Your technical skills might be perfect, but if you can't present them clearly, you won't get the job. Most scientists treat presentations like data dumps, and it costs them opportunities.

In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Tannenbaum, PhD, a presentation skills consultant with over 25 years as an industry pharmacometrician and leader. Stacey has coached scientists across biotech to move beyond overly technical talks and become visible, credible communicators who actually advance their careers.

What you'll learn:

-Why job talks are completely different from conference presentations (and what hiring managers are really evaluating)

-The biggest mistakes scientists make in presentations (dense slides, burying the lead, reading scripts, being monotone)

-How to handle interruptions and questions you don't know the answer to without losing credibility

-Practical techniques to add energy and clarity to technical presentations without dumbing down the science

-Why your slides need to stand alone after you present them (and how to make that happen)

-The one thing you must memorize before any high-stakes presentation

-How to know when you're giving the audience too much technical detail versus the strategic insights they actually need

Whether you're preparing for a job talk, presenting to leadership, or speaking at a conference, this episode will help you communicate your science in a way that opens doors instead of closing them.

Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community for scripts, practice drills, and feedback from peers navigating the same challenges

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

• MORE tips on communicating and presenting virtually
• Stacey's tips on communicating via Zoom/Video
• Watch another great interview with Stacy!
• Listen to another great podcast interview with Stacey!
• Connect With Stacey
• Stacey's Website

01:00 What pharmacometrics is and why it's a career path worth knowing about

05:00 How networking and volunteering at conferences can profoundly change your career trajectory

08:30 Why asking...

January brings fresh biotech hiring budgets, energized hiring managers, and real momentum after a tough 2025. If you've been waiting for the right time to level up your biotech career, this is it.

In this episode, you'll discover:

1. Why January is the best month to apply for biotech jobs after a slow December
2. How the December Networking Challenge helped members grow their LinkedIn reach and profile visibility
3. The Application Challenge launches January 6th with five days of live teaching to build daily job search habits
4. An annual career planning session on January 12th to map your 2026 goals
5. A presentation skills workshop that can accelerate both job offers and promotions
6. A 10-week AI course to help you work smarter and meet employer expectations in 2026
7. The Fire Horse approach to bringing bold, unstoppable energy to your career goals

Whether you're job searching, seeking a promotion, or building new professional skills, this episode gives you the roadmap and momentum to make 2026 your breakthrough year.

Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community and start the year with structure, support, and a community that gets it.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 Biotech hiring outlook for January 2026 and market momentum

00:30 Office updates and the community move to Skool platform

01:00 Seven Day Interview Accelerator and weekly Q&A with office hours

02:00 December networking challenge results and evergreen access

03:00 December interview challenges versus networking opportunities

04:00 January Application Challenge launch with five days of teaching

05:00 Annual planning session and presentation skills workshop details

06:00 Ten week AI course for automation and employer expectations

07:00 Fire Horse energy and setting bold intentions for career progress

Networking in biotech doesn’t have to feel awkward or transactional. In this episode, Carina shares how giving first is the simplest way to build authentic biotech networking on LinkedIn that actually leads to stronger relationships and better opportunities.

If you’re an introvert, early-career professional, or making a career change, this is your practical roadmap to connect with confidence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “give first” makes networking feel easier (and work better)
• How to add value even if you’re early in your career or switching fields
• What to say when you feel you’ve got nothing to offer
• The biggest outreach mistakes that make messages feel transactional
• Simple LinkedIn actions that build visibility and trust over time
• Insights from the Biotech Career Coach community’s December networking challenge (and what drove major reach growth)

Want support, templates, and challenges to stay consistent?

✅ Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community to connect with peers, access templates, and take part in challenges to grow your LinkedIn presence and your biotech network.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn!

Stay connected with us:

🌐 Website

📱 Facebook

📷 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

00:00 December networking challenge and results from the community

00:30 Why introverts struggle with networking and common fears

01:00 The psychology of giving first and why people enjoy helping others

02:00 Reciprocity as a natural instinct and how to nurture contacts

03:00 Building reputation by engaging meaningfully on the platform

04:00 You have more value than you think as an early professional

05:00 Strategic introductions and becoming a connector

06:00 Using PubMed and Google alerts to share relevant content

07:00 The power of genuine enthusiasm and gratitude

08:00 Networking is a long game that pays off over years

09:00 Tracking metrics and seeing platform reach grow

10:00 Common pitfalls to avoid when networking