Advertise on podcast: SpreadLove In Organizations - Healthcare Leadership

In this episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji Gehchan welcomes Catharine Smith and Jason Cordeiro for a conversation on leadership, ecosystem building, and the future of biotech. Catharine Smith, an experienced healthcare and nonprofit leader, shares her journey from clinical and health system roles to leading the Tremier Institute, where she focuses on developing the next generation of biotech leaders. Jason Cordeiro, Chief Operating and Innovation Officer at MassBio, reflects on his path from scientific research to ecosystem leadership, emphasizing his passion for connecting innovators and enabling the development of new therapies for patients. The discussion highlights the strategic partnership between the Tremier Institute and MassBio, including the creation of the Founder Link initiative. Both guests explain how this collaboration emerged from shared goals and parallel strategic planning processes, ultimately aiming to strengthen the early-stage biotech ecosystem in Boston and beyond. By combining MassBio’s extensive industry network with the Tremier Institute’s leadership development expertise, the partnership provides founders and executives with a structured space for connection, learning, and peer support. The conversation also explores the evolving definition of leadership in healthcare and biotech. Catharine and Jason emphasize that leadership is not only a skill that can be learned but one rooted in empathy, human-centered thinking, and purpose. They stress the importance of community, resilience, and aligning innovation with patient impact. The episode closes with reflections on “spreading love in organizations,” underscoring the belief that kindness, authenticity, and strong relationships are essential to building meaningful, high-impact healthcare organizations. "In biotech, progress happens when leadership, community, and science come together to improve humanity." MEET OUR GUESTS Catharine Smith CEO of the Termeer Institute, & Jason Cordeiro Chief Operating & Innovation Officer, MassBio. Catharine Smith is a mission-driven executive leader with more than 15 years of experience scaling high-impact organizations at the intersection of healthcare, innovation, and equity. As the inaugural CEO of the Termeer Institute, she has built an international leadership organization from the ground up, launching global partnerships and scaling programs that expand access and opportunity for emerging leaders across the biotechnology ecosystem. Prior to the Termeer Institute, Catharine served as the CEO of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative at the Clinton Foundation where she led a team focused on stigma reduction and overdose prevention related to the opioid epidemic.  Known for her inclusive leadership and ability to bridge sectors, Catharine is a trusted voice on leadership, health equity, and innovation, regularly teaching and speaking at international forums. Catharine’s leadership is grounded in a deep commitment to advancing women and underrepresented leaders, supporting emerging talent, and building ecosystems where diverse voices shape the future of leadership.  Catharine is a Fulbright Scholar and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute.  Jason Cordeiro is the Chief Operating & Innovation Officer. He joined MassBio in September of 2018 as the Vice President of Consortium Operations. In his current role, Jason is responsible for helping drive MassBio’s strategic vision and ensuring the organization is always positioned to support the industry. He is responsible for leading the membership organization and focuses on industry partnering and early-stage company support through our Partnering programs and Edge services. In his tenure at MassBio, Jason has overseen the launch of several new programs, including MassBioDrive, Align Summit, and the MassBioHub. Jason received a B.S. in Biology from Emmanuel College. He had worked at BIDMC researching the effects of NSAIDS on ovarian, prostate, and breast cancers and had spent nine years with Thermo Fisher Scientific in various commercial roles. Jason combines his professional talents and love for the outdoors as he sits on the board of Elevate Youth, a local organization. He currently resides on the South Shore with his wife and two children. More Episode in partnership with the Termeer Institute can be found here. Give them a listen!

