James Kusena

|Startup Operator | Ex-VP Operations Biotech Deeptech | Coach & Mentor | EDI Advocate | Founder of RE:Works

London, United Kingdom (+00:00 UTC) Englishfrom London, United Kingdom
Usually responds in 13 hours
Free
Price per hour
30 min
Time Blocks Available
5.00
3 reviews / 5 sessions
Tue
14
Next availability

Bio

I help early-stage founders, spinouts and startup operators turn complexity into clearer strategy, stronger narratives and more scalable operating foundations. My background sits at the intersection of startup operations, product ownership, biotech translation, leadership and organisational design. I was employee #1 and later VP Operations & Product Owner at a venture-backed biotech startup, where I helped build the company from early foundations through fundraising, team growth, product development, quality systems, operational infrastructure and investor-facing work. I work with founders at different stages of the journey. For very early startups, spinouts and technical teams, I can help clarify the proposition, shape the investor narrative, identify operational gaps, prepare for funding conversations and translate complex work into a more commercially credible story. For growing teams, I help diagnose what is creating friction: too many priorities, unclear decision-making, weak delegation, founder overload, messy internal systems, or ways of working that no longer support the stage the company is entering. I bring a practical operator lens, not abstract advice. My work is about helping you understand what matters, simplify what is getting in the way, and build the clarity, systems and confidence needed for the next stage of growth.

Expertise

  • Building a team

    I help early-stage founders, spinouts and scaling teams think through the team they actually need for the next stage. This includes role clarity, founder responsibilities, capability gaps, first hires, delegation, accountability and early team structure. Useful if you are moving from doing everything yourself to building through others without adding complexity too early.

  • Career guidance

    I support people navigating career inflection points, especially across science, startups, leadership, consulting, entrepreneurship or portfolio careers. I can help clarify direction, strengths, story, opportunities and next steps. This is especially useful if you have complex experience and need to translate it into a clear, credible and energising next move.

  • Leadership

    I help founders, first-time managers and operators develop the leadership habits needed as the company grows. This can include clearer communication, expectations, accountability, delegation, difficult conversations and team dynamics. I bring both operating experience and coaching skills, so the focus is human, practical and commercially grounded.

  • Mindset coaching

    I support founders and leaders with the internal side of building and leading, especially where uncertainty, self-doubt, fear of failure, perfectionism or over-responsibility affect decision-making. This is not abstract motivation work. It is practical support to strengthen judgement, rebuild confidence and take clearer action on what actually matters.

  • Operations

    I help founders create clearer operating foundations, from early venture formation through to scaling. This can include narrative clarity, investor readiness, operational gaps, priorities, workflows, meetings, decision-making, delegation and accountability. My lens is practical and operator-led: what is unclear, what is creating friction, and what needs to be simplified or built next.

  • Venting frustration

    I offer a grounded sounding board for the messy and frustrating parts of building a company: founder overload, co-founder tension, team dynamics, investor pressure, unclear priorities or decision fatigue. The aim is not just to vent, but to separate emotional noise from the real issue and work out what needs to be decided, communicated, simplified or changed.

Experience

  • RE:Works

    Founder
    •reworksstudio.com

    RE:Works is a consulting and coaching practice supporting founders, leaders, and organisations through transition, alignment, and growth. The practice works across three interconnected areas: individual and leadership coaching, organisational consulting, and collective experiences bringing structure with soul, and aligning inner clarity with outer systems. Working with clients at every stage, from founding with intention to scaling with confidence, RE:Works offers structured programmes, facilitated intensives, and ongoing consulting partnerships for those ready to build something that actually lasts.

  • Cellclar CIC

    Member of the Board of Advisors
    •cellclar.org

    Member of the Board of Advisors Member of the Board of Advisors CellClar CIC · Part-timeCellClar CIC · Part-time Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 5 mosFeb 2025 to Present · 1 yr 5 mos RemoteRemote CellClar CIC is on a transformational journey in healthcare as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. CellClar is working towards building the first comprehensive platform that serves as a true one-stop solution for researchers tackling today's most challenging medical conditions. CellClar's mission goes beyond creating powerful research tools—the company is working towards democratising access to cutting-edge technology, ensuring scientists worldwide can drive healthcare innovation regardless of their location or resources. By bridging the gap between complex data and practical applications, CellClar is accelerating scientific discovery and transforming how precision medicine advances. CellClar is not just developing a game-changing product; the organisation is creating a more equitable future for global healthcare research.

