Advertise on podcast: IDEA Collider: Innovation & Asymmetric Learning in Pharma

In this episode of IDEA Collider, hosts Mike and Rick revisit a pivotal project from over a decade ago, the Reblozyl project, undertaken in collaboration with Acceleron and Celgene. Rick, the head of Growth and Innovation at IDEA, reminisces about the early days leading to the successful positioning and market shaping of luspatercept across different hematological indications. The episode features insightful contributions from Robin, Jane, and Tracy, key players from Acceleron and Celgene, who share their experiences and the collaborative efforts that enabled them to redefine the market. The discussion covers the strategic approach to overcoming competitive benchmarking, the importance of a unified messaging strategy, and the critical role of internal and external collaboration. They also reflect on the impact of their efforts on the lives of many patients and offer advice for future teams working on complex drug development projects. The episode concludes with a recognition of the rare and valuable collaborative human elements that drove the success of the Reblozyl project. Episode Timestamps; 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:27 Rick's Background and Project Overview 02:31 Client Team Introductions 05:32 Collaboration and Challenges 13:29 Defining the Mechanism and Market Positioning 23:52 Communication and Alignment 27:48 Navigating Internal and External Communication 33:15 Launch, Reflections, and Lessons Learned 41:14 Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements   Keep up with the guests; Robyn Blackburn  - Director Global Commercial Strategy CAR-T at Kite Pharmahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-blackburn-805b8b13/Jayne Butler - Director of Strategic Initiatives at Fingerpaint Brandinghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaynebutler/Tracey Sacco - Former SVP Global Strategic Marketing at Acceleronhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tracey-sacco-53 2a034/Rick Ritacco - Head of Growth and Innovationhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rritacco/   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

In this episode of IDEA Collider, host Mike Rea speaks with Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, founder of Verve Therapeutics and now part of Eli Lilly, about one of the boldest ideas in modern medicine: using one-time gene editing to permanently lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Dr. Kathiresan shares his journey from immigrant upbringing to Harvard cardiologist, genetic researcher, biotech founder, and now leader inside a global pharmaceutical company. The conversation explores how human genetics, CRISPR base editing, lipid nanoparticle delivery, and asymmetric learning converged to create a potential lifelong solution to cardiovascular disease. They also dive deep into the ethics of gene editing, global access and pricing, early intervention versus chronic care, FDA regulatory challenges, and what the Verve–Lilly acquisition means for the future of cardiometabolic medicine. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in biotech innovation, gene therapy, cardiovascular disease, and the future of preventive medicine.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:16 Sekar Kathiresan's Early Life and Education 03:19 Founding Verve and Transition to Entrepreneurship 05:35 The Science Behind Verve's Mission 10:27 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Gene Editing 20:05 Regulatory Hurdles and First Human Trials 25:11 Ethical Considerations in Gene Editing 27:06 Introduction to Drug Delivery and Ethical Considerations 27:51 Historical Context and Pioneers in Medical Procedures 28:35 Commercial and Ethical Challenges in Medicine 29:32 Innovations in Cardiovascular Treatments 32:49 The Role of Gene Editing in Long-term Health 37:55 Strategic Partnerships and Industry Insights 45:08 Reflections on the US Medical Ecosystem 48:54 Conclusion and Future Outlook   Keep up with Sekar Kathiresan; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sekar-sek-kathiresan-3501846/ Website: https://www.lilly.com/   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/  

