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A Dose of Reality with Charles Spence

Charles Spence
Oncology
Biotech
Germany
MSL
Patient Centricity
Car-T
Longevity
Heidelberg Pharma
Hiring
Antibody Drug Conjugates
Medical Affairs
Daiichi Sankyo
Taiho Oncology
Medivir AB
Culture
Clinical Development
OBI Pharma
Gallop Oncology
Leadership Culture
Biotech Investment Landscape

Welcome to “A Dose of Reality”, the podcast where we infuse insight, laughter, and practical wisdom into the world of clinical leadership and career development. Hosted by Charles Spence, each episode offers a deep dive into the challenges and triumphs of clinical leadership, providing listeners with meaningful conversations, career insights, and a dose of inspiration to navigate their professiona... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes70Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessSelf-ImprovementEducationCareers

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Artwork for A Dose of Reality

Latest Episodes

In this episode, I talked with Sofia Heigis, Chief Executive Officer of OncoPeptides, about a career path that did not start where she expected. Sofia originally wanted to move into clinical operations, but her first role in pharma ended up being in ... more

In this episode, I talked with Jens Lindberg, CEO of Medivir AB, a Swedish biotech developing innovative therapies in liver cancer and rare disease. Jens brings over 30 years of late-stage development and commercialisation experience—including 25 yea... more

In this episode, I talked with Hubert Truebel, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, to discover a career that wasn’t built traditionally—but through creating opportunities where none formally existed.

Hubert shares how his journey started as a physi... more

In this episode, I talked with Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of the Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, about what it really takes to lead high-stakes launches — and what leadership looks like when things don’t go to plan.

Sampreet shares how... more

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Recent Guests

Jens Lindberg
CEO of Medivir AB, biotech executive with AstraZeneca background
Medivir AB
Episode: Jens Lindberg, CEO at Medivir, on The Biotech Rollercoaster - Medivir´s Previous Four Months (and Biotech Today in 2026)
Hubert Truebel
Former SVP Translational Head of Bayer; now involved with DEBRA Research
DEBRA Research / Bayer / AiCuris
Episode: Hubert Truebel, Managing Director at DEBRA Research, on Creating Own Career Opportunities...and a Practical Approach to Longevity
Sampreet Ramachandra
Commercial leader at Novartis; led CAR-T commercialization in Germany
Novartis
Episode: Sampreet Ramachandra, Head of Hematology Business Unit at Novartis Germany, on Launching Without a Playbook, Hiring Mistakes, and Leading with Equity
Volker Wacheck
Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Development at Taiho Oncology
Taiho Oncology
Episode: Volker Wacheck, SVP at Taiho Oncology in Speaking Up, Asking vs. Accusing and Why Culture is So Important
Dena Grayson
MD, PhD, SVP Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Kyvera Therapeutics; former physician-scientist with a background in biotech, politics, and media
Kyvera Therapeutics
Episode: Dena Grayson, MD, PhD, SVP Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics on Media Training, Communication within Biotech, and Dealing with Fake CVs
Richard Nkulikiyinka
Chief Medical Officer at Antag Therapeutics
Antag Therapeutics
Episode: Richard Nkulikiyinka, Chief Medical Officer at Antag Therapeutics, on Career Pivots, Trust and Why Leadership Is Never Linear
Markus Kosch
Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo
Daiichi Sankyo
Episode: Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch, Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo on Perseverance, Patient-Centricity Beyond Slogans, and Leadership within Oncology
Myriam Cherif
Founder of Kalyx Medical; ex-regional medical lead on oncology and emerging markets at GSK
Kalyx Medical; GSK (former)
Episode: Myriam Cherif, Founder of Kalyx Medical, on The Future of MSLs, Adapting to AI, and Why Curiosity Keeps You Moving Forward
Sven Van den Berghe
CEO of Pantera, radioisotope manufacturing and production
Pantera
Episode: Sven Van den Berghe, CEO of Pantera on Overpromises in Isotope Marketing, Why Culture is the Company, and Discussions in RLT Development

Host

Charles Spence
Host of the show

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#209
Sweden/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#211
Colombia/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch, Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo on Perseverance, Patient-Centricity Beyond Slogans, and Leadership within Oncology
Q: What does patient centricity mean and why does Daiichi Sankyo do this well?
He defines patient centricity as putting patients at the center of strategy and decision-making, involving patients and nurses in education and access programs, and building networks with patient advocacy groups. The company's long history, its ADC platform, and its commitment to access and collaboration across Europe illustrate how the mindset translates into action beyond slogans.
Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch, Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo on Perseverance, Patient-Centricity Beyond Slogans, and Leadership within Oncology
Q: Why did you decide to join the industry and how did you secure your first role?
Markus explains that personal experience with cancer motivated him to pursue oncology, that he found alignment with the patient perspective, and that opportunities in industry arose somewhat opportunistically when he was exploring larger impact beyond direct patient care. He emphasizes being open to opportunities and learning from them rather than following a strict strategic path.
Dena Grayson, MD, PhD, SVP Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics on Media Training, Communication within Biotech, and Dealing with Fake CVs
Q: Can you share a challenging lesson from a misrepresented resume you encountered?
A candidate fabricated multiple past roles; rigorous background checks revealed the deception. This reinforced the need for thorough verification and the value of asking incisive questions to test genuine expertise.
Dena Grayson, MD, PhD, SVP Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics on Media Training, Communication within Biotech, and Dealing with Fake CVs
Q: What practical interviewing advice would you give to junior hiring managers?
Prioritize gut instinct, assess how a candidate would fit day-to-day, and focus on candidates who ask thoughtful questions about the company and technology, as this reflects diligence and genuine interest.
Dena Grayson, MD, PhD, SVP Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Kyverna Therapeutics on Media Training, Communication within Biotech, and Dealing with Fake CVs
Q: What is one project or drug you were most proud of early in your career?
Dena cited her involvement with Repatha at Amgen as a pivotal achievement and highlighted her leadership in advancing El Rittercept at Kyverna Therapeutics as another source of professional pride, emphasizing team-based drug development and patient impact.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About A Dose of Reality

What is A Dose of Reality about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on leadership, career development, and practical navigation of complex biotech and clinical leadership challenges. Across recent episodes, listeners hear candid discussions with biotech executives, medical affairs leaders, and investors about fundraising, launches, team culture, and cross-cultural leadership in multinational settings. Notable throughlines include lessons from funding cycles, patient-centric strategy, and the human side of leadership—mentorship, hiring, psychological safety, and communicating science to broad audiences. The format often blends personal career pivots with strategic guidance, offering listeners concrete takeaways for advancing in biotech, pharma, and clinical leadership roles. The program appe... more

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A Dose of Reality launched 2 years ago and published 70 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on A Dose of Reality?

Recent guests on A Dose of Reality include:

1. Jens Lindberg
2. Hubert Truebel
3. Sampreet Ramachandra
4. Volker Wacheck
5. Dena Grayson
6. Richard Nkulikiyinka
7. Markus Kosch
8. Myriam Cherif

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