In this episode of She Leads Biotech, Sharron Cox sits down with Katja Betts, CEO of PROGEN, one of Germany’s first biotech companies — now 40 years strong and still evolving.
Katja’s leadership journey is anything but typical. From marketing to the boardroom, she now leads a 45-person team that partners globally with biotech giants like Thermo Fisher and Bio-Techne. But at the heart of it all? A deep commitment to precision, collaboration, and progress that lasts.
They talk about:
PROGEN’s mission to make gene therapy tools more accessible and scalable
The leadership mindset Katja brought from brand strategy to biotech
Why innovation doesn’t have to be loud to be bold
Gender and generational bias in biotech leadership
How PROGEN is supporting clients around the world — without losing focus
Whether you’re scaling a biotech company or building a career in life sciences, this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded take on leadership, growth, and impact.
📌 Timestamps / Chapters
00:00 – Meet Katja Betts & PROGEN’s history
03:30 – From branding to biotech: Katja’s unconventional career path
06:00 – What makes PROGEN different (and why clients stay 20+ years)
09:00 – The mission: Making gene therapy better, together
12:30 – Building tools that work without specialist equipment
15:00 – Collaborating with Thermo Fisher, Bio-Techne, and more
18:00 – Leadership in Germany: differences, networks, and gender dynamics
22:00 – The weight of legacy and the power of steady progress
25:00 – Advice for new leaders in biotech
🎧 Listen now and share with someone building something with meaning.
