Being a Chief Medical Officer looks very different on the inside than it does from the outside. In this episode, Dr. Ed Tucker talks openly about what he’s learned after serving as CMO in companies big and small. He traces his path from large pharma training grounds to the unpredictable world of startups, and what that shift taught him about adaptability, trust, and resilience.
Along the way, Ed talks about:
- Carrying the pressure of being “the voice of the science” in front of investors and regulators, and why alignment with the CEO is non-negotiable.
- Building trust with KOLs and investigators so that confidence outside the company translates into motivation and problem-solving inside the team.
- Using the Target Product Profile as the anchor of the program—a reference point that keeps assumptions in check and the whole team aligned on what they’re building toward.
- Seeing safety as a strategic lever, not just an operational task, and how a stronger safety profile can become the reason a drug succeeds in a crowded market.
- Learning that resilience matters more than endurance, and why humility and curiosity are essential traits for any CMO.
- Relying on the CMO community and networks for perspective and support, especially when facing the inevitable setbacks in drug development.
This is not a formula or a checklist, but a set of lived lessons. What emerges is an honest look at the role from someone who’s still learning, even after a decade in the seat.
