The End of Solo Leadership: How Industry 4.0 is Changing the Game
The Life Science Effect
In this thought-provoking Active Ingredient episode, host Steve Vinson tackles a leadership paradigm that's challenging everything he thought he knew about accountability. Inspired by on breaking people silos, Steve dives deep into the tension between traditional "one person accountable" thinking and the emerging concept of shared accountability across teams. Drawing from his real-world experience designing process lane diagrams that keep spanning across departments, Steve explores why Industry 4.0 might be demanding a complete rethink of how we structure organizations. He examines the...
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Raul Zavaleta's Journey from UCLA to Life Science Legend
The Life Science Effect
Meet Raul Zavaleta, the visionary engineer whose innovations fundamentally transformed how clinical trials collect and process data. In this captivating conversation, Raul shares the incredible journey from UCLA graduate to co-founder of what became Covance - one of the world's largest clinical research organizations. Discover how a simple frustration with keypunch cards led to revolutionary solutions that reduced clinical trial data error rates from 39% to under 2% and compressed data cleaning timelines from six months to 48 hours. Raul reveals the story behind the Zavacor system, the...
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Active Ingredient - Alzheimer's Advancements
The Life Science Effect
In this episode, Steve reads and discusses an article by Jason Bork titled "Alzheimer's, a Disease to be Forgotten?," featured in the Indianapolis Business Journal's special supplement, Biofutures. Steve shares his off-the-cuff impressions and insights on Bork's article, which discusses the current state of Alzheimer's research, the challenges of clinical trials, and the progress made with recent FDA-approved drugs. He also reflects on the personal impact of Alzheimer's and the importance of ongoing research in Indiana. Tune in to hear Steve's thoughts and learn more about the advancements...
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Active Ingredient - Animal Health Attracting Capital
The Life Science Effect
This is the second installment of Active Ingredient. I read an article and answer a few questions about it. It's shorter than the regular episodes. I try to get to the key points of the article - the active ingredient. This episode is my off the cuff reaction to an article in the Indianapolis Business Journal by Daniel Lee, Animal-health startup BiomEdit advances poultry antibody, lands $20M in funding, grants. Here is a link to the article: Let me know what you think of the article and of my take in Active Ingredient. MUSIC: Acid Jazz-Kevin MacLeod used under the Creative Commons...
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Active Ingredient - European Bid to Attract Biotech
The Life Science Effect
Welcome to a new feature I am calling Active Ingredient. I read an article and answer a few questions about it. It's shorter than the regular episodes. I try to get to the key points of the article - the active ingredient. This episode is my off the cuff reaction to an article in Cure by Ryan Flinn called Europe Makes Bold Bid to Attract Biotech Amid FDA Uncertainty. Here is a link to the article: Let me know what you think of the article and of my take in Active Ingredient. MUSIC: Acid Jazz-Kevin MacLeod used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License TRANSCRIPT:...
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S2E8: Pharma in Flux: Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty and Manufacturing Momentum in 2025
The Life Science Effect
In this mid-2025 update, The Life Science Effect explores the latest trends in pharma and medical devices—from regulatory upheaval under RFK Jr. and Dr. Makary to continued momentum in U.S. drug manufacturing. Learn how industry leaders are navigating clinical trial delays, FDA uncertainty, and global GLP-1 market expansion. Full transcript: Hey, everybody. Steve again, welcome back to the Life Science effect. If you're listening in the future, which most of you probably are, this may once again sound prophetic or maybe like a time capsule from a moment of flux. Today's updates a...
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S2E7: Prophetic Musings. Navigating Uncertainty in Life Sciences
The Life Science Effect
Production Note: Since this episode was recorded, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was confirmed as the head of HHS. Steve didn't know that at the time but it was a pretty good bet, so the analysis holds up. In this topical episode of The Life Science Effect, Steve explores the uncertainties facing the life sciences industry under the new U.S. administration. He discusses the potential impact of leadership changes at HHS and the FDA, industry perspectives from Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks, and the significance of multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical manufacturing investments in the U.S. Through...
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S2E6: BPM's Commitment to DEIB is Unwavering
The Life Science Effect
In this timely and thought-provoking episode, Steve Vinson discusses the current landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the corporate world amid increasing political and business pushback. He reflects on recent headlines about major corporations rolling back DEI initiatives and contrasts that with companies like Costco and JP Morgan Chase, which are standing firm in their commitment to inclusiveness. Steve also shares BPM Associates’ perspective, reaffirming that DEI is more than just an initiative - it is a core value embedded in the company’s culture. He highlights how...
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S2E5: Denise Bachman, COO of BPM Associates
The Life Science Effect
In this episode of the Life Science Effect, host Steve Vinson interviews Denise Bachman, Chief Operating Officer of BPM Associates. Denise shares insights into BPM Associates, a life sciences consultancy known for its unique approach and core values. She discusses her journey as a project manager and the importance of building a supportive company culture. Denise emphasizes the significance of high-trust relationships and effective teamwork in achieving project success. She also recounts a challenging project experience, highlighting the impact of leadership and resistance to change on project...
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S2E4: Jeremy Opperman, Founder and Beating Heart of BPM Associates
The Life Science Effect
Steve Vinson interviews Jeremy Opperman, the founder of BPM Associates. Jeremy shares his journey from growing up in a small business environment to starting his own company, BPM Associates, which specializes in life science project delivery. He emphasizes the importance of quality and people-focused relationships in his business. Jeremy also discusses the challenges and successes of building BPM Associates over the past 10 years, with the support of his wife Amanda. The episode highlights Jeremy's intentional approach to business, his commitment to high-quality service, and the importance of...
info_outlineIn late 2021, the COO, founder, and CEO of BPM Associates gathered to do their annual planning. They decided that they needed a new vision statement that would resonate with their core ideology. They watched Simon Sinek's TED Talk on starting with "why" and realized that people don't buy from BPM or work for BPM because of what they do, but because of why they do it. They decided to focus on doing business with those who believe in their "why", even if it meant walking away from some opportunities. They wanted to create a company that attracted outstanding people and provided top talent for life science projects.