The Goddess of Healing: Scaling a Biotech Spinout with Soumya Palliyil

About this episode

In this episode, Dr. Brenda Hector interviews Soumya Palliyil about her journey in leading a biotech spinout focused on developing treatments for invasive fungal infections.

How do you transition from a decade in a research lab to leading a high-stakes biotech company? In this episode, Dr Brenda Hector talks with Soumya Palliyil , the CEO and co-founder of Brigid Bio , a brand-new spinout from the University of Aberdeen. Soumya shares the journey of developing novel treatments for life-threatening invasive fungal infections—a field where mortality rates can reach a staggering 80%. We dive into the "long-haul flight" of drug development, the necessity of impact investors, and why your most valuable asset is the network you build over 20 years. Key Takeaways: The Mission of Brigid Bio: Developing monoclonal antibody therapies to treat deep-seated fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. The "3 Ps" of Scaling: Soumya’s formula for business success: Passion , Perseverance , and People . Authentic Leadership: Why Soumya rejected the stereotypical "CEO mold" to lead with her own approachable and genuine personality . The Funding Journey: Navigating the complex world of non-dilutive funding, grants, and specialist investors . Global Impact: Why Brigid Bio is focused on addressing health disparities in the global south. About Our Guest: Soumya…

People in this episode

Host: Brenda Hector

Guest: Soumya Palliyil

Topics covered

• biotechnology
• drug development
• leadership
• funding
• health disparities

Keywords

• biotech
• monoclonal antibodies
• impact investors
• CEO leadership
• health disparities

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Brigid Bio, University of Aberdeen

Places: Scotland

More episodes of Scale Her Up: Female business stories and expert tips for business growth and success

• The Ripple Effect: Mindset, Leadership and Scaling with Purpose — with Julie McCann · June 12, 2026 · 34 min
• From Dream to Ice Cream: How Jules Fleming Turned Intuition Into a Thriving Business · June 8, 2026 · 40 min
• Two Founders, Six Boys, and One Shared Mission: Scaling Flexibly with Lisa Gallagher and Nikki Slowey · June 5, 2026 · 37 min
• Killing the Monster Business: Finding the Courage to Exit with Oyin Adekola · June 2, 2026 · 45 min
• Beyond Box-Ticking: Driving Commercial Growth Through Social Value with Sarah Stone · May 28, 2026 · 39 min
• Walking Away from "Success": Pivoting to Avoid Burnout with Iska Walter · May 25, 2026 · 35 min