“Older coworkers can be a voice of reason and bring stability—yet that value is underestimated far too often.”
In this episode, I talked with Dr. Carl Deutsch, Chief Scientific Officer at NBE Therapeutics, where he shared about his path from chemistry into pharma and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Carl recalls how difficult it was to secure his first role when jobs were scarce, the pressure of multiple interview rounds, and how a non-linear career path led to both opportunities and doubts about fitting the expected mold.
He discussed the differences between biotech and big pharma cultures, what it means to lead in a “cultural sandwich” role, and why accountability and agility look different depending on the environment. Carl also spoke about age bias in hiring, the importance of curiosity during interviews, and the kind of toxic hiring process that made him withdraw his application early in his career.
He explained why he looks for “band members” instead of “rock stars” when building teams, how character matters more than buzzwords or tick-box credentials, and why blinded CVs often miss the real story behind a candidate. And, in a lighter moment, Carl answered a series of quick-fire questions—from his habit of quoting movies, to the kinds of conversations he avoids, to the advice he’d give to someone starting out in the industry.
Here’s What You’re In For
- How Carl secured his first pharma role when jobs were scarce
- The benefits and challenges of a non-linear career path
- Why networking often matters more than a “tick-box” CV
- The differences between biotech and big pharma cultures
- How to interview for accountability and character, not just buzzwords
- Why age bias overlooks valuable experience
- The story of a toxic interview that pushed Carl to walk away
- Why he hires “band members” instead of “rock stars”
- Why blinded CVs fail to capture the real story behind a candidate
- Quick-fire insights: movie quotes, bad habits, and career advice
Timestamps
02:20 – Scarcity and the First Job Hunt
05:10 – Non-Linear Careers and Self-Doubt
07:00 – The CV Tick-Box Trap
14:00 – Leading in a Cultural Sandwich
17:00 – What Biotech Culture Really Means
20:00 – Hiring for Accountability and Fit
23:00 – Age Bias in Pharma Hiring
30:00 – Band Members vs Rock Stars in Building a Team
32:00 – Why Blinded CVs Miss the Story
33:30 – Quick-Fire: Movie Quotes, Habits, and Career Advice
About Carl
Dr. Carl Deutsch, Chief Scientific Officer at NBE Therapeutics. A chemist by training, Carl earned his PhD in Dortmund, Germany, and went on to broaden his scientific horizons in the U.S. and Japan. He later added a business edge to his profile with an MBA from Mannheim Business School and ESSEC Paris.
Carl played a key role in the development of Mercks first in-house antibody-drug conjugate, M9140, and also helped drive innovation as an intrapreneur, launching an award-winning project under Merck Life Science. Since 2022, he has been leading scientific strategy at NBE Therapeutics.
Outside the lab, Carl has a creative side, he once took the stage as a member of an acting group and joining wild podcasts like mine.
Connect with Carl:
About NBE Therapeutics
- Founded in 2012 and based in Basel, Switzerland, NBE-Therapeutics focuses on developing best-in-class oncology treatments to increase survival and improve quality of life for cancer patients worldwide.
- The company utilizes a proprietary ADC platform, which includes site-specific SMAC™ conjugation technology and a novel ultra-potent anthracycline-based toxin platform, to develop targeted medicines that can reduce or eradicate tumors.
- In 2020, NBE-Therapeutics was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim for €1.18 billion, integrating into Boehringer's oncology research strategy.
- NBE Therapeutics: https://nbe-therapeutics.com/
- Pipeline: https://nbe-therapeutics.com/pipeline
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.
