What happens when 3,500 staffers lose their jobs due to FDA layoffs, venture capital (VC) term sheets shrink, and AI drug-discovery startups raise $600 million rounds?
Executive recruiter William Holodnak (ex-Fidelity, global biotech headhunter) breaks down 2025’s wild hiring market—and how founders can still build A-teams.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Why the April-1 FDA layoffs could delay approvals—and open new career doors for ex-regulators.
- The three traits VCs demand in first-time biotech CEOs during a funding slump.
- How AI-driven platforms like Isomorphic Labs raised mega-rounds in a down market.
- Immunology’s surge and why oncology startups are pivoting.
- Board-level recruiting tactics that de-risk your Series B.
🎙️ Guest: William Holodnak | Founder and President of Occam Global
🔗 Connect with Bill: LinkedIn
📌 Chapters:
00:00 Intro
05:45 Cambridge—“the Florence of Biotech” origin story
08:20 FDA layoffs: threat or opportunity?
13:30 Biotech venture capital mood swings & funding checkpoints
18:00 What VCs really screen for in scientific founders
25:05 The “horses for courses” CEO model explained
33:00 Hot therapeutic areas: AI drug discovery, immunology, repurposing
38:30 Why boards need operators, not just investors
47:00 Career improvisation: William’s closing advice
For transcripts, check out the podcast website - www.lifesciencespod.com
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