship matter in executive leadership  ✔ Advice for first-time managers entering leadership roles  ✔ The qualities of exceptional Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs)  ✔ How enterprise thinking makes better Medical Affairs professionals  ✔ What hiring managers really evaluate during interviews  ✔ Why critical thinking outweighs perfect answers  ✔ Leadership lessons on serving others instead of chasing titles

  3. Aug 3

    Season 2, Episode 21: A Century of X-Rays with Margaret Yu

    Season 2, Episode 21: A Century of X-Rays with Margaret Yu In this powerful episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, host Michael Pietrack sits down with Dr. Margaret Yu, Chief Medical Officer at ARTBIO, an oncology company leading the charge in Radioligand Therapy (RLT) to revolutionize cancer care. Dr. Yu unpacks the 130-year history of radiation in medicine — from the discoveries of Marie and Pierre Curie to the approval of modern alpha isotopes — and explains how ARTBIO is developing new radioisotope-linked therapies to transform precision oncology. She also shares deeply personal stories from her medical training, lessons from mentorship, and how being a “language brain in a science-driven world” shapes her communication and leadership approach. In the closing moments, Dr. Yu offers invaluable leadership advice on resilience, growth, and embracing challenges for anyone navigating their first leadership role in Pharma or biotech. Whether you’re a Pharma executive, biotech innovator, or medical professional, this conversation delivers both inspiration and insight into the future of cancer treatment and scientific leadership. 🎧 Tune in and subscribe for more conversations with the brightest minds in life sciences. 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐔𝐒: ▶  Website: [https://www.kbic.com/recruiting/] ▶  LinkedIn: [ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpietrack] ▶ Have you seen all of our playlists?                  [https://www.youtube.com/@ThePharmaversePodcast/playlists ] ▶ Also, join the private LinkedIn Job Board: MSL Job Board

  4. Jul 20

    The Delegation Mistake That Destroys Team Motivation | Conor Neill on Leadership

    Why do some leaders inspire high-performing teams while others unintentionally destroy motivation? In this episode of The Pharmaverse Podcast, host Michael Pietrack welcomes internationally respected leadership expert Conor Neill for a powerful conversation on leadership, communication, delegation, motivation, resilience, and building trust. Conor explains why leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about helping people move forward through uncertainty. He shares practical frameworks for evaluating team members based on motivation and competence, explains the critical difference between effective delegation and simply dumping work on employees, and reveals why recognition remains one of the most overlooked leadership responsibilities. The discussion also explores authentic storytelling, journaling for better decision-making, empathy, purposeful action, and the influence of Viktor Frankl on finding meaning during difficult seasons. Whether you lead Medical Science Liaisons, Medical Affairs teams, biotech organizations, healthcare professionals, or any business team, these leadership principles apply across every industry. 📙 What You Will Learn: ✔ The delegation mistake that quietly destroys team motivation ✔ How to use the Motivation vs. Competence Framework to develop people ✔ Why storytelling builds trust before driving change ✔ The difference between delegating and simply assigning work ✔ Why recognition is one of a leader's most powerful responsibilities ✔ How authentic communication strengthens leadership ✔ Why journaling improves decision-making during uncertainty ✔ How empathy helps people grow through challenges ✔ Why action creates results while intention creates comfort ✔ How purpose and resilience help leaders navigate difficult seasons 💡 Great leaders don't create followers—they create confident, motivated people who continue growing long after the conversation ends. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with a leader who wants to build stronger, more motivated teams.

  5. Jul 6

    The Executive Mindset Separating Good Leaders from Great Ones

    Leadership isn't about giving orders. It's about understanding your team, adapting your communication style, and creating an environment where people can succeed. In this episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, Michael Pietrack sits down with Jonas Hylton, PharmD, Founder & CEO of Executive Biotech Advisors, to discuss the leadership principles he developed during more than 25 years in pharmaceutical and biotech leadership. Jonas shares practical frameworks that leaders can immediately apply to build stronger teams, improve communication, motivate employees, and become more effective managers. In this episode you'll learn: • Why the best leaders lead by example • How to truly understand your employees before setting expectations • The "See One, Do One, Teach One" leadership model • Why feedback should be personalized for every employee • The difference between Visionaries and Implementers • The 80/20 leadership rule • The power of asking "What's In It For Me?" (WIIFM) • How emotional intelligence improves leadership • Common leadership mistakes to avoid • Advice Jonas wishes he'd learned earlier in his career Whether you lead a pharmaceutical team, biotech company, healthcare organization, or any business, these leadership strategies can help you motivate employees, improve performance, and build a stronger culture. Subscribe to Pharmaverse for more conversations with pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare leaders sharing real-world insights that help professionals grow their careers.

