Ep019 - Peggy Sotiropoulou: Mythbusting Biotech Industry: Insights from a CSO

Science on Trial [and Error]

What does a CSO of a biotech company do on a day-to-day basis? How much truth lies behind the common stereotypes about working in the biotech industry? What can make you stand out as a candidate for a biotech industry job?

Step into the dynamic world of biotech with our latest episode as we debunk common myths and uncover the realities of working in this vibrant industry. Our guest is Peggy Sotiropoulou, an accomplished cancer immunology researcher from Greece. Currently, she holds the position of Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at T-Knife Therapeutics. Few years ago, Peggy decided to leave her tenured academic position of Research Associate Professor and make the leap to the industry.

In our conversation, she explained what was most relevant in her informed decision process and how she explored the different options. Peggy shares her insights on what it truly means to be a CSO, revealing the intricacies of developing scientific strategies and navigating the hiring process. She candidly provides her invaluable insights and advice presenting the unique benefits and opportunities that the biotech industry offers, both for scientific research and professional growth.

In this engaging conversation, Peggy and Kasia explore the nuances of transitioning from academic research to the industry world, shedding light on the lessons academia can learn from biotech. From Peggy's unexpected beginnings as a travel magazine writer to her current role as a leader in biotech, her story is a testament to ambition, resilience, and foresight. But our discussion doesn't stop there. Stay tuned as we explore Peggy's insights on women in leadership roles, the future of the therapeutic industry, and even touch upon our favourite Greek filmmaker. Join us as we journey through Peggy's remarkable career and gain a deeper understanding of the biotech landscape. Get ready for an episode packed with insights and inspiration you'll be glad you didn't miss. Enjoy and welcome Peggy Sotiropoulou!

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Find Peggy on LinkedIn⁠.

Peggy Sotiropoulou obtained her PhD degree at Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center in Athens, Greece. She then progressed through 2 postdoctoral positions moving from Athens to Brussels spanning short 4 years. After that she secured a tenured position of Research Associate Professor at FNRS (Funds for Scientific Research) in Brussels leading a team investigating Cancer initiation, growth and resistance to therapy. However, she decided to leave her academic position and transitioned to industry. Spending 3 years at Celyad Oncology, she swiftly ascended from R&D Manager to the role of Head of R&D. Today she is the Chief Scientific Officer CSO at T-Knife Therapeutics, a biotech company dedicated to pioneering novel cancer therapeutics, particularly supercharged TCR-Ts T-cell receptor therapies.

Peggy’s movie recommendation: movies of Yorgos Lanthymos

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If you would like to support the Podcast, you can buy me a coffee ⁠here⁠ - Thanks :)

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Music and Sound Engineering: Lukasz Kowalski