In this episode of She Leads Biotech, Sharron Cox speaks with Beth San Segundo, CEO of OriGen Biomedical, a pioneering medical device company fueling innovation in cell and gene therapy.
Beth shares her remarkable journey from pre-med student and cleanroom technician to leading a 200-person company that helps patients walk away from cancer in durable remission. What began as “just a job” at her father’s company became a calling — and a leadership role she took on just as the world shut down.
She opens up about stepping into the CEO role before COVID, leading with empathy, and building a workplace where people are proud to come to work. Beth gets candid about culture shifts, communication through crisis, and what it means to lead a mission-driven, life-saving biotech business with curiosity at the core.
💬 “We can do hard things.”
This is a conversation about legacy, leadership, and building something that changes lives — from the inside out.
Chapters/Timecodes:
00:00 — Meet Beth San Segundo
Her early days in the cleanroom and how the company first started
03:00 — From Pre-Med to CEO
The long, winding road that brought her back to OriGen full-time
05:00 — Taking the Reins
How Beth became CEO (and what it was like working with her dad)
07:10 — Leading Through COVID
A baptism by fire — navigating crisis, team morale, and supply chains
11:00 — Communicating Through Chaos
Building trust with employees through transparency and empathy
13:30 — What OriGen Actually Does
“Tupperware for stem cells” and the impact of their medical devices
15:45 — Culture, Growth & Recognition
How OriGen grew from 3 to 200 employees — and why people stay
18:00 — Passion vs. Experience
Beth’s take on hiring, empowerment, and the power of curiosity
21:10 — The New Regime
What leadership looks like now and how the team rose to the challenge
23:15 — Empathetic Leadership in Practice
Celebrating wins, setting boundaries, and leading whole humans
26:30 — Advice for the Next Generation
Why curiosity and joy matter more than linear plans
27:50 — What’s Next for OriGen
New innovations on the horizon — and why Beth’s not done yet
Listen now to hear Beth’s honest, thoughtful, and inspiring take on leading through change, challenge, and impact.
#SheLeadsBiotech #BethSanSegundo #OriGenBiomedical #CellAndGeneTherapy #WomenInSTEM #BiotechLeadership #FemaleFounders #AuthenticLeadership #LifeSciences #SharronCoxStudio