In this inspiring episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, Naji Gehchan sits down with serial biotech entrepreneur and investor Moise Khayrallah to explore a remarkable four-decade journey across pharmaceutical drug development, leadership, and purpose-driven innovation. From his roots in Lebanon and academic beginnings in psychology at the American University of Beirut and UNC Chapel Hill, Moise reflects on how research methodology, pattern recognition, and a deep sense of purpose unexpectedly led him into the world of biotech. He shares how the transferable skills of rigorous research and team building became the foundation for founding and scaling multiple successful biotech ventures, including companies behind transformative assets such as Sunosi. The conversation dives into the realities of building companies in one of the world’s highest-risk industries. Moise offers powerful lessons on entrepreneurship in biotech: move fast, stay nimble, capitalize on existing scientific data, and know-how to take bold but calculated risks. He introduces a memorable leadership concepts - the “line of foolishness” - the delicate balance between courage and recklessness. Through stories from his own ventures, he explains how experience-driven pattern recognition, conviction, and the courage to act under uncertainty are essential to bringing medicines from concept to patients. The discussion also looks ahead to the future of medicine, where Moise sees AI playing a transformative role in breaking down complex umbrella diseases into more precise and treatable subgroups. Beyond business and science, this episode is deeply human. Moise speaks passionately about leadership as courage, legacy as responsibility, and love as a force for healing organizations and societies. This conversation is a profound reflection on resilience, service, and what it truly means to lead with vision and heart in healthcare. "Without courage, you can’t get anything done. If you wait until everything is perfect, you don’t get anywhere." MEET OUR GUEST Moise Khayrallah, CEO Emergo Therapeutics, Founder and Chairman, Lebanon & Beyond. Dr. Moise Khayrallah is a serial entrepreneur and investor in pharmaceutical drug development and biotechnology. He acquired his experience over a 40-year period across diverse pharmaceutical environments, including large pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and biotechnology companies. His latest startup venture is Emergo Therapeutics Inc., which develops drugs to modulate inflammatory cytokines and improve the functioning of the immune system in infectious disease indications. Emergo is his fifth startup biopharmaceutical company. He is also Chairman of the Board and co-Founder of QuatroBio, LLC, a startup biopharmaceutical holding company focused on developing drugs for central nervous system disorders. In addition, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of several startup companies in the pharmaceutical and information technology industries. Prior to these positions, Dr. Khayrallah co-founded and led Aerial BioPharma, LLC, which sold its major drug asset, Sunosi (solriamfetol), to Jazz Pharmaceuticals in early 2014. In 2010, Dr. Khayrallah was co-founder, President, and CEO of Neuronex Inc., a company focused on developing treatments for patients with certain seizure disorders. Neuronex was acquired by Acorda Therapeutics in 2013. In 2006, he co-founded and served as President and CEO of Addrenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company that developed and received FDA approvals for compounds targeting the adrenergic system. Addrenex was acquired in late 2009 by Shionogi & Co. of Japan. In 2002, Dr. Khayrallah founded Alius Pharma, LLC, a consulting company partnering with small biotechnology companies in cancer drug development. From 1999 to 2002, he served as VP of Clinical Affairs at Cytran, Inc., a Seattle-area biotechnology company, where he led the product development team for the company’s lead oncology compound and participated in financing and joint venture activities. Prior to that, Dr. Khayrallah served as Director of Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs at Lineberry Research Associates (later Constella Group and SRI International) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. From 1987 to 1996, he held various leadership roles at Burroughs Wellcome Co. and later Glaxo Wellcome (now GSK), where he led clinical trials and programs resulting in FDA approvals in CNS indications. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from American University of Beirut. Beyond biotechnology, Dr. Khayrallah is deeply involved in entrepreneurial and non-profit networks in the United States and internationally. He currently serves as the Honorary Consul for Lebanon in North Carolina, supporting the Lebanese American community and representing its interests in Lebanon and the United States. He is also the Founder and Board Chair of Lebanon & Beyond (L&B), a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing Lebanon and strengthening ties with its global diaspora through innovative educational programs. Its flagship programs include: Jouzour: an immersive summer program reconnecting young members of the Lebanese diaspora with Lebanon through cultural education, service, and community-building Jana: a multi-year initiative focused on reimagining equitable education in Lebanon in the age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation In 2014, he endowed the Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies at North Carolina State University, the first center of its kind outside Lebanon and the first privately endowed center in NC State’s history. The Center is dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of the worldwide Lebanese diaspora through archives, documentaries, exhibitions, lectures, and the annual Khayrallah Prize. Dr. Khayrallah has also served on numerous boards and advisory councils, including: Board of Trustees, Lebanese American University International Advisory Council, American University of Beirut Board of Directors, North Carolina Biotechnology Center Chair, Carolina Ballet Chair, Go Global NC Chancellor’s Philanthropic Council, UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Visitors, UNC School of Education At UNC’s School of Education, he created the Moise A. Khayrallah Innovation Fund, supporting the Master of Arts in Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program. Dr. Khayrallah remains committed to advancing education, entrepreneurship, culture, and philanthropy, while building bridges across communities and generations. This episode is in partnership with BIOLOINK.ORG. More episodes with BIOLINKERS here.

In this episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji Gehchan sits down with Kylie Wagner, a senior commercial leader at Takeda with more than 20 years of experience across rare, specialty, and chronic care markets. Kylie shares the personal journey that brought her into healthcare, from her upbringing in the Midwest and her background as a competitive tennis player to the deeply personal experiences that shaped her commitment to improving patient outcomes. Her story is one of resilience, systems thinking, and purpose-driven leadership. Together, Naji and Kylie explore what it truly takes to turn strategy into impact in healthcare and biotech. Kylie explains why even the strongest commercial strategies can fail when organizations do not execute effectively across complex cross-functional teams. She offers powerful insights into the importance of operations, decision-making, and building systems that allow teams to move faster so innovation can reach patients without delay. The episode also dives into Kylie’s leadership philosophy, centered on trust, accountability, and clarity. She shares how leaders can create high-performing teams in times of uncertainty by listening deeply, empowering others, and embracing a digital-first mindset. This conversation is a thoughtful look at modern healthcare leadership and a powerful reminder that every decision made inside an organization ultimately shapes the patient experience. "Patients cannot and should not wait." MEET OUR GUEST Kylie Wagner, BioPharmaCommercial Executive. Kylie Wagner is a commercial executive with more than 20 years of experience leading growth, portfolio performance, and launches across rare, specialty, and chronic markets. She currently leads Marketing and Business Unit Customer Engagement at Takeda, where she is responsible for commercial strategy and P&L performance for a complex portfolio. Her work centers on translating scientific innovation into real-world adoption by aligning strategy, access, and customer engagement. She builds organizations grounded in trust and accountability so teams can perform in uncertainty and turn strategy into consistent results. In addition to her commercial leadership roles, she previously served as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Business Unit President, supporting enterprise strategy across the organization. She holds an Executive MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

