Lucka
Bibic
Head of Article Pipeline Management at Springer Nature
"From Spider Venom to Strategy: Why 'Career Zig-Zags' are Your Ultimate Leadership Advantage"
"From Spider Venom to Strategy: Why 'Career Zig-Zags' are Your Ultimate Leadership Advantage"
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Session: From Spider Venom to Strategy: Why 'Career Zig-Zags' are Your Ultimate Leadership Advantage
Society loves a neat, linear career story, but real life zigs and zags. We are often pressured to follow a single ladder, but in the volatile, data-driven world of modern leadership, that ladder is obsolete. My journey - from a pharmacist selling flu pills to a researcher milking spiders for venom, and later to product and leadership roles - taught me a lot about finding power in reinvention.I call this framework the "Integrated Expert." It is built on the three C’s (Curiosity, Courage, Creativity), using my counter-intuitive pivots as evidence. This session offers a powerful, analytical, and inspirational message for any leader who has felt confused or underestimated due to their non-linear journey. I'm here to offer the permission to truly own your path, and the actionable snacks you need to transform those zig-zags into the foundation for your most resilient and impactful leadership role.
Key Takeaways
- The Venom-to-Value Loop: Turn complex, obscure knowledge (your "venom") into immediate, measurable business value and strategy.
- Stop Climbing, Start Weaving: Get the three steps to ditch the career ladder and actively build your resilient "Integrated Expert" ecosystem.
- Weaponize the 3 C’s: Master Curiosity, Courage, and Creativity to unlock novel solutions and command visionary leadership.
- Your Chaos is Your Data Set: Reframe every "confusing" career pivot as unique, strategic data that makes you irreplaceable in the age of AI.
- Be the Alchemist: Adopt the "Leadership Lab" mindset to turn complex change into a continuous, imaginative experiment that fuels growth.
Bio
Lučka Bibič, PhD is a highly versatile leader, TEDx Speaker, and scientist who built her career on the belief that "career zig-zags" are a leadership advantage. Earning the nickname "Spiderwoman" for her groundbreaking research, Lučka successfully translated her deep scientific expertise into high-impact product strategy across digital health, ed-tech, biotech, gaming, and publishing. Today, she leads teams transforming the flow of scientific knowledge with data at Springer Nature. She views leadership as a continuous experiment and is here to show you how to use your own "leadership lab" to become the most resilient and imaginative leader in the room.