A Call to Lead @LifeScience ORG

LifeScience ORG
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship

A Call To Lead is a series shining a light on the leadership, vision, and impact of European life science CEOs who are proving that world-class ventures don’t need to be built in Boston to shape the future of healthcare. Each episode features a one-on-one conversation with a European life science CEO and member of the LifeScience ORG community. Our conversations are not about companies or pipelines; instead, guests reflect on their personal journeys, the pivotal choices that shaped their careers, and the future they are helping to build. These kinds of insights are rarely shared publicly. New episodes are released every Thursday.

  1. Sep 24

    Torbjørn Furuseth, DoMore Diagnostics

    Why is stopping something in medicine so much harder than starting something new? How do you tell an equity story when the exit doesn’t exist yet? And what goes into deliberately building a career towards leadership so that every role is a stepping stone? Today we’re speaking with Torbjørn Furuseth, CEO of DoMore Diagnostics based in Oslo, Norway. DoMore Diagnostics is personalising cancer treatment by analysing tumour tissue with AI algorithms. Of course, we’ll talk more about the science at the end of the episode. About LifeScience ORG It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare. The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms. Chapters 1:12 - From Medicine to Leadership 2:52 - Natural Leadership Instincts 5:22 - Deliberate Career Planning 7:20 - Founding a Diagnostics Company 9:12 - Building High-Performing Teams 11:47 - Shared Startup Challenges 16:12 - Articulating the Equity Story 17:32 - Lessons from Downsizing 24:18 - AI in Cancer Diagnostics

    Torbjørn Furuseth, DoMore Diagnostics

  2. Sep 16

    Christian Kersten, AKIGAI

    What does it take to found a biotech when you were never trained for that job? How do you lead with confidence when imposter syndrome stands in the way? And why does hearing someone else describe problems like yours make them seem smaller? Today we’re speaking with Christian Kersten, CEO of AKIGAI based in Oslo, Norway, working on treatments for neuropathic pain. We’ll talk more about the science later in the episode. About LifeScience ORG It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare. The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms. Chapters 1:06 - From doctor to founder 5:00 - The first breakthrough 9:54 - Understanding the pain 13:50 - Navigating new 31:45 - Creative freedom territory 17:00 - Facing imposter syndrome 21:12 - Shared CEO challenges 27:23 – When treatments fail patients 31:45 - Creative freedom

    Christian Kersten, AKIGAI

  3. Sep 9

    Mihriban Tuna, Immutrin

    Why does a little pause make a big impact? How do you keep showing up when the hundredth investor says no? And what does it mean to be a CEO when there’s no team yet – and every job title belongs to you? Today we’re speaking with Mihriban Tuna, CEO of Immutrin based in Cambridge UK, a company developing best-in-class antibody-based therapy for depleting cardiac amyloid in ATTR amyloidosis. We’ll talk more about the science at the end of the episode. About LifeScience ORG It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare. The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms. Chapters 1:08 - From Scientist to CEO 3:48 - Learning Through Failure 5:58 - The Call to Step Up 9:40 - Leading Through Crisis 12:03 - The Fundraising Crucible 19:13 - Building the Right Team 23:50 - Keeping Perspective Under Pressure 30:18 - Tackling Cardiac Amyloidosis 37:18 - The Unsung Heroes of Leadership

    Mihriban Tuna, Immutrin

  4. Sep 2

    Omar El Nahhas, StratifAI

    Why was “if you want to help cancer patients, don’t become an oncologist” actually great advice? What’s the difference between being early and being wrong as a startup? And how do you survive long enough to be proven right? Today we’re speaking with Omar El Nahhas, CEO and co-founder of StratifAI based in Berlin, Germany, and the US. StratifAI turns routinely collected histology data into high-quality predictive diagnostics to help in cancer treatment decisions. And we’ll talk more about the science at the end of the episode. About LifeScience ORG It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare. The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms. Chapters 0:00 - From Data Science to Healthcare 5:30 - Don't Become an Oncologist 8:02 - Bridging Science and Business 12:16 - Managing Board and Investors 17:55 - Learning From Experienced Peers 23:56 - Ecosystem Differences Abroad 27:47 - AI Diagnostics for Cancer 37:19 - Visionary vs Delusion

