S3 E21, Katja Betts, CEO of PROGEN

In this episode of She Leads Biotech, Sharron Cox sits down with Katja Betts, CEO of PROGEN, one of Germany’s first biotech companies — now 40 years strong and still evolving.Katja’s leadership journey is anything but typical. From marketing to the boardroom, she now leads a 45-person team that partners globally with biotech giants like Thermo Fisher and Bio-Techne. But at the heart of it all? A deep commitment to precision, collaboration, and progress that lasts.They talk about:PROGEN’s mission to make gene therapy tools more accessible and scalableThe leadership mindset Katja brought from brand strategy to biotechWhy innovation doesn’t have to be loud to be boldGender and generational bias in biotech leadershipHow PROGEN is supporting clients around the world — without losing focusWhether you’re scaling a biotech company or building a career in life sciences, this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded take on leadership, growth, and impact.📌 Timestamps / Chapters00:00 – Meet Katja Betts & PROGEN’s history03:30 – From branding to biotech: Katja’s unconventional career path06:00 – What makes PROGEN different (and why clients stay 20+ years)09:00 – The mission: Making gene therapy better, together12:30 – Building tools that work without specialist equipment15:00 – Collaborating with Thermo Fisher, Bio-Techne, and more18:00 – Leadership in Germany: differences, networks, and gender dynamics22:00 – The weight of legacy and the power of steady progress25:00 – Advice for new leaders in biotech🎧 Listen now and share with someone building something with meaning.