In this episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji Gehchan sits down with Lina Polimeni, Chief Marketing Officer, Consumer at Eli Lilly, to explore what it truly means to lead with purpose in healthcare marketing. Lina shares her unconventional journey into the industry, from aspiring to work in music and film to building a 20+ year career at Lilly, and how her passion for meaningful, impactful work has shaped her leadership philosophy. Together, they dive into the evolution of healthcare marketing, emphasizing the need to move beyond conversations centered on illness and instead bring health into everyday life. Lina highlights the power of emotional storytelling, authenticity, and cultural relevance in driving real impact, far beyond traditional metrics. She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how she fosters bold creativity within her teams by creating a culture of trust, accountability, and psychological safety. The conversation goes deeper into leadership, inspiration, and personal growth. Lina reflects on the importance of experiences outside of work to fuel creativity, the influence of her upbringing on her leadership style, and her belief that true impact lies in shaping both culture and future leaders. Her closing message is a powerful reminder: healthcare leaders should see themselves not just as leaders in healthcare, but as leaders of health, bringing it to the forefront of everyday conversations and ultimately improving lives. "Don’t think of yourself as a healthcare leader. Think of yourself as a leader in health." MEET OUR GUEST Lina Polimeni SVP, Chief Marketing Officer Consumer at Eli Lilly and Company. Lina Polimeni leads Eli Lilly and Company’s global consumer marketing strategy across its corporate brand and medicine portfolio. Since joining Lilly in 2004, she has held a range of leadership roles across business and marketing, including leading U.S. Direct-to-Consumer advertising, serving as Cialis regional brand leader for Australia, Canada, and Europe, and launching Taltz with consumers while leading marketing for diabetes. She has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have reshaped the company’s approach to media, multicultural marketing, sports partnerships, and celebrity engagement. Polimeni’s campaigns have earned multiple Effie Awards and positioned Lilly at the forefront of purpose-driven, emotionally resonant storytelling that builds trust and drives better patient outcomes. An influential voice in marketing, she has been recognized as one of Campaign US’s Top 50 CMOs, an Ad Age Woman to Watch, and a 2025 Campaign Inspiring Women honoree. She continues to push boundaries with work that fuses creativity, impact, and purpose—bringing category-breaking campaigns to life that redefine what healthcare marketing can achieve.

In this insightful return to Spread Love in Organizations, Naji welcomes back award-winning leadership professor and executive coach Amer Kaissi to discuss his newest book, The Positive Intent Mindset. Building on the foundation of his previous work, Humbitious, Amer shares how his upbringing in war-torn Lebanon, and the example of his mother leading an orphanage during the civil war, shaped his belief that humility and ambition must coexist in effective leadership. In times of crisis and complexity, he argues, leaders must connect with humility while elevating standards with accountability. The conversation dives deeply into the heart of the Positive Intent Mindset: choosing to assume positive intent as a starting point for leadership. Amer explains that in today’s environment, many teams suffer not from lack of talent, but from assumptions of negative intent that erode trust, engagement, and collaboration. Assuming positive intent is not naïve optimism, it is a courageous leadership choice. It begins with trust, invites open dialogue, and is reinforced by accountability when behaviors are repeated or misaligned. When leaders trust first, they create psychological safety, accelerate collaboration, and foster healthier relationships while also protecting their own wellbeing from the toll of rumination and negativity. Throughout the episode, Amer offers practical tools leaders can apply immediately, including three reflective questions to challenge bias and judgment. He reminds us that leadership today requires projecting calm, inspiring hope, and being intentional about spreading love, while holding people to high standards. In difficult times, trust and accountability are not opposing forces; they are partners. This episode is a compelling call for leaders in healthcare and beyond to lead with courage, discipline, and a mindset that builds trust before mistrust takes root. "Trust is the starting point. Project calm, inspire hope, and make accountability the standard." MEET OUR GUEST Amer Kaissi, an-award winning Professor of Leadership. Amer Kaissi is an-award winning Professor of Leadership. He is an executive coach that has worked with hundreds of leaders and teams all over the world. Amer is the author of five books, including “Humbitious: the power of low-ego, high-drive leadership.” His newest book is "The Positive Intent Mindset: Exceptional Leadership Through Trust & Accountability". He has been featured on the Harvard Business Review podcast and numerous other media outlets. He has spoken on leadership topics at more than 300 organizations and professional conferences. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and has two grown children in college. More on Amer and where to find his books here.

In this episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, Naji sits down with Hafedh Haddad, medical director and founder of B2G Life Sciences, to explore a career shaped by curiosity, courage, and meaningful encounters. From medical school in Tunisia to leading pioneering gene therapy clinical trials in France, Hafedh shares how openness to opportunity, rather than rigid planning, guided his journey across academia, biotech, and global clinical development. Hafedh reflects on the power of encounters in shaping both career and character. He discusses his transition from preclinical research to clinical development, the launch of world-first gene therapy trials in rare diseases, and the founding of his consulting company. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of trusting the journey, embracing change, and allowing purpose to evolve through experience. At its core, this episode is about discovery, of the world, of science, and of oneself. Hafedh offers thoughtful insights on leadership, long-term vision versus adaptability, and the responsibility of working in rare and genetic diseases. It’s a powerful reminder that meaningful impact in healthcare often begins with curiosity and grows through humility, relationships, and a deep commitment to patients. "Plan the bigger vision. Let the details unfold, and move with them." MEET OUR GUEST Hafedh Haddad Founder & CEO @ B2G Life Sciences. Hafedh is a medical doctor and holds a master’s degree in clinical research. He has 20 years of experience in clinical research and clinical development, with – among other specialties - a focus on rare and genetic diseases, oncology and biotherapies. Early in his career, he has collaborated to a few preclinical research programs in neuromuscular disorders within academic laboratories in Paris. He later joined Généthon, a French biotech specialized in the development of advanced therapies, to set up and lead two world premiere gene therapy clinical trials in rare diseases (AAV based in vivo gene therapy in limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2C and lentiviral ex vivo gene therapy in Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome). He founded B2G Life Sciences, a medical consulting company in 2011, and has since then worked on several clinical research projects and medical affairs missions for several companies including biotechs and big pharma as well as academic institutions in Europe and North Africa. Hafedh is an entrepreneur in the healthcare sector with both a strategy and operation-focused mindset. He worked on the ideation and development of different projects including staffing and training, biobanks and MedTech projects. Hafedh graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis (Tunisia) and University Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Paris (France).

