S4 E15 - Connie Chang, Chief Operating Officer of ONL Therapeutics

Finding Your Path in Biotech with Connie ChangCareers in biotech rarely follow a straight line.In this episode of She Leads Biotech, we speak with Connie Chang, Chief Operating Officer of ONL Therapeutics, about a career that has spanned big pharma, academia, and emerging biotech, and how each step has shaped the way she leads today.Connie shares how early career decisions don’t always define where you end up, and why sometimes “the career picks you” rather than the other way around.We explore the reality of moving between very different environments, from highly structured global organizations to small, fast-moving biotech companies, and what it really takes to adapt and succeed in both.This conversation also highlights the importance of community throughout your career, the role academia plays in driving innovation, and the personal side of leadership, including navigating family decisions, career risks, and the pressure many women face as they progress into senior roles.A thoughtful and honest discussion on building a career, leading with intention, and continuing to grow, even when you’re already at the top.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:30 How Connie Found Biotech04:00 Harvard, Community, and Early Influences06:30 Big Pharma, Academia, and Connecting the Dots10:00 Taking Career Risks and Moving to Michigan14:30 ONL Therapeutics and the Mission Behind the Science18:00 What a COO Role Really Looks Like in Biotech20:30 Building Teams in Small Biotech23:00 Leadership Style and Creating Trust26:00 Adapting Across Cultures and Environments29:00 Women in Leadership and Career Progression32:00 Being the Only One at the Table35:00 Self-Doubt, Growth, and Resilience37:30 What’s Next for ONL and Connie#SheLeadsBiotech #BiotechLeadership #WomenInBiotech #LifeSciences #CNAUSAExecutiveSearch