Life Science Success

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Everyone’s talking about AI in life sciences, but how much of it is actually running in production, and how much is still a pilot that never quite launched?

On this episode of Life Science Success, we brought together four people who are doing the work, not just talking about it:

• Josh Bersin, Founder & CEO, The Josh Bersin Company
• Michelle Bridenbaker, Global Head of Medical Excellence & Communications, Recordati
• Janik Jaskolski, CEO & Co-founder, Semalytix
• Beena Wood, Chief Product Officer, Qinecsa

They’re refreshingly honest about it. Michelle talks about her “epic fail” of a chatbot with IBM Watson over a decade ago, and how it took years of trial and error before AI started paying off for her team. Beena describes LLM-written safety narratives that sounded perfect but described pregnant male patients, and explains why she calls today’s state of the industry “Schrödinger’s AI.” Janik shares how his team listens to patients across 26 languages and turns those conversations into evidence pharma can actually use. And Josh makes the case that AI won’t replace your job, but it will change what your job looks like.

You’ll also hear how each of them decides what AI should handle and what has to stay with a human, why you can’t just bolt AI onto a broken process, and what they expect to see by 2030.

If you work in pharma, biotech or anywhere in the regulated side of healthcare and you’re trying to separate hype from reality, this one’s for you.

Chapters:

00:00 Show Intro
00:30 Panel Setup: AI Through 2030
01:19 Patient Data and AI Value
03:56 AI in Drug Safety
07:42 Medical Affairs AI Wins
11:35 Workforce and Jobs Shift
15:47 Product Deep Dives Begin
16:02 Semalytix Atlas Explained
20:20 PV Trust and Governance
25:11 MedInfo Use Case Framework
30:50 Galileo, Jupiter and Trusted HR AI
34:41 Specialist Agent Networks
35:44 Sponsor Break
36:39 Platforms vs. Point Solutions
38:50 Market Segmentation Strategy
42:28 Human-Led Automation
47:20 PV Governance Framework
50:57 Future of Agent Workforces
52:46 2030 Outlook: Medical Affairs
54:23 Safety Intelligence Vision
56:21 Company Second Brains
59:03 Where to Find Panelists
01:02:20 Final Thanks and Sign-Off

Connect with our guests:

• Josh Bersin: joshbersin.com (and check out his new book, Superpowered)
• Michelle Bridenbaker: find her on LinkedIn, and follow Medical Information Leaders in Europe there too
• Janik Jaskolski: semalytix.com
• Beena Wood: qinecsa.com

Thanks to our sponsor, Life Science Wealth, a wealth management firm that works only with life science professionals. Book a free consultation at lifesciencewealth.com.

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Chris Sarlo. Chris is the founder of Life Science Wealth, a wealth management practice built exclusively for people inside the life science industry, and the author of The Wealth Gap, a book about why success in science so often fails to turn into lasting wealth. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University, became an accredited financial advisor by twenty-four, and has spent his career working with the founders and scientists who move the industry forward.

00:00 Show Introduction
00:30 Meet Chris Sarlo
01:10 Why Life Sciences
03:48 Early Wealth Lessons
07:26 Income vs Net Worth
08:50 Inside Life Science Wealth
09:45 The Wealth Gap Book
13:46 Founder Wealth Planning
17:25 Business Personal Firewall
22:41 Funding and VC Readiness
35:43 Exit Planning and QSBS
40:48 Leadership Inspiration Concerns
48:31 Connect and Closing

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Stella Vnook. Stella is the CEO, Co-Founder, and Executive Board Chair at Kaida BioPharma, where she is advancing precision oncology therapies and bringing her experience as a serial biotech entrepreneur, investor, and life sciences leader to the future of cancer treatment.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
00:38 Meet Stella Vnook
01:23 From Big Pharma to Startups
04:58 Thriving as Startup CEO
08:08 Mission Driven by Family
10:27 Hard Lessons in Translation
15:08 Building Kaida BioPharma
18:12 Fundraising in a Tough Market
22:33 De Risking and Milestones
25:03 Faster to Clinic with Rigor
29:12 Women Leading in Biotech
35:47 Precision Medicine Outlook
38:17 Inspiration and Concerns
45:46 How to Connect and Wrap Up

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Dr. Seth Toback. Dr. Toback is the Chief Medical Officer at ARMR and a board-certified physician-scientist with over 20 years of experience leading clinical development and medical affairs across biotech, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, infectious diseases, and respiratory medicine.