In this episode of Spread Love in Organizations, host Naji Gehchan welcomes Nelson Repenning, Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center and Distinguished Professor at MIT Sloan, to explore why so many organizations struggle to turn proven management ideas into real, sustained impact. Drawing on decades of research in system dynamics and organizational design, Nelson unpacks the hidden forces that keep teams trapped in constant firefighting despite the best intentions, smart people, and well-documented best practices. At the heart of the conversation is Nelson’s work on dynamic work design, the foundation of his new book There’s Got to Be a Better Way. He explains the “capability trap” that pulls leaders toward short-term fixes and away from long-term learning, and introduces five practical principles that help organizations escape this cycle: solving the right problem, structuring work for discovery, connecting the human chain, regulating flow, and using visual management. Through real-world examples, from manufacturing to healthcare and drug development, Nelson shows how small, well-designed changes can unlock surprisingly large gains in performance, engagement, and impact. The discussion also dives into leadership, healthcare complexity, and the thoughtful use of AI, emphasizing that effective change doesn’t come from top-down initiatives or copying “best practices,” but from leaders who are willing to go see the work, listen deeply, and develop people. Nelson closes with a powerful reminder: great leadership is not about issuing targets or demanding solutions, but about creating the conditions where people can surface problems, learn together, and do meaningful work. A compelling episode for anyone seeking to build more humane, resilient, and effective organizations. "Most organizations don’t have a strategy problem, they have a flow problem. We take on far too much work, and everything grinds to a halt." MEET OUR GUEST Nelson Repenning, Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center, and the School of Management Distinguished Professor of System Dynamics and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Nelson P. Repenning is the Faculty Director of the MIT Leadership Center, and the School of Management Distinguished Professor of System Dynamics and Organization Studies at the MIT Sloan School of Management. His early work focused on understanding the inability of organizations to leverage well-established tools and practices. He has worked extensively with organizations trying to develop new capabilities in both manufacturing and new product development. Nelson has also studied the failure to use the safety practices that often lead to industrial accidents and has helped investigate several major incidents. This line of research has been recognized with several awards, including best paper recognition from both the California Management Review and the Journal of Product Innovation Management. Building on his earlier work, Nelson now focuses on developing the theory and practice of Dynamic Work Design—a new approach to designing work that is both effective and engaging— and Dynamic Management Systems, a method for ensuring that day-to-day work is tightly linked to the strategic objectives of the firm. His book (co-authored with Don Kieffer) There Has Got to Be a Better Way describing Dynamic Work Design will be published by Public Affairs in 2025. He is also a partner at ShiftGear Work Design and serves as its chief social scientist. In 2003, Nelson received the International System Dynamics Society’s Jay Wright Forrester Award, which recognizes the best work in the field in the previous five years. In 2011 he received the Jamieson Prize for Excellence in Teaching. He was recently recognized by Poets and Quants as one of the country's top instructors in executive education. Nelson is also an avid bike racer and regularly competes in Masters cycling events. He holds a BA in economics from Colorado College and a PhD in operations management and system dynamics from MIT.

