In Conversation with Matt Pauls
Published on
Aug 20th, 2026
Contributors
Matt Pauls JD, MBA
Philly Trend
Chandler and Marisa Fraser-Pauls
Associate Director of Admission & Assistant Dean of Students, The Pennington School
Tommy Tang
Student, Rising Senior, New York University
Dontae Johnson
Former NFL Cornerback / Proud Husband and Father
We are honored to launch Philly Trend by featuring Matt Pauls, Chair and CEO of Savara—a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare respiratory diseases (market capitalization, $1.05 billion).
Matt brings more than two decades of biopharmaceutical leadership experience, including executive roles at Strongbridge Biopharma, Insmed, Shire, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson. Throughout his career, he has focused on some of healthcare’s most complex challenges, particularly rare diseases where patients often have no approved treatment options.
Matt serves on the boards of Palvella Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for serious, rare genetic skin diseases, Pelthos Therapeutics, a public biopharmaceutical company focused on dermatologic infectious diseases, and Atsena Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company developing treatments for inherited retinal blindness. He previously served on the boards of Amplo Biotechnology (2020–2026) and Soleno Therapeutics (2023–2026), where he was appointed Lead Independent Director in 2024 before the company was acquired by Neurocrine Biosciences in May 2026.
Since becoming CEO of Savara, Matt has led the company through pivotal clinical and regulatory milestones, guiding a focused strategy in one of the most demanding sectors in business. His work sits at the intersection of science, capital markets, regulation, and patient need—where decisions carry both financial consequences and human impact.
Why You Want to Know Matt
Through his consistent track record and leadership style, Matt has earned trust and respect across the life sciences investment community and has cultivated deep relationships with leading biotech investors across top-tier venture and institutional firms. He is also a statesman, a mentor, and a business leader shaping the region through vision, business acumen, and a caring brand of capitalism that will hopefully become the hallmark of our nation’s next 250 years. Just as importantly, Matt represents the continued momentum of Greater Philadelphia as a nationally competitive life sciences ecosystem. In 2023, Matt led the relocation of Savara's headquarters from Texas to Bucks County, PA.
In Conversation with Matt Pauls
In our inaugural Philly Trend conversation, John Martini sat down with Matt Pauls, Chair and CEO of Savara, to discuss his path into biotech, the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way, and the evolution of Philadelphia’s life sciences community.
John Martini: What first drew you to biotechnology and life sciences?
Matt Pauls: Healthcare has always been close to home for me. My mother was a nurse for more than 30 years, so I grew up with an appreciation for the impact healthcare can have on people's lives. After college, I entered the pharmaceutical industry and later went to law school, but I stayed in life sciences because it offered something unique. It allowed me to pursue meaningful work while building businesses that can create value for patients, employees, and investors. It's one of the few industries where you really can do well and do good at the same time.
John Martini: You have spent much of your career leading teams and developing talent. How has mentorship shaped your leadership style?
Matt Pauls: I was fortunate to have some exceptional mentors early in my career who invested time in helping me grow. They challenged me and gave me opportunities early on that helped shape the trajectory of my career. I've always tried to pay that forward. One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is helping people realize their potential and watching them succeed.
John Martini: As a public company CEO, you’ve spent years communicating with investors. What have you learned about building trust? What advice would you give other CEOs?
Matt Pauls: Investor relations is not about quarterly performance—it is about long-term discipline. CEOs should define what success looks like over a multi-year horizon, communicate the critical inflection points that matter, and then report against those markers with consistency, even when the news is uncomfortable. Investors do not expect perfection; they expect clarity, transparency and accountability. Discipline and clear communication, overlayed with consistency, builds durable trust. And stay curious! The science evolves, markets evolve, and leadership, itself, evolves. The people who succeed over the long term are the ones who continue to seek new perspectives, while staying focused on the mission.
