In this episode of The Life Sciences Leadership Show, host Michael Piperno sits down with Lauren Stevenson, Chief Scientific Officer, co-founder, and Head of Translational Sciences at Immunologic Laboratories.

Lauren shares her unique leadership journey—from her early days at the bench in academic labs to leading teams in the fast-moving world of biotech. Her path to the CSO role wasn’t linear, and that’s exactly what makes her story so compelling. Along the way, she’s learned that leadership isn’t just about results—it’s about how you communicate, how you grow, and how you bring others along with you.

Michael and Lauren dive into the critical role of communication in scientific leadership. They explore why data alone isn’t enough, and how audience-centric storytelling can elevate your message and your impact. Lauren reflects on her early skepticism about “soft skills” and how embracing management training helped her see leadership in a new light.

You’ll hear their candid conversation about:

• Why self-awareness is a leadership superpower
• How strengths-based leadership builds more resilient teams
• The importance of advocating for your team’s work—not just letting results speak for themselves
• Lessons learned from navigating the transition from scientist to executive
• How to ensure your message resonates with both scientific and non-scientific audiences

Whether you’re just starting your career or stepping into a senior leadership role, this episode is packed with real-world insights on growth, communication, and leading with intention in the life sciences.

The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of their employers.