In this deeply human and wide-ranging conversation, Giovanni Abbadessa shares the personal journey that shaped his vocation as a physician, scientist, and leader. Growing up in Naples as the son of a prominent hematologist, Giovanni initially resisted medicine, only to discover his calling through lived experiences that blended science with humanity. A transformative humanitarian trip to India, working alongside communities affected by leprosy, profoundly reshaped his understanding of dignity, service, and impact. This experience, combined with early clinical exposure, led him to choose oncology, not just for the science, but for the deep, often spiritual connection with patients and families at life’s most vulnerable moments. Giovanni traces his evolution from clinician to translational scientist and biotech leader, moving across Italy and the United States, from hospitals to research labs, and ultimately into biotech and pharma. He reflects on pivotal moments, from enrolling patients in landmark oncology trials, to building basic science programs from scratch during his PhD in Philadelphia, to navigating the realities of startup biotech during financial crises. Across academia, small biotech, and large pharma, Giovanni highlights how resilience, curiosity, and an unwavering focus on patients guided his decisions, including when to leave organizations due to poor leadership and when to stay and rebuild through trust, compassion, and shared purpose. At the heart of the episode is Giovanni’s philosophy of leadership and collaboration. Drawing from decades of nonprofit volunteering, community building, and formal leadership training at Harvard Business School, he emphasizes that “drugs don’t develop drugs. People develop drugs.” He argues that effective collaboration starts with honesty about needs, mutual respect, and trust, and that innovation requires humility, failure, and resilience. With memorable metaphors, from pizza as a catalyst for breaking silos, to leadership as a team sport rather than a solo game, Giovanni offers powerful insights for healthcare leaders on how to spread love in organizations by putting people, connection, and purpose first. "Drugs do not develop drugs. People develop drugs." MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Giovanni Abadessa, Chief Medical Officer at ModeX Therapeutics. Giovanni Abbadessa is a Medical Oncologist and PhD with 23 years drug development experience across academia, small biotech, and pharma. He is a passionate, hands-on, and entrepreneurial leader specializing in oncology, hematology, and rare disease pre-clinical and clinical (Phase 1-3) development. Giovanni has worked on the development of nearly 30 clinical and as many preclinical experimental drugs across eight classes of agents. He is known for a collaborative leadership style, growing and uniting people and science through transparent, results-driven teams. Giovanni has strong strategic, operations, business development and board management experience in both corporate and nonprofit sectors, and has led investor relations, medical affairs, and commercial assessments, enjoying a vast network of academic and industry collaborators. Presently, as Chief Medical Officer at ModeX Therapeutics, a small biotechnology firm in Weston, MA, Giovanni guides strategy and execution of a variety of clinical programs in oncology and infectious diseases. Additionally, he shapes preclinical oncology research, is responsible for business development and defines corporate strategy with the rest of the company C-Suite, aligning scientific innovation with business objectives while inspiring cross-functional teams. From 2017 to 2024, Giovanni held a series of senior leadership roles at Sanofi. As Vice President of Oncology Early Development, he was a member of the company’s executive leadership team, oversaw Phase 3 and commercial strategy, built and led an oncology team of 25 who led cross-functional work performed by ~300 people on ~20 early clinical and as many preclinical assets for solid and hematological malignancies and kidney transplant. His portfolio included small molecules, checkpoint inhibitors, ADCs, cytokines, T and NK cell engagers, intratumoral RNA, and cell therapy. He spearheaded strategy and execution for interactions with global Health Authorities, and represented Sanofi with investors, governments, and academic institutions. Prior to joining Sanofi, Giovanni spent nearly a decade at ArQule, a small biotech company where he advanced to Vice President of Clinical Development, Preclinical Research and Medical Affairs, responsible for development from basic lab research to Phase 3. He worked on MET, AKT, FGFR, Eg5, BRAF, and BTK small molecule inhibitors for cancer and rare pediatric diseases and supported business development, investor relations, people and company strategy alongside the C-Suite and the Board. Earlier, as Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development at Ziopharm Oncology, a small biotechnology company engaged in research and clinical development of novel chemo-derivatives, Giovanni spearheaded global Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in solid and hematologic malignancies of three molecules. Giovanni spent his post-doctoral fellowship at Temple Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA, leading and mentoring a small team of scientists on in vitro/in vivo gene therapy projects in cancer models and contributing to patient treatment strategy as a Visiting Oncologist. Giovanni began his Oncology career in 2001 in Milan, Italy, at the Istituto Clinico Humanitas as an Oncology Fellow and Sub-Investigator, where he led four Phase 1-3 clinical trials with small molecules and biologics. Giovanni serves as a Scientific Board member at Biond Biologics, HiFiBiO, as Scientific Committee member at the ESMO-TAT oncology conference, and as nonprofit Board Member at the Comitato Italiani all’Estero, the Scuola Piccoli Italiani di Boston, and the Professionisti Italiani a Boston. Govanni earned a PhD in Genetic Oncology from Temple University and the University of Siena, Italy, a Clinical Oncology Fellowship from the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Milan and the University of Genoa, Italy, and an MD summa cum laude et plausum from Federico II Medical School in Naples, Italy. He speaks native Italian, fluent English and Spanish, proficient French. He published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, 120 conference abstracts (20+ presented orally), and gave ~40 conference talks.

In this episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji Gehchan welcomes Dr. Basil Upton, executive business director at Eli Lilly, servant leader, and catalyst behind the podcast itself. Basil shares his deeply personal journey from growing up in Maine under the guidance of his grandparents to building a 24-year career in healthcare. With a background in psychology and counseling, Basil reflects on how his desire to help others ultimately led him to pharmaceutical leadership, where purpose, performance, and people intersect. The conversation dives into Basil’s doctoral research in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation, which examined how leadership styles influence employee engagement during periods of both strong and weak performance. His findings challenge conventional thinking: engagement is driven not by shifting leadership styles, but by consistent servant leadership behaviors — active listening, empathy, recognition, and collaboration — especially during challenging times. Unexpectedly, Basil also highlights the powerful role of peer relationships and teamwork, sometimes outweighing even a supervisor’s influence on engagement. Together, Naji and Basil explore what it truly means to “spread love in organizations.” They challenge leaders to rethink engagement as a core performance metric, not a soft concept, and to recognize the profound impact leadership has on people’s lives beyond work. Basil leaves listeners with a call to action for healthcare leaders everywhere: seek feedback, lead with humility and accountability, embed servant leadership into the DNA of organizations, and intentionally create environments where people — and patients — can truly thrive. "The impact a leader has on someone’s life beyond work is tremendous." MEET OUR GUEST Dr. Basil Upton, Executive Business Director at Eli Lilly. Basil is a purpose driven transformational and servant leader dedicated to helping others reach their potential. He is entering his 24th year with Eli Lilly and Company where he is an executive business director. His teams have consistently exceeded performance expectations for numerous years. Basil’s work accomplishments include business director of the year, Elite coach, Platinum Performer, and recipient of several Coaching Awards. In the summer of 2024, Basil graduated from Marymount University in Arlington, VA with a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation. He studied how a supervisor’s leadership style affects the engagement of pharmaceutical sales professionals during periods of varied sales performance for his dissertation.