John Martini: Savara recently established its headquarters in Bucks County. Why is Greater Philadelphia the right place for the next chapter of growth?
Matt Pauls: The entire Greater Philadelphia region sits at a unique intersection of scientific depth, academic strength, and commercial infrastructure. The concentration of research institutions, talent, and capital creates an ecosystem where serious innovation can move forward efficiently. For a company like Savara, proximity to that expertise matters because collaboration accelerates progress.
There’s also a growing confidence in the region. You can feel it. Philadelphia is no longer emerging in life sciences—it’s competing at a national level.
John Martini: Matt, thank you for sharing your perspective. It’s exciting to watch both Savara and the Greater Philadelphia life sciences community continue to grow, and we appreciate you taking the time to join us.
"What matters most is how well you walk through the fire."
The Ripple Effect
Contributor testimonials tied to each trend leader, capturing leadership impact through the voices of those they have mentored and worked alongside.
Chandler and Marisa Fraser-Pauls
“
People often assume that because Matt is a CEO, the lessons he's taught us are about leadership. They're not. His greatest lesson has been how to be human.
As his son and daughter-in-law, we've seen that the person everyone knows at work is the same person we know at home: steady, authentic, and deeply present. Whether he's with a student, colleague, stranger, or grandchild, he gives everyone the same kindness, respect, and attention. He has always trusted us to become ourselves.
He leads the way he coaches—present without controlling, encouraging without taking over. When we're overwhelmed, he doesn't rescue us. He reminds us who we are and helps us see ourselves through his eyes.
His favorite saying is, 'Do good. Be good.' We've watched him live it every day through empathy, grace, and a belief that everyone deserves dignity and the chance to grow.
Now, as we raise three children with a fourth on the way, his greatest gift remains his presence. Every time he sees our child, Charlie, he leans down and says, 'I have something to tell you.' Charlie smiles, already knowing what's coming. 'I love you,' Matt says. 'I love you too,' Charlie replies. It lasts only seconds, but it captures how Matt has lived his life: the people you love should never have to wonder how you feel about them.
Tommy Tang
“
When I arrived at Savara as an intern, I expected to learn about business development and the pharmaceutical industry. What I didn't expect was one of the first lessons Matt shared: people before profits.
That idea stayed with me throughout my internship. Matt showed me that serving patients and building a successful company aren't competing priorities—they're inseparable. You can do right by the people who depend on your work while creating value for employees, investors, and other stakeholders. Watching him lead with that conviction fundamentally changed the way I think about leadership.
I'm grateful for the technical skills I gained during my internship, but the lesson I'll carry with me throughout my career came from Matt himself: success isn't measured only by financial results. It's measured by the lives you improve and the example you set for others. I hope to build my career with that same sense of purpose and, one day, have the kind of positive impact on others that Matt has had on me.
Dontae Johnson
“
When people look at my career, they see the nine seasons I spent playing in the NFL. But to me, none of that would have happened without Matt Pauls.
I met Matt as a kid when he was coaching at a basketball camp. From the very beginning, he saw something in me that I didn't yet see in myself. He encouraged me to attend The Pennington School − a decision that completely changed the course of my life. It opened the door to Division I football, the NFL, and opportunities I never imagined possible when I was growing up.
What made Matt different was that he expected more from me than I expected from myself. I grew up without a father figure, and Matt became that steady presence in my life. He welcomed me into his family and loved me like one of his own. He was direct, honest, and never lowered the bar because he knew what I was capable of. His belief in me changed the way I saw myself − and ultimately changed the course of my life.
Today, I'm retired from professional football, married, and raising two children. Matt remains an integral part of my life − my children know him as their grandfather. Looking back, the greatest gift Matt gave me wasn't a path to football (as extraordinary as that was) − it was teaching me to be the kind of man, husband, and father I wanted to become.
Executive Profiles
Perspectives Worth Knowing
Candid conversations with the executives defining Greater Philadelphia's future.
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