Turning Science Into Innovation: Shara Ticku on Building A Sustainable Future

What does it take to build a company that can transform an industry while creating a more sustainable future? In this episode of The Femme Forward, host Amanda Glen Smith sits down with Shara Ticku, co-founder and CEO of C16 Biosciences, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, and leadership.Shara shares the story behind C16 Biosciences and its mission to develop alternatives to palm oil, one of the world’s most widely used ingredients and a major driver of deforestation. The conversation explores how biotechnology can help create more sustainable ingredients, what it takes to turn a scientific breakthrough into a scalable business, and the challenges and opportunities that come with building a company around climate-focused innovation.Amanda and Shara also discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, taking risks, and what it means to build a career while tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges.In this episode, you’ll learn:What inspired Shara Ticku to co-found C16 BiosciencesHow biotechnology can create sustainable alternatives to palm oilWhy replacing traditional ingredients can have a broader environmental impactWhat it takes to turn scientific innovation into a viable businessThe challenges of building and scaling a sustainability-focused companyLessons in leadership, entrepreneurship, and navigating uncertaintyHow women leaders are helping shape the future of innovation and business