"It was only chemotherapy back then. My father passed away just three months after diagnosis."
In this episode, Charles is joined by Heidi Wang, CEO of OBI Pharma and Chair of OBIGEN, who shares her powerful story, from losing her father to cancer while raising two children, to leading oncology drug approvals at BMS, and now, building out an ADC pipeline in biotech.
Heidi opens up about the pressures of leading during personal tragedy, how BMS supported her through it, and why she now builds teams around values like authenticity and innovation. This episode is equal parts personal and professional, offering rare insight into what true leadership looks like, especially in biotech.
Here’s what you’re in for:
- The life-changing moment that shaped her career in oncology drug development
- Why staying at BMS for 30 years wasn’t planned
- What it felt like to lose her father to stomach cancer, and how it shaped her purpose
- A behind-the-scenes look at OBI’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform
- The real reason most hiring goes wrong—and how to prevent it
- What authenticity looks like in interviews (with stories from Stanford PhDs to Shanghai branding workshops)
- Cultural nuances in humility—and why leaders must adapt their expectations
- The single most important question she asks every candidate
- When not to hire—even if your team is “too busy”
- The red flag she spots in interviews that always makes her pause
TMI Segment:
- Coffee intake? Hint: Usual number for a regular coffee drinker
- Hidden gem in Taiwan? Hint: You see it every day, do not think too much.
- Favorite book? Hint: It has something to do with “Hidden”
- Most grateful for? Hint: POV of a good leader
- Can’t guess the answer? Listen to the episode to find out.
Timestamps:
01:56 – How Losing Her Father to Cancer Shaped Her Life's Work
04:53 – “It Was Only Chemotherapy Back Then”—Facing the Limits of Treatment
06:34 – What 10,000 Stomach Cancer Patients Meant to Her
08:45 – Would She Have Quit BMS If They Didn’t Support Her?
10:21 – Why She Joined OBI and Her Vision for ADC Innovation
13:34 – What She Really Looks For When Hiring
15:34 – The Arrogance Trap in Interviews
17:16 – Humility vs. Branding: Hiring Across US and Asian Cultures
20:20 – The Worst Outcome of Rushed Hiring
22:50 – When You Don’t Need a Hire
25:40 – Quickfire Questions
About Heidi
Dr. Heidi Wang is the CEO of O-B-I Pharma and Chairman of OBIGen, a biotech specializing in oncology. With nearly 30 years of experience in drug development and regulatory affairs, Heidi has led approvals for immuno-oncology and antiviral drugs globally. O-B-I Pharma has a unique pipeline of ADCs and cancer immunotherapies of which we will learn during the episode.
She holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology and completed postdoctoral training in cancer biology. She also mentors and teaches extensively - rarely accepting payment personally and always donating to charity instead, love that. She has kindly donated her time here, welcome.
Connect with Heidi:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiwang/
About OBI Pharma
- OBI Pharma focuses on developing innovative cancer therapies, particularly antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotherapies.
- The company operates globally with subsidiaries in the United States and Australia, aiming to bring first-in-class and best-in-class drugs to market.
- The company's pipeline includes multiple ADCs targeting various cancers, such as OBI-999, OBI-992, and OBI-902.
- OBI Pharma has developed proprietary ADC platforms, including GlycOBI® and ThiOBI™, to enhance the efficacy and safety of its therapeutics.
- OBI Pharma: https://www.obipharma.com/
- Pipeline: https://www.obipharma.com/what-we-do/pipeline-overview/
- OBIGEN: https://www.obigenpharma.com/
About me
My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.
In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.
Connect with me:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
- Website: https://www.discera-search.com/
Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.