    Omar El Nahhas, StratifAI

  5. Jun 24

    Susan Hill, Mestag Therapeutics

    Why is condensing information a critical skill for a CEO? How do you keep dozens of people across different functions of a company feel like one team? And why should you keep patients and caregivers at the centre of drug discovery? Today I’m joined by Susan Hill, CEO of Mestag Therapeutics, a Cambridge-based company developing new programs for cancer and inflammatory disease. We’ll touch on the science towards the end of the episode. About LifeScience ORG It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare. The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms. Chapters 0:00 – From Lab to Boardroom 6:23 – The Call to Lead 10:26 – Knowing When to Jump 14:12 – Comfortable with Uncertainty 16:33 – Shared Challenges at the Top 21:01 – The Art of Condensing 27:56 – Tackling Solid Tumors 32:46 – Multiple Teams, One Mission 34:36 – Closing the Gap for Patients 39:00 – Sailing Toward the Horizon

    Susan Hill, Mestag Therapeutics

  6. Jun 18

    Danuta Jeziorska, Uncover Therapeutics

    How does a cancer diagnosis completely rewire your leadership style? Why is maintaining your mindset a core responsibility of a CEO? And what is the question every leader should ask themselves before they make a decision? Today I’m joined by Danuta Jeziorska, the former CEO and co-founder of Nucleome and current CEO and co-founder of Uncover Therapeutics based in Oxford. Uncover is an immuno-oncology company turning cancer’s immunoshield into an immunobeacon. And we’ll get more into the science of that towards the end of the episode. About LifeScience ORG It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare. The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms. Chapters 0:58 — Fascination With the Code of Life 5:06 — The CV in the Suitcase 12:54 — From the Lab to the Boardroom 17:20 — A Pandemic, a Diagnosis and a Company to Run 21:03 — Leading From Purpose Not Fear 25:26 — The CEO's Most Underrated Responsibility 30:48 — Why She Said Yes to Oncology 32:34 — What Europe Must Do Differently

    Danuta Jeziorska, Uncover Therapeutics

  7. Jun 3

    Stefanie Flückiger, TOLREMO Therapeutics

    What happens when the science you built a company on becomes the science you desperately wish could save someone close? How do you transform as a leader as your company evolves? And why should you actively seek out friction when building your company? Today I’m joined by Stephanie Flueckiger, co-founder and CEO of TOLREMO Therapeutics based in Basel, Switzerland. TOLREMO is developing small molecules to reprogram cancer for longer patient benefit. As usual, we’ll talk a bit more about the science at the end of the episode. About LifeScience ORG It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare. The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms. Chapters 0:00 — From Science to Purpose 1:17 — A Founder's Call to Action 5:52 — Tragedy at the Start 9:27 — Evolving as a Leader 14:41 — Leading Calmly Under Pressure 17:54 — The Swiss and European Ecosystem 21:30 — Communicating Across Cultures 24:42 — The Science of Drug Resistance 29:49 — Embracing Friction

    Stefanie Flückiger, TOLREMO Therapeutics

  8. May 27

    Marc Gitzinger, BioVersys

    Why is self-awareness the secret ingredient to good leadership? How do you let go of a critical early team member? And what does it take to found a company during your PhD? Today I’m joined by Marc Gitzinger, CEO of BioVersys, a biotech based in Basel, Switzerland. BioVersys is a leader in the anti-infective space, developing new antibiotics for very highly drug-resistant infections. About LifeScience ORG It’s no secret that Europe is a global leader in generating translational science. We’re grateful at LifeScience ORG to have a community of over 400 life science CEOs – leaders driving change in biotech, medtech, techBio and healthcare. The conversations inside our community – stories of conviction, navigating challenges, and making bold decisions – inspire us every week. To hear the stories, lessons, and experiences of our life science leaders, listen to A Call to Lead @ LifeScience ORG, available on all good podcasting platforms. Chapters 01:16 — From the Lab to the Boardroom 02:51 — The Naivety That Gets You Started 04:08 — When the Board Asks the Impossible 09:12 — Managing Up: Working With Your Board 11:42 — Try Before You Buy: Choosing Independent Directors 15:25 — Three Experts, One Decision 17:05 — A Culture of Calculated Risk 19:05 — A Hub Unlike Any Other 20:40 — The Antibiotic Paradox 25:14 — Stigma, Silence, and Resistant Infections 35:15 — The Mirror Test

    Marc Gitzinger, BioVersys
See All (29)

Trailer

About

A Call To Lead is a series shining a light on the leadership, vision, and impact of European life science CEOs who are proving that world-class ventures don’t need to be built in Boston to shape the future of healthcare. Each episode features a one-on-one conversation with a European life science CEO and member of the LifeScience ORG community. Our conversations are not about companies or pipelines; instead, guests reflect on their personal journeys, the pivotal choices that shaped their careers, and the future they are helping to build. These kinds of insights are rarely shared publicly. New episodes are released every Thursday.

Information

  • Creator
    LifeScience ORG
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright LifeScience Connect Ltd
  • Show Website
    A Call to Lead @LifeScience ORG