In this special episode, part of our collaboration with the Biosciences Lebanese International Network (BIOLINK), I had the joy of welcoming an extraordinary leader whose career sits at the intersection of science, innovation, and purpose: Rania Abou Samra, Vice President and Head of Innovation & R&D for Nestlé Middle East and North Africa. With more than two decades of experience across global roles in nutrition, health science, and product development, Rania brings a rare blend of deep scientific expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and human-centered leadership. Her mission has remained unwavering since her days studying Nutrition and Dietetics at AUB and later completing a PhD in Obesity and Nutrition at the University of Toronto: advancing nutrition to positively impact lives. Rania takes us on a moving journey from her childhood in northern Lebanon — where an early fascination with biology sparked her dream of fighting malnutrition — to her unexpected leap from academia into the global food industry. She shares how Nestlé’s scale allows her teams to deliver meaningful change, from fortifying foods in underserved regions to designing science-based innovations rooted in prevention rather than treatment. We dive into the evolving landscape of nutrition, from the rise of GLP-1 therapies to the growing attention on ultra-processed foods, and Rania illuminates how food companies can play a critical role in helping people lose weight safely, protect muscle mass, and maintain overall health in a world where these medications are becoming mainstream. We also explore Rania’s leadership journey across cultures — from Lebanon to Switzerland, the U.S., and now Dubai. She speaks candidly about navigating emotional expression, resilience shaped by her upbringing, and the balancing act of staying true to her identity while adapting to global environments. Her reflections on cultural agility, authenticity, and the lessons she’s carried with her across continents offer a powerful reminder of what it means to lead with purpose. Rania’s story is one of passion, courage, and an unshakeable belief in the power of science to improve lives — and it’s truly inspiring to hear how she continues to spread impact through innovation in nutrition. "Innovation without impact is meaningless; the goal is to create solutions that truly improve lives." MEET OUR GUEST Rania Abou Samra, Vice President and Head of Innovation & R&D for Nestlé Middle East and North Africa. Rania Abou Samra has served as the Vice President and Head of Innovation and Research & Development at Nestlé Middle East and North Africa since April 2025. With over 20 years of experience in Nutrition and R&D, she has a strong technical and scientific background that drives innovation forward. Prior to her current role, Rania assumed the position of Global Head of Product & Technology Development for Nestlé Health Science in January 2022, following her tenure as Vice President of Research and Development at the Vital Proteins business. Rania's professional journey includes her previous roles as Global Director of Science and Technology at Nestlé Health Science and Global R&D Lead for Consumer Care. Across various Nestlé research centers, she has lent her expertise to diverse sectors as well as her entrepreneurial spirit, translating scientific and technical insights into breakthrough innovations for both patients and consumers. She earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics from the American University of Beirut, followed by a PhD in Obesity and Nutrition from the University of Toronto. Rania aligns her mission with her passion to advance nutrition and positively impact lives through science. Her unwavering commitment to making the benefits of nutrition accessible to all remains a driving force in her personal and professional pursuits. More Episode with BIOLINKERS can be found here.

In this inspiring episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, in partnership with the Termeer Institute, host Naji Gehchan welcomes Charlene Son Rigby, CEO of Global Genes, who shares the deeply personal journey that brought her into the rare disease space. After years of searching for a diagnosis, her daughter was found to have STXBP1, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. That life-altering moment led Charlene to co-found the STXBP1 Foundation, driven by the urgent need to accelerate research and give families like hers a path toward hope. Her story bridges science, advocacy, and parenthood—reshaping her career and purpose. Charlene discusses how this experience led her from the tech and genomics industry to nonprofit leadership, first with RareX and now with Global Genes. She highlights the organization’s mission: to empower rare disease communities through support, education, and research. Recognizing that much of early progress in rare diseases now begins with patients themselves, Charlene explains the rise of the “next-generation advocate”—families who build data, mobilize researchers, and initiate therapeutic development even in ultra-rare conditions. The merger of RareX and Global Genes was designed to strengthen this ecosystem and give advocates the tools they need to drive discovery. Looking ahead, Charlene is optimistic about the future of therapeutic development, especially as genetic tools and platform approaches open the door to faster, more scalable progress. Yet challenges remain - particularly the economic and regulatory barriers that hinder early-stage rare disease research. She calls for continued collaboration, smarter infrastructure, and systems designed to make innovation accessible to even the smallest patient communities. Above all, Charlene emphasizes leadership rooted in clarity, conviction, and hope - standing tall in what matters as we work toward cures for all. "Really focusing on what matters, and standing tall in that, is so important." MEET OUR GUESTS Charlene Son Rigby, CEO of Global Genes. Charlene Son Rigby is Chief Executive Officer of Global Genes. Charlene has spent her career building organizations at the intersection of data, technology, and life sciences. Charlene led the merger between Global Genes and RARE-X, a health technology nonprofit. She was previously Chief Business Officer at Fabric Genomics and held executive roles at enterprise software and genomics companies, including Oracle and Doubletwist. She started her career in neuroscience research at Roche. When Charlene’s daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, she co-founded the STXBP1 Foundation. She is committed to finding a cure for her daughter’s disorder. Charlene’s unplanned connection between her personal life and profession has helped push forward the search for a cure for her daughter and kids like her, and given her work deeper meaning. Charlene is a Termeer Scholar. She holds a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley. More episodes with Termeer Institute can be found here, or on your favorite Podcast App.

