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Feature|Podcasts|July 20, 2026

Hiring and Fostering Top Talent

Nuvation CEO David Hung discusses his leadership style, success stories for building camaraderie, and his inspiration for joining the pharma and biotech industry.

David Hung, president, CEO, and founder of Nuvation Bio, discusses his leadership style, emphasizing the importance of hiring top talent and fostering a strong company culture. He draws parallels between elite military teams and biotech teams, highlighting the need for bonding and cross-functional interaction. He then advises young biotech professionals to be objective with data and stressed the importance of a motivating, collegial culture.

  • He emphasizes the importance of making clear, best decisions for the company, which can affect many people, including patients.
  • The patient's death during medical oncology fellowship led David to decide he did not want to spend his career administering outdated treatments like chemotherapy.
  • David compares a biotech company to an organism, stressing the importance of cross-functional interaction and a cohesive team to achieve success.
  • David emphasizes the importance of company culture, drawing parallels between elite military teams and biotech teams, highlighting the need for bonding and connection among team members.

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