In this episode of She Leads Biotech, I sit down with Elaine Hamm, PhD, scientist, founder, investor, wine bar owner, and Executive in Residence at Tulane University , for a refreshingly honest conversation about what really happens behind the scenes in biotech.
Elaine’s story is anything but typical: she started as a piano major, became a microbiologist (inspired by the film Outbreak, no less), and has since built, run, and shut down multiple biotech startups , gaining a reputation for her straight-talking, operations-savvy leadership along the way.
💬 “The startup bro life makes failure sound like a badge of honour… but no one talks about what it really feels like.”
We talk about:🔹 Her accidental pivot into science and how a burst appendix changed everything
🔹 What it takes to make hard calls, shut companies down, and start again
🔹 How she navigates fundraising bias as a woman in biotech
🔹 The difference between managers and leaders and why it matters
🔹 Her secret to building wine bars and biotech teams that actually work
This episode is a heartfelt, hilarious, and unfiltered look at what it takes to lead authentically — and why embracing failure just might be the secret to long-term success.
📌 Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Meet Elaine Hamm
01:00 – From piano major to microbiologist: the unexpected pivot
04:30 – Building startups in biotech... and in wine
06:00 – The hardest thing she’s ever done (and what it taught her)
09:00 – How failure shaped her leadership style
12:00 – Managing virtual teams as an introvert
16:00 – Talking about failure, fundraising, and female founders
23:00 – How to pitch (especially when you're not the default profile)
28:00 – Learning to storytell, and why it matters more than ever
30:00 – Hosting Bio from the Bayou and communicating science better
36:00 – Dog fostering, drug development, and finding your purpose
🎧 Listen now for a real-world masterclass in leadership, resilience, and unapologetic authenticity, from someone who's been through it all and still shows up with humour, heart, and a glass of wine.
#SheLeadsBiotech #ElaineHamm #WomenInSTEM #AuthenticLeadership #BiotechLeadership #FemaleFounders #StartupLife #ResilienceInBusiness #TulaneUniversity #CNAInternationalUSA
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.