  6. Jun 22

    How to Execute Strategy in Fast-Changing Industries | Mike Banville

    n this episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, Mike Banville shares powerful insights on what separates good leaders from exceptional ones. From executive communication to organizational culture, Mike explains why leadership isn’t just about vision, it’s about translating strategy into measurable execution. We explore why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills, how successful leaders navigate uncertainty, and what it takes to build alignment across teams in fast-moving industries like biotech and healthcare. In this episode: ✔ Why listening is a leadership superpower ✔ How to turn strategy into execution ✔ Building strong organizational culture ✔ Decision-making in uncertain environments ✔ Leading through change and complexity Whether you're a biotech executive, founder, manager, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers practical frameworks you can apply immediately. Subscribe for more conversations on biotech, pharma leadership, and career growth. #Leadership #Strategy #Execution #Biotech #Pharma #Management #DecisionMaking #ExecutiveLeadership #OrganizationalCulture Show Notes / Chapters 00:00 Intro & welcome 01:42 Meet Mike Banville 04:25 Why listening matters in leadership 09:18 Strategy vs execution 15:06 Turning ideas into measurable outcomes 22:40 Building organizational alignment 30:12 Culture in remote vs in-person teams 38:55 Decision-making under uncertainty 46:20 Adaptability and navigating change 53:11 Final leadership lessons 📙 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐔𝐒: ▶  Website: [https://www.kbic.com/recruiting/] ▶  LinkedIn: [   / michaelpietrack  ] ▶ Have you seen all of our playlists?                  [   / @thepharmaversepodcast  ] ▶ Also, join the private LinkedIn Job Board: MSL Job Board 📙Hashtags: #shorts #pharmaverse #leadership #healthcare #innovation #shorts #pharmaverse #leadership #healthcare #healthcareinnovation #podcastclip #mindset #courage #leadershipdevelopment #innovationleadership #executiveleadership #teamcommunication #difficultconversations #professionalgrowth #healthcareleaders #workplaceleadership #changemanagement  📙Keywords: pharmaversePodcast, healthcareLeadership, innovationMindset, difficultConversations, courageInLeadership, healthcareInnovation, leadershipGrowth, honestCommunication, executiveMindset,

  7. Jun 8

    What Biotech Leaders Can Learn from Ballet, Engineering, and Wall Street | Kelly Gold

    In this episode of the Pharmavers Podcast, Michael Pietrack sits down with Kelly Gold, Chief Financial Officer of Camp4 Therapeutics, to discuss her unconventional path from mechanical engineer and competitive dancer to biotech CFO. Kelly shares how designing Biosafety Level 4 laboratories taught her to identify risks, eliminate single points of failure, and develop contingency plans that now guide her financial leadership. She also explains why engineers often make exceptional business leaders and how competitive dance helped shape her resilience, adaptability, and executive presence. The conversation dives into one of the biggest questions facing the life sciences industry today: Why has biotech experienced a prolonged market downturn since the pandemic, and are we finally seeing signs of recovery? Kelly offers a CFO's perspective on capital flows, investor sentiment, M&A activity, IPO markets, and what "normal" might look like for biotech moving forward. You'll also hear practical leadership advice that managers can implement immediately, including why senior leaders should talk less in meetings and create more space for their teams to contribute. Key topics include: • Leadership lessons from competitive dance • Engineering principles applied to financial leadership • Managing risk in biotech and public companies • The biotech funding slowdown and market recovery outlook • Transitioning from private company to public company CFO • Building trust across legal, IP, finance, and business development teams • Women in executive leadership • Balancing family life and C-suite responsibilities • Camp4 Therapeutics' upcoming clinical milestones Whether you're a biotech executive, aspiring leader, investor, or industry professional, this episode offers valuable insights on leadership, resilience, and navigating uncertainty in today's life sciences landscape.

  8. May 25

    From Africa’s AIDS Crisis to Global Pharma Leadership | Dr. Eslie Dennis

    What shapes a great leader? For Dr. Leslie Dennis, it began on the frontlines of Africa’s AIDS epidemic. In this powerful episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, Michael Pietrack sits down with Dr. Eslie Dennis, Global Head of Medical Affairs at Kyowa Kirin, to explore a journey spanning medicine, leadership, resilience, and purpose. Dr. Dennis shares unforgettable stories from treating AIDS patients in Zimbabwe during the HIV/AIDS crisis, including the heartbreaking reality of caring for abandoned infants and how those experiences shaped her leadership philosophy in the pharmaceutical industry. You’ll also hear her candid advice on:  ✅ Leading with patients at the center  ✅ Why “No is a complete sentence”  ✅ Hiring beyond the résumé in the AI era  ✅ Women in leadership and career advancement  ✅ Building meaningful careers through mentorship and curiosity  ✅ Turning hardship into purpose-driven leadership Whether you work in pharma, healthcare, leadership, or simply want insight from someone who has led through humanity and compassion, this episode delivers unforgettable lessons. ⏱️ In this episode: 00:00 Growing up in Africa & childhood lessons 05:09 Why Dr. Dennis became a physician 09:48 Treating patients during the AIDS epidemic 13:47 How tragedy shaped her leadership style 16:40 Women in leadership & pharma careers 22:04 “No is a complete sentence” leadership advice 23:40 Hiring talent beyond the résumé 27:16 The legacy she hopes to leave 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations with pharmaceutical leaders, innovators, and executives shaping the future of healthcare. #Leadership #Pharma #MedicalAffairs #HealthcareLeadership #WomenInLeadership #CareerGrowth #PharmaceuticalIndustry #Podcast #HIV #AIDSAwareness

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About

The Pharmaverse is a leadership podcast that brings you exclusive insights from the stars of the Pharma universe. Hosted by Michael Pietrack, a top Pharma and Biotech recruiter, whose team partners with the most recognizable Pharma companies in the industry, as well as the hottest of the emerging Biotechs. In each episode, Michael sits down with influential and innovative leaders in the Pharmaceutical and related industries. Listeners will hear from stars from all sectors of the Pharmaverse and will gain valuable insights to help lead their team or structure their careers. Whether you're a current leader, an aspiring leader, or a leadership enthusiast, the Pharmaverse Podcast has something for you. Tune in and subscribe!

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Pietrack
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pharmaverse Podcast
  • Show Website
    Pharmaverse Podcast

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