00:00 Show Introduction
00:29 Meet Dr Seth Toback
01:28 From Pediatrics to Vaccines
03:11 Pandemic Vaccine Milestones
04:51 Speeding COVID Development
07:04 Leading in Crisis
08:59 ARMR Mission and Opioid Waves
11:00 How the Fentanyl Vaccine Works
12:45 Who Benefits Most
14:12 Human Challenge Trial Design
16:02 Endpoints and Real World Evidence
17:57 Clearing Up Misconceptions
21:21 Risk Disinhibition Concerns
22:27 Defining Success and Impact
24:14 Rapid Fire Fun Questions
26:44 How to Learn More
28:01 Closing and Subscribe

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Simran Padam, MD, APMMC, Executive Director of Medical Affairs at Worldwide Clinical Trials. A physician with 17+ years guiding global studies, she shares insights on medical monitoring, complex oncology and hematology programs, and the clinical judgment behind drug development highlighted in her newsletter, The Medical Monitor’s Desk.

00:00 Show Intro and Guest
01:49 Simran Career Journey
04:22 Why CRO Variety Matters
05:48 What Medical Monitors Do
08:04 Protocol vs Reality
09:43 Physicians Role Evolving
11:14 Better Trial Decisions
13:31 Newsletter Behind Scenes
16:09 LinkedIn Newsletter Reach
17:07 From Science to Execution
19:18 Therapeutic Specialization
21:20 Collaboration Across Teams
23:05 Capabilities for Future
25:16 Rapid Fire Inspiration
32:44 Where to Connect
34:09 Podcast Outro

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Megha Sinha. The founder and CEO of Kamet Consulting Group LLC, she brings 17+ years of experience advising global pharma and life sciences on regulatory operations, quality, and large-scale transformation, including senior leadership at PwC solving complex regulatory, supply chain, and lifecycle management challenges.

00:00 Show Introduction
00:30 Meet Megha Sinha
01:18 Engineering Into Life Sciences
03:29 First FDA Audit Lessons
04:29 PwC Shaping Consulting
07:27 Three Career Pivots
12:22 Why Found Kamet
17:24 Mission And Programs
19:27 Global Regulatory Depth
24:57 Transformation In Practice
30:24 Scaling Team And Tech
35:14 Leadership Inspiration Concerns
40:48 AI Beyond Automation
44:27 Closing And Next Steps

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Ian Crone. He is the VP Regulatory strategy and growth at ArisGlobal and a global life sciences leader known for RIM, UDI, IDMP, and data migration expertise, inspiring teams to deliver compliant, client-centric solutions.

00:00 Show Intro
00:30 Meet Ian Crone
01:12 From Lab Bench Up
03:07 Regulatory Deja Vu
05:15 IDMP Explained
07:39 Single Source Truth
10:38 Why Migrations Fail
14:40 Interpretive Drift Risk
15:56 Best of Breed Debate
21:27 Compliance Clock Ticking
23:59 AI Needs Humans
26:00 Why ArisGlobal
27:33 Sportify Overlay Approach
28:49 Data Cortex XDI
31:10 IDMP Data For AI
32:31 AI As Experimentation
33:54 Leading Under Pressure
36:20 Mentorship Lessons
37:05 Personal Motivation Story
39:23 AI Hype Versus Readiness
42:15 Human In The Loop
44:42 Breaking Silos Wins
47:02 Closing And Next Steps

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Jennifer Vavala, Founder & Principal at AlignPoint Partners. With more than 27 years in pharma, medical device, and diagnostics leading QA/QC in complex regulated organizations, she focuses on quality systems, inspection readiness, and operational delivery, and developed the Operational Stability Recalibration framework to help leaders rebalance escalating mandates with operating capacity before compliance or delivery risks surface.

