Building Successful Life Science Companies with Katrina Rogers

In this powerful episode of BioTalk Unzipped, Gregory Austin and Dr. Chad Briscoe sit down with Katrina Rogers, a 25-year life sciences veteran, biotech equity advocate, and founder of Evergreen Bioscience Innovation and Katrina Rogers Consulting. Katrina shares her compelling journey from Pfizer to pioneering innovation ecosystems and mentoring underrepresented biotech founders. They unpack the role of board governance, the funding gap for female founders, and how "showing your science" is critical for regulatory success. Katrina also warns of dangerous gaps in understanding between regulators and innovators and why we must protect our basic science infrastructure. If you've ever dreamed of launching a breakthrough therapy, leading a biotech, or making your idea count, this episode is for you.

00:00 Episode Preview & BioTalk Unzipped Introduction

03:09 Katrina’s Charity Highlight: 2nd Harvest (link below)

04:04 Defining Moment in Life Science

05:35 Launching a Consultancy: Overcoming Fears

07:12 Leadership Lessons

09:30 The Importance of Board Composition

13:08 NEW NEWS: The Case for Female Founders

18:04 Knowledge Gaps Between Founders and Regulators

20:23 The Impact of Regulatory Changes

21:32 The Direct Attack on Basic Scientific Infrastructure

25:57 Understanding Market Needs

29:36 The Role of Founders in Leadership and Navigating Leadership Challenges

34:00 The Most Common Mistake by Biotech Founders & What To Do

35:27 Katrina’s Scope & Delivering Unpleasant News

36:51 NEW NEWS: Understanding Tariffs and Drug Pricing

42:23 Empowering Big Ideas

45:26 Overcoming Systemic Barriers

47:24 Advice to My Younger Self

49:38 Proposing Changes to FDA Innovation Pathways

54:54 The Future of Innovation in Biotechnology

Katrina Rogers

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinarogers/

https://krogersconsulting.com/

Katrina’s Favorite Charity: 2nd Harvest (Food Bank) - https://2-harvest.org/

Dr. Chad Briscoe

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadbriscoe/

Celerion - https://www.celerion.com/

Gregory Austin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryaustin1/

Celerion - https://www.celerion.com/

NEW NEWS

Biotech a Bright Spot for Female Founders Amid DEI Pullback, https://www.biospace.com/business/biotech-a-bright-spot-for-female-founders-amid-dei-pullback?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Trump signals shift in drug import tariff policy

https://www.techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences/news/366622459/Trump-signals-shift-in-drug-import-tariff-policy

Quotables

"The world needs your big idea."

"Build trust and that will engender loyalty."

"You need to have a board already established."

"Show them your science."

"Be Specific and people can be incredibly generous with their time."

"Tariffs are incredibly blunt economic instruments."

"You should at least try to get it out there."

"Our culture has expectations that limit us."

"You have to drive that vision."

“Stop playing small - you’re meant for more.”

“Put the Visionaries with the Doers and you’re unstoppable!”

Takeaways

• Founders should evaluate their board members early in the process.
• Female founders are underrepresented but show higher returns on investment.
• Understanding customer needs is crucial for product development.
• Regulatory changes can create knowledge gaps for founders.
• Basic science is essential for innovation in drug development.
• Leadership challenges often stem from board dynamics.
• Problem-solving tools can help founders navigate challenges. The most common mistake is not doing enough discovery research.
• Building a network is crucial for early-stage entrepreneurs.
• People are generous with their time if you’re super specific about your need!
• Delivering unpleasant news is part of being a problem solver.
• Tariffs can disrupt supply chains and raise drug prices.
• Leadership roles require proactive vision and engagement.
• Cultural expectations can limit innovation and self-worth.
• Anyone can be an innovator with the right support.
• The skilled technical workforce is vital for future innovation.
• Passion drives significant advancements in biotechnology.