Beginner's Mind
Blueprints for Builders and Investors
Hosted by Christian Soschner
From pre-seed to post-IPO, every company—especially in deep tech, biotech, AI, and climate tech—lives or dies by the frameworks it follows.
On Beginner’s Mind, Christian Soschner uncovers the leadership principles behind the world’s most impactful companies—through deep-dive interviews, strategic book reviews, and patterns drawn from history’s greatest business, military, and political minds.
With over 200 interviews, panels, and livestreams, the show ranks in the Top 10% globally—and is recognized as the #1 deep tech podcast.
With 35+ years across M&A, company building, board roles, business schools, ultrarunning, and martial arts, Christian brings a rare lens:
What it really takes to turn breakthrough science into business—how to grow it, lead it, and shape the world around it.
🎙 Expect each episode to deliver:
- Founder & Investor Blueprints: How breakthrough technologies scale from lab to IPO
- Historical & Biographical Frameworks: Timeless playbooks from the world's great builders
- Leadership & Communication Mastery: Tools to inspire, persuade, and lead at scale
Whether you're building the next biotech success, investing in AI, or leading a climate tech company through hypergrowth—this podcast gives you the edge.
Listen in. Apply what matters. Build companies that last.
📬 Join the newsletter & community: https://lsg2g.substack.com/
Beginner's Mind
#76: Rich Masters - How the Pandemic Changed the Conference Industry - Bio US 2022 in San Diego
How Did the Conference Industry Change in the last two years?
Philadelphia in 2019 was the last Bio I attended in person. In March 2020, the world shut down to respond to the novel viral threat. Since then, all conferences have been digital.
What effect did this have on the conference Industry – especially the Bio US? Listen to Rich Masters, Chief Public Affairs and Marketing Officer of Bio.
As EVP for Public Affairs, Rich Masters leads integrated communications, branding, and marketing strategy for the organization, including overseeing the policy communications that support the advocacy goals across each of BIO’s sections.
What are the topics we discuss in this episode?
- What are Bio and the Bio US 2022?
- How Did the Conference Industry Respond to the Lockdowns?
- The Availability of Capital for Innovation
- Entrepreneurship in the United States and
- What’s New at the Bio US 2022
📚 The Emperor of All Maladies
📰 Article: Medium
🎙️ Youtube: https://youtu.be/vIlzrV-nmxc
Register today: https://www.bio.org/events/bio-international-convention/registration
🕒 Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(01:36) Who is Rich Masters
(02:54) What is Bio?
(03:30) Opening
(04:30) How is The Situation in the United States with the Pandemic These Days?
(05:40) How did the Pharma Industry Respond to the Global Viral Threat?
(06:00) How did BIO Help Solve the Biggest Healthcare Challenge in the last 2 years?
(08:33) What Is Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (BIO)? It is not only the Bio US.
(12:10) How is the Availability of Capital for Biotechnology Product Development in the United States?
(14:20) What Are The Bio Business Solutions and how does it help SMEs?
(15:43) Is a BIO Membership for US Companies Only, Or is it Open for European and Asian Companies?
(17:40) Entrepreneurship in the United States for Bio Product Development
(18:24) Where are the Bio Hotspots in the US?
(19:15) The Different Sides of BIO
(20:15) Big Trends in Bio in 2022
(26:20) What A Convention Model Looks Like in a Post Pandemic World
(31:35) Taking the Best of Two Worlds - New On-Demand Service – All Panel Discussions, Presentations, and Speeches in One Digital Space
(33:35) Bio Impact in Omaha, Nebraska
(36:05) Are Digital Conferences a Replacement for Real-Life Versions?
Add on Services at the Bio:
(40:00) The Midway Experience in San Diego
(41:00) I am Bio
(42:05) Bio US Podcast – I am Bio
(42:30) Good Day Bio
(42:45) Bio.News
(44:25) Challenges for Conference Organizers that Came with March 2020
(41:30) How Bio Helps their Members to Overcome Challenges Ahead Especially the SMEs
(55:35) Side Events at The Bio to Meet and Mingle with the Industry
(58:25) Limitless - Rich Masters – See You on June 13-16 in San Diego to Celebrate the Work of Scientists
Podcast Links:
Community Partner: https://linktr.ee/lsg2g
Christian Soschner: https://linktr.ee/soschner
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