00:00 Intro

00:30 Meet Jennifer Vavala

01:39 Microbiology Origins

04:13 Capacity Not Capability

08:43 Across Regulated Sectors

12:25 AlignPoint Partners Mission

13:15 Operational Stability Framework

18:02 Early Warning Signals

19:52 Inspection Readiness Reality

23:55 Executives And Regulators

32:37 Quality Leadership Future

36:15 Inspiration Concerns Excitement

39:39 Wrap Up And Where To Connect

40:19 Outro

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Dean Erhardt, President and CEO at D2 Solutions. He brings more than 20 years of experience across pharmaceuticals and consumer products, with expertise in support program development, distribution, and specialty product management, and has worked with over 100 pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device manufacturers as well as many small and midsized organizations on commercial operations, strategy, and national accounts.

00:00 Intro

00:34 Dean's career: HMO, Cardinal Health, Express Scripts

03:00 Founding D2 Solutions in 2008

04:00 Pricing strategy and middlemen taking 50–70% of revenue

08:00 What separates successful commercialization from failure

10:00 D2's three pillars: distribution, reimbursement, patient services

15:00 Pharmaceutical support programs for specialty medications

16:00 D2's digital patient engagement platform in action

21:00 Resource challenges for small and mid-sized pharma

22:00 Retail deserts and the rise of direct-to-consumer models

24:00 National accounts strategy and long-term payer relationships

26:00 When to engage D2 and cleaning up commercialization missteps

28:00 The prior authorization crisis

31:00 Leadership advice: one vision, said a million times

32:00 AI, remote surgery, and the future of care

34:00 Looming shortage of 3.9 million healthcare workers

36:00 Concerns: aging population, lost patients, NIH funding

37:00 Technology accelerating drug approvals

38:00 Outro

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Jesse Mendelsohn and Michael Grosberg from Model N discuss why U.S. pricing complexity is spreading globally, the collapse of the PBM rebate model, what's really driving the pharmaceutical manufacturing boom, and why direct-to-consumer discount programs won't solve America's drug access problem.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast
00:34 Pressing Issues in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
00:51 Introducing the Experts from Model N
03:08 Understanding International Reference Pricing
04:14 Impact of US Pricing on Global Drug Launches
09:26 Challenges with Pharmacy Benefit Managers
16:29 Domestic Manufacturing Boom in Pharmaceuticals
23:08 AI in Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine
29:03 Access and Policy Discussion
30:01 Direct to Consumer Pricing
31:32 TrumpRx Overview
33:11 Compliance Challenges
38:30 Pharmaceutical Revenue Management
41:38 AI in Life Sciences
48:35 Future of Life Sciences
50:45 Concerns and Challenges
53:52 Excitement in Current Work
55:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Troy Fugate. The CCO of Compliance Insight, Inc., Troy brings 30+ years of FDA readiness, GMP, and quality leadership—turning complex requirements into practical, culture-shaping solutions and championing the Align–Apply–Adapt framework used across pharma, cell and gene therapy, and medical devices.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast

00:37 Meet Troy Fugate: CCO of Compliance Insight

01:09 Troy's Career Journey and FDA Focus

04:10 The Align, Apply, Adapt Framework

04:47 Differentiating Compliance Insight

08:03 The Importance of Clarity in Compliance

17:10 Challenges and Solutions in Compliance

25:38 Human Behavior and Continuous Improvement

34:39 Troy's Inspirations and Concerns

39:07 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Byron Purse, co-founder of AlidaBio and professor of chemistry at San Diego State University who is pioneering innovative approaches to studying RNA modifications. Byron brings a wealth of expertise in synthetic and natural nucleic acid modifications, with a passion for advancing biotechnology and human health through his groundbreaking research and entrepreneurial endeavors.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast
00:29 Meet Byron Purse: Professor and Co-Founder of AlidaBio
01:05 Byron's Journey into Life Sciences
03:10 From Academia to Entrepreneurship
06:49 Founding AlidaBio: Vision and Mission
08:59 Innovations in RNA Modifications
23:09 Challenges and Successes in Developing the EpiPlex™ Platform
28:44 Leadership and Inspiration
35:00 Concerns and Future Outlook in Life Sciences
43:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is James Piacentino, CEO of Thrive Genetics, Inc., a pioneering digital health startup focused on transforming addiction risk assessment through genetic and behavioral science. James brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial experience, technical expertise, and personal mission to develop innovative solutions that help healthcare providers manage dependency risk with unprecedented precision.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast
00:46 Upcoming Podcast Announcement
01:08 Introducing James Piacentino
01:49 James Piacentino's Background in Digital Health
03:29 Corporate Experience and Startup Journey
06:53 Founding Thrive Genetics
08:35 The Impact of Addiction on Families
09:19 Thrive Genetics' Approach to Addiction Risk
18:43 Partnerships and Technological Advancements
21:29 Combining Genetics, Behavior, and AI
25:06 The Conservative Approach to AI in Customer Journeys
26:12 Balancing Scientific Rigor with Business Models
27:09 Adoption and Value Creation in Technology
30:54 The Importance of Customer Feedback
40:05 Leadership Lessons and Values-Based Leadership
43:18 Inspiration and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
45:29 Concerns and Complexities in Today's World
46:47 Excitement for the Future
47:35 Conclusion and Farewell

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Josh Yelen, a CPA, MBA, and the Founder & CEO of Function, a strategic financial leadership and bookkeeping services company that supports businesses across various industries, including life sciences. With over two decades of experience in operations, accounting, finance, and sales, Josh is also a co-founder of Venture Forward Capital, where he supports early-stage entrepreneurs in building disruptive companies.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast
00:40 Join Our Free School Community
01:41 Introducing Our Guest: Josh Yelen
02:10 Josh Yelen's Professional Journey
04:30 The Birth of Venture Forward Capital and Function
09:05 Function's Unique Approach to Financial Services
14:55 Challenges in Biotech and Pharma
20:40 Trends Shaping the Future of Biotech
29:19 Firing the Biggest Client and Growing the Business
29:46 Innovative Use of AI in Business
30:53 Aligning Company Goals with OKRs
32:45 The Importance of Focus and Avoiding Distractions
36:46 Leadership Advice and Entrepreneurial Challenges
39:31 Motivational Videos and Personal Drive
45:37 Concerns About AI and the Future of Work
50:48 Excitement for the Future and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Nissan Cohen, a worldwide expert with over 45 years of experience in high purity water systems, pharmaceutical engineering, and water technology innovation. Nissan is the Owner of Biopharmaceutical Water Doc company and has made significant contributions to the field through his extensive publications, technical expertise, and leadership in international professional societies like ISPE.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast

00:29 Meet Dr. Nissan Cohen: Water Technology Expert

01:24 The Importance of Potable Water

01:52 Journey into High Purity Water Systems

03:32 Transition to Pharmaceutical Industry

06:12 Milestones in Pharmaceutical Water Technology

09:54 Current Consultancy and Industry Challenges

14:32 Advancements in Pharmaceutical Water Technologies

20:51 Sustainability and Zero Liquid Discharge

29:22 Agricultural Water Innovations

35:43 Leadership and Professional Insights

41:23 Concerns and Future Outlook

44:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Victoria Donovan. Victoria is the Founder and CEO of Clinically Media, an award-winning agency that is transforming patient recruitment and retention strategies in clinical research.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast
00:38 Meet Victoria Donovan: Founder and CEO of Clinically Media
01:34 Victoria's Journey into Life Sciences
03:12 The Birth and Growth of Clinically Media
05:03 Clinically Media's Mission and Vision
08:46 Innovative Approaches in Patient Recruitment
11:59 Challenges and Future of Patient Recruitment
23:45 Leadership and Personal Insights from Victoria Donovan
32:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Mark Stead, Head of Business Development at Atomic AI, a pioneering biotech company using artificial intelligence and structural biology to develop innovative RNA-targeted therapeutics. Mark brings over 12 years of experience in biotechnology, with a proven track record of negotiating high-value partnerships and driving strategic collaborations in drug discovery.

00:00 Introduction to the Life Science Success Podcast
00:30 Meet Mark Stead: Journey into Life Sciences
03:26 Career Insights: From Amgen to Atomic AI
11:20 Innovations at Atomic AI: Leveraging AI and Structural Biology
19:37 The Future of AI in Drug Discovery
31:03 Leadership and Personal Insights
39:38 Conclusion and Farewell

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Kristien Van Vlasselaer, a Vice President of Operations at Gordian Biotechnology who is a passionate generalist and strategic operations leader dedicated to helping biotech teams execute with excellence. With her unique ability to bridge technical expertise and practical problem-solving, Kristien brings a holistic approach to optimizing organizational performance and driving innovative solutions in the biotech industry.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast
00:40 Meet Kristien Van Vlasselaer: A Passionate Generalist
01:05 Kristien's Journey into Life Sciences
02:26 The Generalist Powerhouse in Biotech
04:23 Career Evolution and Key Milestones
09:03 Challenges and Trends in Biotech
11:58 Kristien's Role and Initiatives at Gordian Biotechnology
27:43 Innovative Approaches in Osteoarthritis Research
28:21 Challenges and Limitations of Animal Models
29:23 Complex Problem Solving in Biotech
35:12 Leadership Advice and Insights
42:31 Inspiration and Concerns in the Industry
50:26 The Value of Generalists and Future Outlook
52:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is John Schmitt, a military veteran, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder & CEO of iXpressGenes who is leveraging innovative RNA biomarker technologies to revolutionize trauma screening in healthcare. With over 20 years of leadership experience in the U.S. Army and a Master's degree in Microbiology and Immunology, John is dedicated to developing data-driven solutions for early detection and prevention of trauma-related diseases.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
01:02 Welcoming the Guest: John Schmitt
02:00 John Schmitt's Journey to Biotechnology
05:58 Military Experience and Leadership Insights
13:09 Founding iXpressGenes: The Origin Story
17:31 Mission and Objectives of iXpressGenes
23:08 Challenges and Innovations in Biomarker Technologies
27:42 Personal Leadership and Inspirations
35:00 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

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In this episode of the Life Science Success Podcast my guest is Lauri Befus, Vice President of Clinical Operations at M3 Wake Research, a leading integrated site network in the United States. With over 13 years of experience in clinical research and healthcare operations, Lauri brings a unique perspective to clinical trials, focusing on patient-centric strategies and operational excellence.

00:00 Introduction to Life Science Success Podcast
00:37 Meet Lauri Befus: Vice President of Clinical Operations at M3 Wake Research
00:59 Lauri's Journey into Clinical Research
01:53 Educational Background and Early Career
02:36 Career Progression and Key Milestones
04:25 Challenges in the Life Sciences Industry
05:18 Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials
06:16 Overview of M3 Wake Research
07:37 Lauri's Role and Responsibilities
13:59 Innovative Projects and Initiatives
16:28 Future Goals and Industry Innovations
17:31 Leadership Insights and Advice
24:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts