Fit Minded Inc

Someone told me their company’s science wasn’t showing effects. They brought the issue to their CEO who said they didn’t care. My jaw dropped a little. You run a company, you say you want to solve a problem, but it may not be working, and you don’t care? Clinicians who deal with health issues are held to incredibly high standards to make sure they’re providing the best care possible- care that actually works. They’ve got oaths, codes of ethics, review boards, licensures. But what kind of standards are there for startups that deal with health issues? The naked truth is this: for now, the only standards are the ones we are morally obliged to uphold. I believe it’s moral to make sure that your product does the thing you tell your customers it will do. This is where science steps in. As scientists, it’s our job to be honest and help solve problems. If the company does not see an impact in what it’s selling as a solution, it’s our job to identify the problem and help find a solution. But that requires a specific kind of scientist. Scientists who can solve these deeply embedded product issues are those who aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone and have difficult conversations with the Chief Product Officer or the CEO. They’ll have to be patient and know that with continued testing and iterations, they’ll see movement. They’ll also need to be passionate enough to keep going and keep trying. And if they’re stuck, they’ll need to be humble enough to ask other scientists in and outside their field for help solving the problem. No one wants to see results like from their product- but the answer isn’t to ignore it. It’s also not to panic. Call a scientist. It’s not just what’s best for your company, it’s the right thing to do. #IndustryScience #StandardsInHealthcare #FractionalCSO 

When does a company need to bring in a full-time CSO? Do they need one right away, or is there another way to integrate science into their strategy? My experience is that, rather than paying for a full-time CSO, growing companies can do better by hiring early career scientists and hiring me as the fractional CSO. The scientists work full-time for the company, and I provide oversight, strategy, and mentorship. In fact, this approach has worked wonders for four companies in the past year. Here’s why: 1. Reduced Stress for the CEO: I handle the science strategy and team leadership, meeting with leadership weekly to discuss progress and goals. This allows the CEO to focus on other major aspects of the business. 2. Mentorship and Training: Even the strongest scientists need guidance to balance their scientific perspective with industry needs. I mentor them to think more strategically about industry applications, helping them learn what they need to know to fuel company growth. 3. Strategic Use of Data: I work with companies' existing science teams to think about science more strategically. This involves leveraging existing data for cross-functional and marketing purposes and identifying new data collection opportunities. 4. Flexibility and Growth: The fractional CSO model allows companies to benefit from high-level scientific expertise without the immediate need for a full-time CSO. It’s a scalable solution that grows with the company. A recent real-world success: A client had grown to a complete science team, and I continued to collaborate with their Directors of Science, Marketing, Sales, and more. We explored new ways to use their data and identified gaps in their data collection processes. With an open team willing to work shoulder-to-shoulder, the results were incredible. For now, this fractional model works perfectly for many companies. It provides the strategic oversight they need without the overhead of a full-time CSO. Curious how this could work for your company? Let’s talk about how we can integrate science into your strategy. #FractionalCSO #IndustryScience #Leadership

No one will care about your findings unless you can convey them in a way that makes them care. That’s what makes science communication so tricky, especially when you’re trying to make your findings accessible to a broader audience. I worked with a scientist at a client company who was struggling with this. She was writing findings like she would for a university setting – brilliant, but overly complicated and full of jargon. The (critical) message was getting lost in the weeds I told her, “Instead of just writing the science, ask yourself: What’s the take-home message here? What’s the value?” For example, instead of saying, “Those who use our app more often are likely to have less anxiety than those who use our app less often,” simplify it to, “Use it more; feel less anxious.” Or, instead of saying, “We found that people who use it in the morning had a regular habit versus those who used it at night,” just say, “We recommend meditation in the morning.” The key is to strip away the extra words. Keep it clear and actionable. If your data shows that regular use improves sleep, say, “Use this regularly for better sleep.” You can always cite a recent report or study to back it up. Remember, in the business world, clarity is power. The goal is to make the information actionable and easy to understand. Your audience will thank you. #ScienceCommunication #DigitalHealth #FractionalCSO

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This week, we’re sending out our Q2 edition of our quarterly newsletter. This newsletter explores the ways that we are using science to intersect with the business world. In this issue, you’ll find segments on: 👉 Thought leadership key highlights 👉 Client spotlight 👉 New Publications 👉 The importance of laughter If you aren’t already a subscriber, you can sign up here https://lnkd.in/gE52Yvax to receive this edition straight to your inbox. I look forward to continuing to share our stories and insights about the fusion of science, business, and innovation! #Newsletter #ScienceInBusiness

Why not just be a consultant, where I could make the same amount of money but for less intensive tasks? Because I love getting my hands dirty. Recently, a CEO I spoke with appreciated my approach so much that he reached back out after a year of pivoting his product. He liked that I wasn’t just “consulting”; I was ready to build the science strategy alongside them, aligning with their new direction and potential investments. With a fractional CSO role, I get to dive deep into companies and build science strategies in real-time, instead of just delivering one-off projects. I can actually get to know the company — what I call “getting under the hood.” Understanding business objectives, organizational structure, customer lifecycle, market dynamics, and the decisions they need- that’s what I love. I don’t want to be disconnected from the mission and the team. I want to be part of the crew, working hard for the company like an employee (only fractional). Of course, a consultant can do a project or a survey, and it may be less costly in the moment but not in the long run. Often, what CEOs think they need for science becomes realigned once I do my due diligence and we work together to strategize. For you, hiring a fractional CSO over a consultant means getting someone who is truly invested in the company’s success, who will be there every step of the way, building and executing the strategy in real-time. For me, it means getting into the weeds of what you need to succeed and doing the work right alongside you. Win/win. #FractionalCSO #IndustryScience #Startups 

We're #hiring! Know anyone who might be interested? We are growing and looking for our next Part-Time Research Scientist Intern. Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/ehXk3s9q

It bothers me when leaders ignore scientific advice. And it's not an ego thing for me – I just hate seeing companies I care about face unnecessary hurdles. From my real-life experience, here's the actual cost of ignoring experienced industry scientists: 🚫Losing partnerships, clients, or investors for lacking your own data or science. 🚫 Bugging customers with questions that don’t yield usable insights. 🚫 Failing to prove your product’s claims. 🚫 Missing the need to pivot, thus taking your product in the wrong direction. 🚫 Losing marketing and sales opportunities. 🚫 Struggling to differentiate your product. 🚫 Spending money unnecessarily. 🚫 Having an unclear narrative or story. 🚫 Missing chances to use data for research and sales. 🚫 Likely needing to backtrack and start what you should have initially. Skipping scientific input risks more than temporary setbacks. It endangers your startup's trajectory. Please don’t hire scientists just to ignore us. We really do know how to help. #FractionalCSO #Startups #Science

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