S3 E13 Paula Soteropoulos , Chairman of the Board at Ensoma & Venture Partner @ 5AM Ventures

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, CEO Sharron Cox speaks with Paula Soteropoulos, a biotech leader whose career spans Genzyme, Moderna, and founding and leading Akcea Therapeutics from inception to IPO.With deep experience in rare diseases, drug development, commercialization, and board leadership, Paula reflects on how she built a career defined by curiosity, impact, and authentic leadership, and why she's now focused on bringing forward more accessible therapies for patients globally.Topics include:🔹 Her early days designing bioreactors and joining Genzyme during its most mission-driven era🔹 Taking Akcea public and launching two rare disease drugs across multiple countries🔹 How she scaled leadership teams, mentored the next generation, and made room for others to succeed🔹 Why she’s now investing time and energy in women’s health and accessibility in gene therapy🔹 The power of mentorship, board roles, and leading with purpose — not just performance📌 Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – From liberal arts to biotech: how Paula found the field02:00 – Joining Genzyme and discovering her leadership potential05:30 – Building Akcea: from spinout to IPO to drug launch08:30 – Fundraising and operational challenges in today’s market11:00 – Mentorship, sponsorship, and creating space for women14:00 – Serving on boards and the value of diverse leadership experiences18:00 – Building support systems and balancing family with career22:00 – Her current work with 5AM Ventures and Ensoma26:00 – Making gene therapy more accessible30:00 – On leadership, authenticity, and the importance of sharing your “why”This episode is packed with practical insights for biotech leaders at every stage, from first-time founders to seasoned executives navigating new chapters.#SheLeadsBiotech #CNAInternationalUSA #PaulaSoteropoulos #BiotechLeadership #RareDiseases #GeneTherapy #WomenInSTEM #MentorshipMatters #AuthenticLeadership #LifeSciences #DrugDevelopment #BoardLeadership #VenturePartners #Akcea #Ensoma