Bridging Silos and Strategy in Pharma Research with Shawn McKenna
May 20, 2025
How do you navigate the complexity of pharma research without losing strategic clarity? In this episode, Shawn McKenna, Senior Director of Analytics at Currax Pharmaceuticals, shares real-world lessons on team building, AI, and staying grounded in what truly matters: the human side of health insights.
What does it really take to lead successful pharma insights today?
In this episode of The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast, hosts Stephanie Vance and Matt Mahan talk with Shawn McKenna, Senior Director of Analytics at Currax Pharmaceuticals. Drawing from experience across the supplier and client side, Shawn dives into the critical junction of data science, primary and secondary research, and business strategy.
From overcoming siloed teams to navigating AI’s promises and pitfalls, this episode is a masterclass in thoughtful leadership. Shawn discusses what agile really means in pharma, how to structure integrated teams, and why creativity and curiosity are the most underrated tools in modern analytics.
If you work in life sciences, lead an insights team, or are rethinking your relationship with AI—this one’s for you.
Episode Resources
- Shawn McKenna on LinkedIn
- Currax Pharmaceuticals on LinkedIn
- Currax Pharmaceuticals Website
- Stephanie on LinkedIn
- Matt on LinkedIn
- The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on Apple Podcasts
- The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on Spotify
- The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on YouTube
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