Legally Different®

Navigating Career Change // Kathy Xiang - Business Development at Compass Pathways

Episode Summary

Kathy Xiang is the Director of Business Development for Compass Pathways and a former City corporate lawyer. Compass Pathways is a mental health company committed to evidence based innovation in mental health. They are currently researching how psilocybin therapy could help people with treatment-resistant depression. Kathy’s commitment to making a career change towards something aligned with her values is inspiring and she takes us through her thought processes at the time and how she navigated that change. This is a particularly great episode around navigating career change, for insights into the mental health space and the pioneering work that Compass Pathways is doing.

Episode Notes

Meet Kathy Xiang, Director of Business Development for Compass Pathways and former City corporate lawyer. Compass Pathways is a mental health company committed to evidence based innovation in mental health and they are currently researching how psilocybin therapy could help people with treatment-resistant depression. Kathy’s commitment to making a career change towards something aligned with her own values is inspiring and she takes us through her thought processes at the time and how she navigated that change. This is a particularly great episode around navigating career change and for insights into the mental health space. 

In this episode we cover:-

• Kathy’s path into law:-
  • Studying history at Uni then the “what now” moment.
  • Qualifying at a London City firm into M&A and private equity funds.
• 1 year post qualification feeling unfulfilled and asking “where do I want to be in 5 years?”
• Kathy reflects on the analysis of her options at the time and how she obtained inspiration and insights into different career paths.
• Making strategic moves - becoming a management consultant for Boston Consulting Group.
• Finding the one! Why Kathy chose Compass Pathway and what her role entails.
• Kathy’s own personal insights into mental health and why the transformative impact of Compass Pathways was appealing.
• What Compass Pathways does:-
  • What psilocybin therapy is – from administration to integration
  • Progress with the clinical trials
  • Growth milestones in 2020 from investment rounds to becoming a publicly listed company
• What advice Kathy would give to the previous version of her who felt stuck and unfulfilled.

CONTACT INFO + LINKS

Compass Pathways

You can find their website here.

Kathy Xiang

You can connect with Kathy via LinkedIn here.

Legally Different:-

• Instagram:@legallydifferent 
• Email: hello@legallydifferent.com

Thank you for tuning in!

Lauren