In this inspiring conversation, Naji welcomes Sekhar Naik, a serial entrepreneur, aviation enthusiast, long-distance runner, and community builder who believes deeply in authentic human connection. Sekhar shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a small town in South India to navigating the bustling streets of Mumbai, exploring opportunities in Dubai, and finally coming to the United States for his MBA. His early experiences — marked by hustle, curiosity, and reinvention — shaped his path toward entrepreneurship and taught him the power of storytelling and adaptability. Sekhar reflects on how his values around ethical and empathetic growth crystallized later in life, especially after experiencing the culture of innovation and fairness in the U.S. He credits his father’s principled influence, financial insecurities in childhood, and the challenges he witnessed in India’s textile industry as key drivers behind his desire to control his own destiny. These experiences informed his belief in taking thoughtful risks and “picking where to put your hard work,” a philosophy that guided him from turning down a secure corporate job to founding his own company as an immigrant without a safety net. Today, Sekhar leads MResult, a technology consulting company that grew from a one-person operation into a global firm of over 1,000 employees — with no sales team, scaling entirely through trust, word of mouth, and excellence. He shares how the company evolved from data and analytics into cloud, digital, and AI/ML solutions, always staying agile and grounded in deep client relationships. At the heart of MResult’s success is Sekhar’s unwavering commitment to people-to-people connection—an ethos reflected in the company’s culture, his philanthropic work, and his belief that authentic relationships and purpose-driven innovation are the true engines of enduring impact. "You have to pick where you put your hard work — success isn’t just effort, it’s choosing the right place to apply it." MEET OUR GUESTS Sekhar Naik, Founder and CEO at MResult. Sekhar Naik is a serial entrepreneur, business leader, aviation enthusiast, long-distance runner, and above all a community builder who believes in the innate power of authentic people-to-people connections. He is the recipient of Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, one of highest civilian honors bestowed by the Government of Karnataka, India. As the founder of MResult, Sekhar has built a foundation of ethical and empathetic commercial growth by serving as a trusted advisor to a select group of respected global brands. His mantra of success is enabling and empowering people to take decisions and lead with confidence. His belief in the capability of people goes beyond the traditional yardstick of qualifications and expertise to intent and hunger to do more, do better. This is reflected in a culture of customer excellence. Sekhar is also a co-founder and investor in a variety of startups, providing them with both mentoring as well as financial support. In his commitment to pay it forward he is a major donor of YMCA Naik Family Branch in Mystic, Connecticut. An accomplished commercial pilot with Instrument, and Jet Type Ratings, Sekhar is available to clients wherever they might be. When not flying or mentoring the MResult team, Sekhar is passionate about running and has completed both the New York and Philadelphia marathons. He is a tech enthusiast constantly exploring new frontiers. But beyond this all, he is a storyteller, a lifelong learner, and a believer in investing in relationships that transcend transactional limits. Sekhar is committed to academic partnerships that explore leading edge innovation and investments in cutting edge technologies around Gen AI and Biotechnology companies. On the personal front, he is very grateful for his family and the privilege of leading a high performing team solving some of the industry’s most complex challenges.

In this inspiring episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji Gehchan welcomes Vanessa Almendro Navarro, Vice President and Head of Science and Technology Innovation at Danaher. Vanessa shares her powerful personal story — from growing up in Spain as the first in her family to attend college, to witnessing cancer’s impact on her loved ones, and ultimately dedicating her career to driving innovation in oncology and biotechnology. Her journey from academic research at Dana-Farber to leading enterprise innovation at Danaher reflects her deep commitment to transforming ideas into tangible impact for patients. Vanessa discusses how she bridges AI-enabled R&D, commercialization, and innovation to accelerate drug discovery and development. She emphasizes the importance of focusing innovation on solving real problems, being pragmatic rather than chasing the “next shiny thing,” and ensuring that technologies meaningfully advance patient outcomes. She sees the convergence of AI, biotechnology, and robotics as a pivotal moment — an “innovation revolution” — that could redefine how we discover and deliver healthcare solutions. Reflecting on her leadership journey, Vanessa highlights humility, resilience, and collaboration as essential traits for leaders in healthcare. Her guiding philosophy — “Don’t give up; we’ll figure it out” — captures her approach to overcoming challenges and inspiring others. Vanessa also shares her work with the Brain Tumor Investment Fund, where she supports translating early research into new therapies for patients. She calls on leaders to embrace this era of possibility with focus, courage, and humanity, because, as she reminds us, “Patients are not waiting.” "Don’t tell me no, tell me how. There’s always an opportunity to move forward." MEET OUR GUESTS Vanessa Almendro Navarro, Vice President, Head of Science & Technology Innovation at Danaher Corporation. Vanessa Almendro Navarro, PhD, MBA, is a life sciences executive who builds at the intersection of innovation, AI-enabled R&D, and commercialization. As Vice President and Head of Science & Technology Innovation at Danaher, she leads enterprise innovation and operating-model modernization across a global portfolio. She designed and scaled the Danaher Beacon distributed R&D program with leading academic partners, launched the Danaher Nexus intrapreneurship pipeline, established the Danaher Antibody Capability Center, and created the Danaher Summits to connect operating companies with top domain expertise. Previously, Vanessa co-founded and led the Brain Tumor Investment Fund; served as Head of Strategy & External Innovation at Eisai and Head of Strategy & Operations at Repertoire Immune Medicines; and held scientific and commercial roles at Vertex. Earlier in her career, she was a research fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (University of Barcelona) and an Executive MBA (MIT). Her expertise spans venture origination, IP strategy, translational development, partnerships and BD, and capability building in diagnostics and therapeutics. She serves on the boards of the Brain Tumor Investment Fund and MIT Sandbox and is a member of the ARM CEO Advisory Council.

