In this episode, hosts Nate Beaver and Kyle Faget examine the tension between federal and state authority in healthcare regulation. They explore when the FDA has the final say—and when states step in, highlighting real-world examples and legal implications for companies, counsel, and innovators navigating this evolving landscape.

Ken Banta, founder and CEO of the Vanguard Network, is a recognized expert in leadership and organizational change. With a rich background as a journalist—covering pivotal events like the Eastern European revolutions for Time magazine—Ken transitioned into corporate leadership, helping guide major turnarounds at companies such as Pharmacia and Bausch & Lomb. His latest book, Seeing Around Corners, gathers lessons from top leaders and is designed to inspire everyone, from emerging professionals to global executives. Ken’s perspective on leadership is shaped by witnessing ordinary people drive extraordinary change, often guided by unexpected leaders like Vaclav Havel. These experiences reinforced his belief that leadership isn’t just for those at the top; anyone, regardless of background or title, can play a vital role. True leaders are consistent in their purpose, adaptable, and agile—qualities that matter as much in everyday life as in the boardroom. Ken’s key takeaway is simple: leadership is for everyone. Whether you’re leading a team or contributing as an individual, you can make an impact by being clear on your purpose, staying flexible in your approach, and staying connected to those around you. Embrace your own ability to lead and remember—often, the most lasting change comes from ordinary people stepping up in extraordinary ways.

In this episode of Your Partner In Success Radio, Denise Griffitts speaks with Ken Banta, a leadership advisor and founder of The Vanguard Network. Drawing on insights from his book Seeing Around Corners, Ken explains how leaders can navigate disruption and crisis while keeping their organizations aligned and resilient. The discussion highlights common mistakes executives make, the importance of communication, and how to anticipate change before it arrives. Listeners will gain actionable insights into making better decisions, strengthening their leadership presence, and guiding their teams through transformation.

Timothy Chow, managing director and senior advisor at Patrick Doerr LLP, visits the Vanguard Network to share practical uses for AI, including applications for corporate problem-solving.

Wes Adams is an organizational psychologist and author who studies what makes our work matter to us. Unsurprisingly, leadership has a lot to do with it.

Ryan McMullan, principal consultant at Lean Green Way, spoke with Vanguard about the evolution of sustainability in business, setting industry standards, and the importance of having patience.

Dr. Jeremy Collins, MD, is the director of medical services at Encompass Health. He shares how his prior career in ballet informs his leadership style today.

Aileen Gonsalves is an actor/director with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. She speaks with Vanguard about how this led her to a business consultancy.

Terry Szmagala is founder and principal at TGS Advisory and former executive vice president and chief legal officer for Eaton. He speaks to Vanguard about how companies can benefit from cultivating a more proactive relationship with the government.

In a turbulent era for biopharma, leadership demands clarity, resilience, and adaptability. In this candid podcast conversation with Pharm Exec, Ken Banta, founder and CEO of The Vanguard Network, shares high-level insights on what CEOs can do to thrive amid the disruption—from regulatory agility to cultural resilience. The corporate strategy expert explains why the best leaders are the best learners—and how prioritization, honesty, and boldness will separate those who merely survive from those who shape the industry’s future.

Just how valuable is the GC to the Board of Directors? Immeasurably, according to Deb Boyda. In fact, the GC holds the unique position of representing shareholder interests with a deep understanding of a business's inner workings. Listen to her insights into how a GC can become both trusted and invaluable to the Board.

In this episode of Unlocking Leadership we explore the imperative for C-suite leaders and boards to realign their strategies and operating models to respond to the evolving geopolitical landscape. A team of international experts from the EU, Washington, D.C. and China join us to discuss this and more, exploring how organizations can: - Create intelligence-gathering mechanisms and protocols that enable smart decision-making across increasingly divergent global markets - Cultivate strategic relationships that creates “buffers” and “accelerators” while recognizing the influence of non-traditional stakeholders - Protect corporate interests by balancing “America First” policies with global stakeholder expectations  Participants will gain insights into creating agile strategies that accommodate the reordering of international norms and alliances.

In a conversation with Skot Waldron, Ken Banta discusses the importance of community for C-suite leaders and the challenges they face in the current business landscape. He highlights the need for a safe environment where leaders can share ideas and problems with peers. Ken also addresses the challenges of managing the hybrid work environment and the importance of purpose and adaptability in leadership. He emphasizes the value of building trust by doing what you say you will do and aligning actions with values.

In the crowded life sciences market, a great product isn’t enough—branding is the real differentiator. In this episode, Michael Watras, CEO of Straightline, unpacks why CEOs must be the chief storytellers of their companies. He makes the case for branding as a strategic imperative, weaving together product value, team culture, and sustainability to win over consumers and investors alike.

Visionary leaders can't succeed if they don't bring their teams along for the ride. Change management expert John DiGiambattista talks about the importance of adapting leadership to a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) environment. For DiGiambattista, success lies in promoting adaptability, shared purpose, and a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for growth.

In this “golden age” of biotech, why is it so hard for so many companies to raise money? According to Nancy Lurker, former CEO of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, it comes down to a shortfall in communications skills. Listen to Nancy's practical advice for entrepreneurs, and hear why she remains optimistic about the future of healthcare innovation.

As the head of a branding firm, Skot Waldron often saw companies commission campaigns which they later discarded because of a shift in strategy. This led him to focus instead on corporate culture—helping leaders create alignment by developing their own personal brand.

For Dr. Jack Drescher, the problems caused by stress hark back to a much earlier period of human evolution, when “fight or flight” were the two basic ways to respond to a threat. The modern executive must adopt a different approach to anxiety—one that includes being willing to share these issues with others.

David King, the former CEO and Chair of LabCorp who now runs the Kingman strategic consulting services, analyzes the purpose and pitfalls of the CEO and Chair dynamic. Comparing the function of a Board Chair to that of a basketball backboard, King says Chairs should allow CEOs to bounce ideas off them. They may reframe or restate ideas, but recalling and dictating solutions is a no-no. The health industry legend advises CEOs to be decisive and be transparent at all times, stressing a lack of transparency is the number one threat to the relationship. Meanwhile, the Chair needs to be transparent, too, providing the CEO with their perspective on key corporate issues. Ideally, there should be no surprises on either side.

The "bad guys" as Jim Pastore, Partner with Debevoise and Plimpton, call them, are getting even badder with the advent of AI. Pastore, shared frightening trends in cyber attacks -- targeting leaders' children among them -- in a recent Vanguard Network GC Forum session.