S3 E17, Jeanne Hecht, CEO & Chairwoman of Lexitas Pharma Services

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I sit down with Jeanne Hecht, CEO & Chairwoman of Lexitas Pharma Services, whose career spans global operations, clinical development, and private equity-backed growth — but whose leadership style is anything but cold and corporate.Jeanne gets real about the lessons she learned the hard way: the dangers of micromanagement, the beauty of asking for help, and why ego has no place in building something that lasts.We talk about:🔹 Her early career in clinical research and how she learned to “speak investor”🔹 Transitioning from doer to delegator — and how trust transformed her leadership🔹 The role of PE firms in shaping biotech strategy🔹 Her take on when founders should step back and bring in an operator🔹 What it means to lead with humility and consistency — especially as a woman in the C-suite💬 “A position of strength is when somebody understands they’re not in the right role — and they step aside so someone else can do it better.”📌 Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Meet Jeanne Hecht02:30 – From clinical trials to the business side of biotech05:30 – The evolution of her leadership style: from micromanagement to mentorship08:45 – How her team helps her lead better11:00 – Building Lexitas with a people-first culture14:00 – What investors are really looking for in leadership17:00 – Advice for scientist-founders: when to step aside20:00 – Gender, confidence, and owning the room23:30 – Winning “CEO of the Year” on a chaotic morning27:00 – The biggest lesson she’s still learning30:00 – Her advice to women moving into executive roles🎧 A must-listen for biotech leaders at every stage — grounded, generous, and refreshingly real.#SheLeadsBiotech #JeanneHecht #LexitasPharma #WomenInLeadership #ClinicalDevelopment #PrivateEquity #BiotechLeadership #LifeSciences #CNAInternationalUSA