    BiotechnologyNon profit

  • UCL

    Visiting Lecturer & Steering Committee Member
    •ucl.ac.uk/

    As a committee member I assist in defining industrial expectations and key skills requirements of students, monitor the quality of the programme and provide strategic input about future direction of the sector. I also deliver taught lectures, online seminars, workshops and/or trainings sessions on the programme in addition to ad hoc sessions such as career’s talks etc.

    BiotechnologyHigher Education

  • ReproGo

    Advisor
    •reprogo.co.uk

    ReproGO Ltd is a regenerative medicine company specialising in stem cells and vascular biology. ReproGO innovates new therapies for difficult to treat diseases like chronic wounds and diabetic complications.

    Life ScienceBiotechnology

  • DGK Investment Holdings

    Founder
    •n/a

    Critical role in the company's formation, growth and help establishing the company's operational infrastructure . Leveraging my expertise in real estate investment and financial analysis, I help to identify promising investment opportunities for the business and for client portfolios. My experience as a co-founder has given me a deep understanding of the real estate market and the skills needed to succeed in this highly competitive industry and highly transferable skills such as Strategic thinking, Financial analysis, Leadership, Communication, Problem-solving, Negotiation. I played a critical role in the company's formation, growth and help establishing the company's operational infrastructure . Leveraging my expertise in real estate investment and financial analysis, I help to identify promising investment opportunities for the business and for client portfolios. My experience as a co-founder has given me a deep understanding of the real estate market and the skills needed to succeed in this highly competitive industry and highly transferable skills such as Strategic thinking, Financial analysis, Leadership, Communication, Problem-solving, Negotiation.

    Real Estate Investment

  • Centre for People-Led Digitalisation

    Advisory Board Member
    •bath.ac.uk/projects/made-smarter-innovation-centre-for-people-led-digitalisation/

    Advisory board position helping the steering committee ensure the centre's activities are relevant and in line with key strategic partner and industrial partner needs. Helping to make connections and introductions of centre members, as well as hosting researchers from the centre

    Industrial ManufacturingManufacturingBiotechnology

  • MFX

    Vice President of Operation
    •mfx.bio

    Member of the executive committee involved in strategic planning and decision making for the company, reporting directly to the CEO. Responsible for the operations department within the company scope of work covering; quality & regulatory functions, accounting, procurement and office life. Facilitating alignment across all departments - Research & Development, Product Development and Commercial. Provide operational support to all departments and across the company, including facilities management, supplier & supply chain management and customer management (invoicing, shipping etc). Develop and implement strategies to optimise operational efficiency and productivity, within company based on the company strategy and key performance indicators. In charge of all regulatory and quality activities. Product documentation, certification, QMS systems including being the quality system Management Representative. Manage all corporate activities such as accounting, contract management, grant management. Special projects based on the ad hoc needs of the company.

    BiotechnologyManufacturing

  • MFX

    Vice President of Bioprocess & Applications
    •mfx.bio

    Vice President of Bioprocessing & Applications: Member of the executive committee involved in strategic planning and decision making for the company, reporting directly to the CEO. Responsible for the bioprocessing department within the company which functions as the internal validation team for the technology. Overseeing the planning and execution of research activities and provide the organisational infrastructure and manage the resources to support the department. Responsible for the hiring and management of the team of scientists and technicians. Overseeing the external validation and application of the technology by our partners and collaborators. I oversee the planning and execution of process transfer and technology assessment activities with our national and international partners.

    BiotechnologyManufacturing

  • Taste of Home Africa

    Co-Founder
    •n/a

    Formation and growth of an online FMCGs company (4th company formed), actively contributing to the establishment of its operational management, Customer Relationship Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Sales and Marketing, Logistics and overall finance management and reporting. Lead the company from concept to formation to being operationally profitable. This experience fortified my expertise creating and growing a business and deepened transferable skills gained from previous entrepreneurial endeavours.

    Fast-Moving Consumer GoodsE-Commerce

  • MFX

    Head of Bioprocessing
    •mfx.bio

    • Contributed on the company expansion, from 3 to 10+ employees. • Active involvement on pre-seed and seed fund raising activities: meeting investors, preparing bioprocessing pitch deck material, carrying out bioprocessing technical walk-throughs. • Planning and implementing technology and process transfer activities with multiple partners. • Demonstrating multi-dimensional organisation and communication skills required to effectively setup and run a process development lab.

    BiotechnologyManufacturing

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