In this episode of IDEA Collider, we are joined by Alex Telford, a biotech founder, writer, and thinker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the co-founder of Convoke Bio, Alex discusses his journey from studying biochemistry at UCL to founding a company that develops software tools for streamlining biopharmaceutical workflows. The conversation dives into the impact of AI and language models on the biotech industry, addressing inefficiencies in drug development, and exploring the potential of synthetic biology and personalized medicine. The discussion also touches on the future of drug discovery, China's role in biotech, and the challenges of understanding neuroscience and consciousness. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the future of biopharma innovation!   00:00 Welcome to Idea Collider 00:04 Introducing Alex Telford 01:59 Alex's Journey from UCL to Convoke Bio 05:29 The Mission and Work of Convoke Bio 07:57 Challenges in Pharma Decision Making 14:05 The Role of AI in Pharma 18:26 Knowledge Management and AI 27:58 Staying Updated in the Fast-Moving AI Field 30:25 AI's Impact on Industry Economics 31:38 AI in Clinical Trials and Drug Development 35:56 China's Role in Drug Discovery 39:24 Neuroscience and AI: Blurring the Lines 46:05 Future Predictions in Pharma 51:20 Addressing Cognitive Bias in Pharma 53:13 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions   Keep up with Alex Telford; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-telford/ Website: atelfo.github.io X: https://twitter.com/atelfo Substack: atelfo.substack.com   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/  

In this episode of Idea Collider, host Mike Rea interviews Dr. Christian Rommel from Bayer. Dr. Rommel discusses his journey in molecular oncology from the Max Planck Institute, through roles at Roche, to overseeing global R&D at Bayer. He shares insights on turning scientific discovery into novel medicines, collaboration between scientists and commercial teams, and the importance of maintaining scientific integrity. Dr. Rommel also delves into the impact of AI in drug development, the potential of genetic medicines, and the complexities of launching new medicines on a global scale. The conversation also touches on embracing failure, internal and external partnerships, and the evolving landscape of clinical translation.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:25 Christian Rommel's Journey in Oncology 03:02 The Importance of Collaboration in Innovation 05:16 Balancing Risk and Reward in Drug Development 18:07 The Role of AI and Data in Modern R&D 22:33 Partnerships and External Learning 26:16 Balancing Legacy and Innovation in Biotech 27:18 Global Expansion and Leadership Diversity 27:27 Courage in Biotech Management 27:54 Inspiration from Roche Genentech 30:26 Commitment to Product Supply and Market Readiness 32:23 Challenges of Global Launches 35:53 Emerging Trends in Pharma: AI and Genetic Medicines 42:20 Decision-Making in Pharma 47:30 Reflections on Academic and Professional Journey   Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with Christian Rommel; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-rommel/ Website: https://www.bayer.com/en/innovation/science-research-and-innovation   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/  

In this insightful episode of IDEA Collider, Mike welcomes Mathai Mammen, Chairman and CEO of Parabilis Medicines. Mathai shares his extensive journey through academia, MD PhD program at Harvard, co-founding Theravance, and leadership roles at Merck and J&J. They delve into Mathai's innovative approach to creating transformative medicines, navigating the biotech industry, and the unique challenges of targeting 'undruggable' proteins. They also discuss the role of AI in drug discovery, the importance of strategic risk, and fostering team resilience and spirit in both large and small pharma companies.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 00:56 Founding Thebans and Career Highlights 01:43 Leadership at Merck and J&J 02:18 Innovative Approaches at Parabilis Medicines 04:09 Defining and Tackling Undruggable Targets 09:27 Multivalent Drug Design and Bispecifics 13:53 AI and Data Science in Drug Development 19:28 Building and Leading World-Class Teams 25:41 The Importance of Holding Conviction as an Entrepreneur 26:25 Learning from Setbacks in the Biotech Industry 30:10 Challenges and Innovations in Drug Development 32:28 Navigating the Ups and Downs of the Biotech Industry 36:02 The Mission and Future of Parabilis 40:35 Personal Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs 46:46 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts   Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with Mathai Mammen; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathai-mammen/ Website: https://parabilismed.com/   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/  

