Zuzana Kasanova
Etterbeek,Belgium
Summary
Dynamic professional with expertise in leadership development and stakeholder management, honed through the development and management of a large-scale innovation investment fund. Demonstrates proficiency in business forecasting, profit and loss analysis, and market analysis, leveraging business intelligence tools to drive performance metrics. Skilled in running accelerators, incubators, and leadership development programs, with a deep commitment to fostering equitable entrepreneurial teams and sustainable ventures.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Business Manager
KU Leuven Research & Development
Leuven
03.2023 - 05.2025
- Surfaced, scoped and guided biotech & medtech projects towards licensing or spin-off creation.
- Established and managed 100 million Innovation Investment Fund for flagship biomedical platforms of KU Leuven, including the procedures, operations and investment thesis.
- Achieved investment of 27 million into high-potential projects, which accomplished major scientific and business development milestones.
- Analyzed and applied biotech market trends for informed decision making.
Program Manager
KU Leuven Research & Development
03.2020 - 04.2023
- Designed and led accelerator program that supported 44 high-impact biomedical projects towards investment-readiness.
- Developed and managed 500.000 euro pre-seed fund to biomedical entrepreneurial teams accelerating towards spin-off creation.
- Curated a network of 30 Experts-in-Residence to provide advice on technical feasibility, business strategy, regulatory compliance and IP strategy to projects.
- Coordinated with different departments, ensuring seamless execution of projects.
- Collaborated with senior leadership, aligning project goals with corporate strategy.
- Established consensus across diverse stakeholder group for alignment with programme goals.
Post-doctoral researcher
KU Leuven, Center for Contextual Psychiatry & Department of Psychology, Comenius University Bratislava
Leuven
07.2016 - 03.2020
- Led research line on clinical implementation of digital monitoring platforms in mental health care.
- Supervised 8 doctoral and master students, lectured master-level courses at KU Leuven, Belgium; Comenius University, Slovakia; Masaryk University, Czechia.
- Authored over 40 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters on neuroimaging of stress and motivation.
Case Manager and Psychologist
Mondriaan Zorggroep
Maastricht, The Netherlands, The Netherlands
01.2013 - 12.2015
- Managed care and provided psychological support to individuals with severe mental disorders.
- Advocated for clients' rights, ensuring fair treatment and access to services.
Research Associate
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
01.2008 - 12.2010
- Performed brain imaging of stress and motivation processing in psychosis.
Clinical Assistant
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
01.2007 - 12.2008
- Provided behavioral therapy to children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Education
Joint doctorate degree - Biomedical Sciences
KU Leuven and Maastricht University
Leuven, Belgium & Maastricht, The Netherlands 01.2012 - 01.2016
Research master - Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience
Maastricht University
Maastricht, The Netherlands 01.2011 - 01.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, Maryland 01.2004 - 01.2008
Skills
- Trends in biotech and medtech
- Stakeholder management
- Business development
- Leadership excellence
- Business intelligence tools
- Business forecasting
- Profit and Loss Analysis
- Performance metrics
- Market analysis
- Coaching for professional growth
Languages
Slovak
Native
English
Fluent
Dutch
Advanced
Spanish
Advanced
Czech
Advanced
Affiliations
- Fitness and basketball
- Coaching and mentoring
- Urban gardening
- Volunteering with refugee organizations
Accomplishments
Speaker at TedX Trencin Salon 2023
Speaker at Inspiring Girls organization
TenU RISE Mentor
Profiled in a Slovak book They Succeeded Abroad, At home We (Don't) Know Them
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Business Manager
KU Leuven Research & Development
03.2023 - 05.2025
Program Manager
KU Leuven Research & Development
03.2020 - 04.2023
Post-doctoral researcher
KU Leuven, Center for Contextual Psychiatry & Department of Psychology, Comenius University Bratislava
07.2016 - 03.2020
Case Manager and Psychologist
Mondriaan Zorggroep
01.2013 - 12.2015
Joint doctorate degree - Biomedical Sciences
KU Leuven and Maastricht University
01.2012 - 01.2016
Research master - Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience
Maastricht University
01.2011 - 01.2012
Research Associate
University of Maryland School of Medicine
01.2008 - 12.2010
Clinical Assistant
Kennedy Krieger Institute
01.2007 - 12.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Maryland Baltimore County
01.2004 - 01.2008
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