What does it take to bring patient-focused values into the real decisions that shape drug development, especially when you're moving fast, working lean, and under pressure to deliver? 

In this episode, host Kim Kushner speaks with Victoria Oswald, Vice President at SSI Strategy, about how biotech teams can start small but think deliberately when embedding patient input and cultural intent into early-stage development. 

Together they explore: 

• Why even basic decisions in Phase I, like assessment burden or endpoint design, should reflect patient relevance, not just regulatory safety 
• How teams can integrate patient perspectives without large budgets or formal infrastructure 
• The tension between doing what’s feasible now vs. setting up for long-term alignment 
• The role of internal culture in shaping how development teams prioritize, communicate, and make trade-offs 

Drawing on her work across gene therapy, rare disease, and oncology, Victoria highlights how early engagement, shared mindset, and cross-functional awareness can help even lean teams avoid rework and stay focused on what truly matters. 

This episode offers insight for biotech leaders and clinical teams working to connect patient priorities with real-world development choices from the start.