In this episode of Idea Collider, host Mike Rea interviews Paul Peter Tak, CEO of Candel Therapeutics, discussing his remarkable journey from a clinician in Amsterdam to leading cutting-edge biotech companies. Paul shares pivotal moments in his career, the challenges of transitioning from academia to big pharma, and the innovative principles he applied. He dives deep into Candel’s promising work in viral immunotherapies for cancers and the unique leadership and management philosophies that have guided his journey. Additionally, Paul Peter touches on his passion for leveraging collective intelligence and his unconventional hobbies that keep him grounded and creative.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:59 Early Career and Passion for Medicine 02:09 Transition to Industry and GSK Experience 04:50 Building Successful Organizations 07:42 Innovative Models in Pharma 19:03 Joining Candel Therapeutics and Vision for the Future 25:15 Transforming Cancer Treatment 27:24 Challenges in Biotech Market 28:45 Strategic Decisions and Prioritization 31:39 Collaborations and External Partnerships 33:07 Innovative Approaches and Future Prospects 44:23 Leadership and Personal Insights   Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with Paul Peter Tak; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-peter-tak-md-phd-fmedsci-1b44749/   Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ X: https://x.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/  

In this episode of Idea Collider, we sit down with Susan Galbraith from AstraZeneca, a leading figure in oncology R&D. Susan shares her journey from medical training in Manchester and Cambridge to spearheading transformative cancer treatments at AstraZeneca. She discusses pivotal moments in her career, AstraZeneca's vision for eliminating cancer as a cause of death, the role of patient stories in motivating R&D efforts, and the integration of emerging technologies like AI and digital health tools.    With a focus on collaboration and continuous learning, Susan provides insights into how successful oncology drugs are developed and the importance of equitable representation in clinical trials. Stay tuned for an engaging conversation that highlights the future of personalized cancer therapies and the collaborative efforts driving innovations in oncology. Chapter Summaries; 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:27 Susan Galbraith's Career Journey 02:37 Defining Success in Oncology R&D 05:01 Early Phase Drug Development 07:09 Digital Health and Patient Experience 12:37 Global Collaboration and Innovation 15:05 AI and Future of Oncology 28:08 Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials 33:46 Mentorship and Career Advice 37:45 Challenges and Future Outlook in Oncology 42:06 Closing Remarks and Call to Action   Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with Susan Gabraith; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-galbraith-584a195/?originalSubdomain=uk  Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/  Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/

In this episode of IDEA Collider, we dive into the world of biotech innovation with John Maraganore, former CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Recognized as a trailblazer, John transformed RNA interference from a scientific concept into a revolutionary class of medicines, leading the development of five life-changing drugs.  Join us as we explore John's journey from a first-generation American with Greek immigrant parents to a key figure in biomedicine. We'll discuss his education at the University of Chicago, his leadership role at Alnylam, drug delivery challenges for RNAi therapeutics, and the importance of strategic pharmaceutical alliances. John also shares his take on the current biotech environment, the impact of policy and regulation, and the promising future of genetic medicines and AI in drug discovery.   Chapter Summaries; 00:00 Introduction to John Maraganore: Biotech Trailblazer 01:11 John's Early Life and Education 03:09 Joining Alnylam and the RNAi Revolution 04:56 Challenges and Successes at Alnylam 06:47 Current Biotech Funding Environment 08:17 Global Competition and US Leadership in Biotech 10:25 The Importance of In-Person Collaboration 12:01 Overcoming Drug Delivery Hurdles 15:21 Maintaining an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Biotech 17:00 Balancing Science and Business in Decision Making 20:27 Strategic Partnerships in Biotech 23:36 The Role of Biotech in Global Challenges 26:25 Advocating for Policy Changes in Biotech 30:41 Mentoring the Next Generation of Biotech Leaders 32:35 Future Frontiers in Biotech Innovation 36:08 John's Vision for the Future of Biomedicine 37:18 Communicating Innovation and Leadership Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!   Keep up with John Maraganore; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-maraganore/  Follow Mike Rea On; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/  Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/  

We are excited to tell you more about the IDEA Pharma and Exploristics partnership. IDEA’s COO, Jacqui Barendregt, asked Exploristics Founder and CEO Aiden Flynn five key questions about the innovative service model and, most importantly, the value to the pharmaceutical industry this newly formed partnership will bring.