In this special episode of Spread Love in Organizations, Naji sits down with Rose Saia, Executive Director of the Centre Street Food Pantry, to explore the deep connection between food, health, and dignity. Rose shares her powerful personal story — from growing up food insecure in South Boston to leading a community-driven food relief organization that now serves six Greater Boston communities. Drawing from her lived experience and leadership through the pandemic, Rose reflects on transforming Centre Street’s model to ensure equitable, dignified access to nutritious food for families in need. She discusses how food insecurity — often hidden even in affluent areas — is not only a social issue but also a public health crisis that intersects with housing, income, and healthcare access. Rose and Naji explore what leadership looks like in times of crisis, how communities can mobilize around empathy and purpose, and why solving hunger requires partnerships across health systems, local organizations, and individuals. Despite the challenges, Rose’s message is one of resilience and hope: our shared humanity drives us to help one another—and through food, we can touch lives and health in the most fundamental way. "When everything said we couldn’t, our community proved we can." MEET OUR GUESTS Rose Saia, Executive Director at Centre Street Food Pantry. Rose Saia Executive Director of Centre Street Food Pantry. Rose joined Centre Street in 2019 as a part-time Pantry Manager. When the pandemic began, she pivoted the operation to a new program and distribution model to address the exponential increase in food insecurity. She became Executive Director in 2021. Prior to joining Centre Street, she was Pantry Director for Open Table, a Metrowest regional grocery and meals agency. Her experience in nonprofit organizations includes being a member of the board of directors and marketing chair for The Capital Network and WEST (Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology), and as a CEO coach for women leading high-growth businesses at The Commonwealth Institute. Her professional career is anchored in high technology, where she was a leader of technical, product marketing, and business development teams for startups and global providers. She was the CEO and co-founder of a network security consulting and product company that was acquired by Juniper Networks. Rose is also a published writer and professional true-life storyteller who has appeared on local stages and on the national television series, “Stories from the Stage.” Visit and help Centre Street Food Pantry. Donate here.

In this episode of SpreadLove in Organizations, Naji is joined by Jean-Noël Pellegrin and Alain Eudaric, two veteran leaders in biotech and pharma, to discuss their new book, The Thriving Biopharma Business. With decades of experience shaping strategy, finance, and innovation across global markets, they share how purpose, clarity, and collaboration fuel success in one of the world’s most complex industries. Both guests describe their journeys — from engineering, finance, and corporate leadership at major companies like Sanofi — to helping biotech and pharma leaders align science, strategy, and market needs. Their mission through their book is clear: to help biotech innovators turn groundbreaking ideas into real-world impact. Jean-Noël and Alain dive into the lessons behind The Thriving Biopharma Business, highlighting key principles that drive sustainable growth in life sciences. They explore how companies like Moderna and Vertex Pharmaceuticals turned uncertainty into opportunity through bold strategy, storytelling, and disciplined leadership. The discussion brings to life their concept of integrative leadership — a model that connects perspectives across R&D, regulatory, finance, and commercial teams to accelerate decision-making and value creation. Through vivid examples of M&A integration and strategic partnerships, they illustrate how restraint, empathy, and emotional intelligence often determine whether innovation thrives or stalls in complex corporate settings. The conversation closes on the human side of biotech leadership — purpose, resilience, and love. The authors reflect on how storytelling and empathy are as crucial as data in convincing investors, partners, and patients to believe in a vision. They emphasize that thriving in biotech requires relentless curiosity, business acumen, and the courage to lead with compassion. As Jean-Noël and Alain put it, spreading love in organizations means creating environments where collaboration, integrity, and shared purpose drive breakthroughs that truly change lives. "Great outcomes demand more than science — they require decisive leadership.” – Alain Eudaric “Integrative leadership turns transactions into true partnerships built on trust.” – Jean-Noël Pellegrin MEET OUR GUESTS Alain Eudaric, President Idea Pathways. MEET OUR GUESTS Jean-Noël Pellegrin, Sr Director Valuation and Finance Support to Business Development, M&A at Sanofi. Alain Eudaric brings over 30 years of global expertise in biopharma, life sciences, and consulting, specializing in strategy, M&A, alliances, and innovation-led growth. He has held leadership roles at Kearney, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Parexel International, driving transformative programs and business success. As President of Idea Pathways, Alain focuses on driving operational excellence and fostering innovative growth strategies for the biopharma industry. He is an alum from Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, MIT, Purdue University, and Ecole Centrale de Lille with advanced degrees in Biotech, Business, Science, and Engineering. Jean-Noël Pellegrin has over 15 years of expertise in M&A and business development, with a proven track record of contributing to several hundred transactions. He began his career at EY before most recently joining Sanofi, where he has spent the last 20 years in France and the United States. His 30 years of combined experience across global public company finance, audit, accounting, and strategic transactions make him a trusted expert in valuing life sciences assets and structuring complex deals. He is an alum of Babson College and Sciences Po, with advanced degrees in Business and Finance. Find their book here!