Biotech is bursting with innovation—from gene editing to AI-powered diagnostics—but behind every successful breakthrough is something far less talked about: leadership. In this episode of Inside Biotech, we’re joined by Colin Smith, CEO and co-founder of ExecNow, a next-gen talent partner helping some of the world’s most innovative biotech, greentech, and AI companies find the leaders they need to scale science into sustainable businesses. Colin has spent years working behind the scenes, partnering with founders to solve one of the industry’s toughest challenges: bridging the divide between scientific genius and business execution. He shares insights on why many brilliant biotech companies struggle—not because of flawed science, but because they lack the right leadership to guide them through growth, regulation, commercialization, and culture-building. We dive into why the industry struggles to attract diverse and strategic leaders, how values-based hiring makes a difference, and why a clear mission can be a company’s strongest competitive advantage. Whether you’re a founder, a scientist, or just curious about the human side of biotech, this conversation reveals what it really takes to build companies that not only survive, but lead.
Biotech is bursting with innovation—from gene editing to AI-powered diagnostics—but behind every successful breakthrough is something far less talked about: leadership. In this episode of Inside Biotech, we’re joined by Colin Smith, CEO and co-founder of ExecNow, a next-gen talent partner helping some of the world’s most innovative biotech, greentech, and AI companies find the leaders they need to scale science into sustainable businesses.
Colin has spent years working behind the scenes, partnering with founders to solve one of the industry’s toughest challenges: bridging the divide between scientific genius and business execution. He shares insights on why many brilliant biotech companies struggle—not because of flawed science, but because they lack the right leadership to guide them through growth, regulation, commercialization, and culture-building.
We dive into why the industry struggles to attract diverse and strategic leaders, how values-based hiring makes a difference, and why a clear mission can be a company’s strongest competitive advantage. Whether you’re a founder, a scientist, or just curious about the human side of biotech, this conversation reveals what it really takes to build companies that not only survive, but lead.