Welcome to another episode of Idea Collider with your host, Mike Rea.  In this engaging conversation, we delve into the world of pharmaceutical innovation and collaboration. Our guest, Dr. Nedim Pipic, a pharmaceutical expert specializing in mental and retinal health, shares his journey and passion for making a difference. Join us as we explore the unmet needs in these areas, the power of hybrid approaches and precision psychiatry, and the integration of digital therapeutics.  Discover how the industry is transforming lives through innovation while remaining patient-centric. With insights into measuring development quality, the advantages of being a private company, and the importance of collaboration, this episode will inspire you to embrace change and drive positive outcomes in the pharmaceutical landscape.  Tune in to Idea Collider today and be part of the movement toward a healthier, sustainable, and equitable future.  Chapter Summaries  [0:00:21] Introduction to today's guest, Dr. Nedim Pipic  [0:04:23] Discussion on Innovation and Growth Mindset  [0:06:44] Innovation and Patient Benefit in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Discussion on the Importance of Return on Invention and Understanding Unmet Needs in Mental Health  [0:08:25] Innovating Mental Health: A Discussion on Precision Psychiatry and Unmet Patient Needs  [0:14:39] A Discussion on Precision Medicine and the Importance of Understanding Neurobiology in Addressing Symptoms  [0:16:39] Driving Innovation in Pharma: Importance of Early Research Collaborations and Agile Culture  [0:18:52] Discussion on Innovation and R&D in Pharmaceutical Industry  [0:20:22] Driving Innovation and Culture in a Private Pharmaceutical Company  [0:23:41] Insights on Innovation and Transformation  [0:25:46] The Importance of Seeking Inspiration Outside of the Pharma Industry: A Conversation on AI and Agile Transformation  [0:27:04] A Discussion on the Intersection of Medicine and Business in Pharmaceutical Innovation  [0:33:28] Discussion on the Future of the Pharma and Biotech Industry and the Importance of Innovation and Collaboration  [0:36:06] The Future of the Pharma Industry: Collaboration, Patient Empowerment, and Sustainability  [0:37:39] Closing Remarks  Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review!  Keep up with Dr. Nedim Pipic;  ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nedim-pip...  ● Website: http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com  Follow Mike Rea On;  ● Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/  ● Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharma  ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/  Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/  Don’t forget to Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!  To listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

Welcome to another incredible episode of the IDEA Collider│Pharma Book Club series with your host Mike Rea. Today, Annie Duke joins us on the show to discuss her latest book, “Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.” Annie is an Author, Professional Speaker, Decision Strategist & co-founder of The Alliance for Decision Education, a non-profit whose mission is to improve lives by empowering students through decision skills education.  In the episode, Annie Duke delves into the motivation behind her latest book, “Quit,” when quitting is a valuable option rather than sticking around, grit versus willingness to quit, and Stewart’s Butterfield’s Quit story before founding Slack. In addition, Annie expounds on the fear of changing your mind and why most people worry about failing instead of winning.  Ultimately, she delves into the Monkey & Pedestal Model, three reasons behind building the pedestal, the kill criteria & why you should have a quitting coach!  Tune in for more!  During this episode, you will learn about;  [00:00:33] Introducing today’s guest  [00:01:37] What motivated Annie in writing her book Quit as opposed to Thinking in Bets that lead to decision making  [00:06:40] The difference between grit & willingness to quit  [00:09:27] Why eight times more people die on the descent of Mt. Everest than climbing  [00:18:53] Muhammad Ali is the embodiment of showing how in one circumstance, Grit can be a virtue & in the other circumstance, a downfall  [00:30:20] Stewart Butterfield’s story from one of the world’s greatest quitter to founding Slack  [00:39:37] The fear of changing your mind & failing [00:48:36] The monkey & pedestal model  [00:56:18] Three reasons behind building the pedestal  [01:02:38] The kill criteria  & the idea of having a quitting coach  [01:10:08] Does Annie act as a quitting coach?  [01:18:51] The Reverse Sicilian concept  [01:20:17] How to connect with Annie Duke   Don’t forget to Follow, Rate, Review, Like, and Share   Mentioned Books Thinking in Bets by Annie DukeQuit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie DukeGrit by Angela DuckworthInto Thin Air by Jon Krakauer  Let’s Connect!   Follow Alliance For Decision Education; Website: https://alliancefordecisioneducation.org/  Follow Annie Duke; Website: https://www.annieduke.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnieDukeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-duke/  More Products Follow Mike Rea on; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/  To listen to more amazing podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

Welcome to another incredible episode of the IDEA Collider series with your host Mike Rea. Today the Chief Financial Officer at Recursion, Dr. Michael Secora, joins us on the show as we discuss the industrial revolution of drug discovery. Michael is a scientist and a former equity investor. In the episode, Michael delves into the reasons behind the incredibly fast growth at Recursion, the company’s mission of decoding biology to radically improve lives, the relatability of data, and how Recursion builds its various data sets for drug discovery. Moreover, he expounds on how Recursion stands out against its competitors in the tech industry, the unique demographics of the Recursion team, and what differentiates Recursion from other AI discovery companies. Tune in! During this episode, you will learn about; [00:23] Introducing today’s episode [01:29] About Michael Secora and Recursion as it is today [04:58] Recursion’s Mission on decoding biology to improve lives radically [08:48] Biotechnology versus BioPharma Companies [15:00] Relatability of Data [17:10] Recursion’s data sets & their contents [22:13] How many terabytes of data are they in executing each experiment [24:15] How Recursion stands out against competitors in the Tech environment [26:23] Michael’s approach to humility in the pharmaceutical industry [28:28] Demographics of the Recursion team [31:20] Recursion’s Hack Week [34:51] The difference between AI discovery companies & Recursion [40:11] A hint of Recursion incredible speed in delivering value proposition [47:47] Michael’s Book Recommendations [50:16] How to connect with Michael & Recursion`   Don’t forget to Follow, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!   Mentioned Books Journey through Mathematics by Enrique A. GonzalezTeam of Teams by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Tantum Collins, David Silverman & Chris FusselWhat is Life by SchrodingerLet’s Connect! Follow Recursion on; Website: https://www.recursion.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/recursion-pharmaceuticals/  Follow Michael Secora LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-secora-phd/   More Products Follow Mike Rea on; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/   To listen to more amazing podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

The healthcare industry is moving towards a digital revolution. With the help of digital technology, healthcare providers can now provide better and more efficient services to their patients. Digital technology has also proven to have a positive impact on patient outcomes, as well as the cost of care.  Companies such as Openwater, which focuses on creating the future of medical imaging, have been able to deliver life-saving technologies. Through the use of low-intensity ultrasound, Openwater has been able to treat diseases such as glioblastoma, depression, neurodegenerative diseases, and stroke. In this episode, Mary Lou Jepsen, the CEO and Founder of Openwater shares how Openwater started and what it deals with. Mary Jepsen also shares how her company has transformed healthcare through digital technology. Moreover, she discusses the operating and hiring principles of the company.     Tune in for more insights!   Key Highlights [01:44] Meet our guest; Meet our guest; Mary Lou Jepsen, and hear her backstory [03:32] The contrast between Pharmaceutical Companies and companies such as Google & Facebook [05:18] How we can apply physics to create interference ability and be able to see into our bodies using camera chips used in smartphones instead of using huge and expensive MRI scanners [07:32] Why the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative didn’t work [09:35] How she co-created the world’s first holographic video system from an idea that seemed impossible   [12:07] Physicists’ predominant culture of looking for all the ways that they might be wrong and learning from that vs. Biologists’ culture of looking for any proof that they are right  [17:05] Technology that uses low-intensity ultrasound on human brain organoids in glioblastoma cancer treatment which is better than chemotherapy  [18:24] How did Openwater start, and what does the company deal with?  [20:17] The use of technology to enable rapid identification of the large vessel occlusions to decrease the time to intervention in stroke victims [26:56] Severe depression treatment using a headset capable of focusing low-frequency ultrasound on the nerve cells in the brain, which is more effective than transcranial magnetic stimulation [31:42] The side effect of psychedelics in depression treatment   [37:00] Comparison between cost change in the consumer electronics industry and the healthcare industry   [40:21] The operating and hiring principles of the Openwater company [49:00] How to link with Mary Lou Jepsen   Don’t forget to Follow, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!   Let’s Connect! Follow Mary Lou Jepsen on her; Personal website:https://www.maryloujepsen.com/Company website: https://www.openwater.cc/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/majepsen/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mljmljmljFacebook: https://web.facebook.com/maryloujepsen?_rdc=1&_rdr  More Products  Follow Mike Rea on; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/  To listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

Welcome to another incredible episode of the IDEA Collider│Pharma Book Club series with your host Mike Rea. Today a competitive advantage expert, and CEO of Smart Advantage, Jaynie Smith, joins us on the show.  She delves into snippets in her book, Creating Competitive Advantage, & the role of competitive advantage in increasing sales and protecting profit margins.   Moreover, she explains that it’s not about prices but your value proposition, understanding your customers' top three buying criteria, and competitive positioning.  Ultimately she discusses the power of competitive advantage, implementing metrics that quantify competitive ads and focusing on the company rather than product advantage. Tune in for more!   During this episode, you will learn about; [00:20] Introducing today’s episode [01:27] About today’s guest, “Jaynie Smith.” [05:05] The process of unpacking & looking for opportunities [09:44] Does everyone in business understand why they are in business [11:45] Competitive advantage is closing deals & making money in an organization [13:43] Why companies don’t spend enough time listening to their customers [16:09] Building your value proposition [22:28] Competitive positioning [26:05] Do people give positioning the credit  that’s due in the business world [30:48] Do ad agencies get competitive positioning right? [32:20] Company versus product competitive advantage [35:57] Why companies  lose sight of things that matter most to their customers [38:52] Persistence in communication [40:58] How to connect with Jaynie Smith [41:40] Book recommendations from Jaynie   Let’s Connect! Follow Jaynie Smith on; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayniesmith/Website: jayniesmith.comFollow Smart Advantage Website: https://smartadvantage.com/More Products Follow Mike Rea on; Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/To listen to more amazing podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

Welcome to another incredible episode of the IDEA Collider│Pharma Book Club series with your host Mike Rea. Today we are joined by Sherine Khalil, the Vice President and Chief Business Officer for Valor Compounding Pharmacy. She talks about sterile and non-sterile compounding as well as her transition from the nonprofit world to academic medicine. Additionally, she delves into the major functional areas of compounding pharmacy, the reasons behind the decline in compounding pharmacy over the years, her source of ideas, and how she judges success. Moreover, Sherine expounds on the organizational structure within the pharmacy, how far she plans into the future, and her journey in business consulting.  Tune in!   During this episode, you will learn about; [01:23] About Sherine Khalil [05:36] Sherine’s transition from the nonprofit world to academic medicine [11:25] Is her curiosity self-directional? [13:55] About compounding pharmacy and its major function areas [15:55] Reasons for the decline in compounding pharmacy over the years [19:00] Sherine’s source of ideas. What’s her process of assessing development [21:10] Organizational structure  and hierarchy within the pharmacy [22:25] How she judges success. What will work or not work [23:54] How far Sherine plans into the future [28:06] What her Quarter 1 & 2 goals look like for her amidst covid in 2022 [30:13] What’s in Sherine’s organizational structure that makes her more agile than other companies [32:19] Sherine’s biggest idea in telehealth [39:33] Sherine’s journey in business consultancy [44:29] Her source of motivation [46:36] Sherine’s book recommendations [48:04] One thing Sherine wishes she could have been asked [52:13] To connect with Sherine   Let’s Connect! Follow Sherine Khalil on; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherinekhalilEmail: [email protected] Valor Compounding Pharmacy; Website: https://valorcompounding.com/More Products Follow Mike Rea on; ●        Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/ ●        Twitter: https://twitter.com/ideapharma ●        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ To listen to more amazing podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/