Convention dictates sticking to the well-trodden path, which is straightforward. But Jennifer Kirk’s journey has been anything but conventional—requiring a few steps to connect the dots. At its heart, though, is a love for animals, a deep sense of purpose, and a passion for making a difference.
Today, she leads Exubrion Therapeutics, a veterinary medtech company tackling one of the most common and debilitating conditions in companion animals: osteoarthritis. At the forefront of this mission is Synovetin OA™—a revolutionary quantum leap forward in treatment. Unlike traditional therapies that only mask the pain, Synovetin OA™ is uniquely designed to target the underlying inflammation that causes arthritis. This bold new approach not only brings longer-lasting relief, but also opens the door to healthier, more active lives for pets—offering the potential for extended mobility, longevity, and long-term pain prevention.
Defying the Diagnosis: A Childhood of Grit and Grace
It really started back in California, where she was born and raised. At the tender age of one, she0 was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. At the time, the outlook was grim—doctors told her mom that Jennifer would likely be blind or have kidney failure by 20. “But my parents were determined to beat those odds,” Jennifer shares. Even though they came from a lower-middle-class background, they made sure she had what she needed to thrive, emphasizing both her health and her education. By age six, Jennifer was already giving herself her own insulin shots—a sign of the self-discipline and responsibility that would later serve her well in the world of finance. “I was proud to become the first person in my family to graduate college,” she reflects warmly, a milestone that laid the foundation for a career built on resilience, precision, and purpose.
A Pragmatic Pivot: From Dreaming to Doing
At first, she dreamed of majoring in linguistics and one day running a dog rescue. But the realities of living with Type 1 Diabetes soon made practicality a priority—she needed a career that offered solid health insurance. So, Jennifer shifted gears, choosing Economics with a focus in accounting, and landed a role at one of the Big Six accounting firms right after graduation. That early pivot not only gave her stability—it opened the door to a lifelong career in finance.
Two Decades in the Trenches: Leadership Forged in Finance
Jennifer left public accounting and then spent 22 years at Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) in the dynamic, fast-paced energy industry, rising through a series of finance roles that included Accounting and FP&A roles, VP of Finance, VP and Chief Accounting Officer, and ultimately Senior Vice President of Integration and Value Capture. The global scope and constant innovation of the sector served as a powerful training ground, giving her the opportunity to live in multiple locations, travel extensively, and evolve as a leader. During this time, she also broadened her industry perspective by joining the board of Republic Services (NYSE: RSG), a leader in recycling and non-hazardous waste disposal. She has served on the board for over nine years and currently chairs the Audit Committee.
A Life-Changing Move: When Mission Found Her
In 2021, amid the disruption of the pandemic, Jennifer felt a deep pull toward work that aligned more personally with her values. That calling led her to Medtronic—a company that had profoundly impacted her own life through the insulin pump she uses. She accepted a senior finance role as SVP Global Controller and Chief Accounting officer and relocated her family from Texas to Minnesota, embracing a new chapter with new jobs, new schools, and a new lifestyle. At Medtronic, Jennifer held several global leadership roles, expanding her experience across geographies and business functions. During her final year there, she also joined the board of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a North American energy infrastructure company, returning to her energy roots.
Hearts, Horses, and Healing: A Rescue Story Rewritten
That’s also where her connection to animals deepened in a profound new way. Wanting their three daughters to find grounding and joy in their new environment, Jennifer and her husband, Adam, took them to a local horse ranch—where they found much more than riding lessons. One person in particular, Bree, became a guiding light. As the driving force behind the ranch, Bree showed how horses—especially the overlooked and discarded ones—could help ease anxiety and build confidence. Jennifer saw firsthand the calming effect these animals had on her middle daughter, and everything shifted. “Bree opened our eyes to the world of ‘throwaway’ horses,” Jennifer recalls, “and once we saw it, we knew we had to do something—not just to rescue the horses, but to give them purpose again by helping people heal, just as they had helped us.” That moment sparked the beginning of Healing with Horseplay—a rescue mission that became deeply personal for Jennifer and her entire family.
The Call to Lead: Entering Veterinary MedTech with Purpose
Around that time, while on a Medtronic business trip, Jennifer met Laurie, someone who would once again change the course of her career. They quickly connected over shared interests, and when Jennifer told the story of the horse rescue, it sparked a deeper conversation—first about joint health in animals, then about a novel isotope called Tin-117m, and ultimately about Exubrion Therapeutics, a company this woman had invested in.
One conversation led to another, and soon Jennifer and her husband were consulting with Laurie and getting to know her, along with the remarkable scientists who invented the technology. Laurie eventually decided to lead the next round of funding for Exubrion—with one important condition: Jennifer had to agree to lead the company. She believed Jennifer brought a rare combination of strategic clarity, financial acumen, and cross-functional leadership—paired with a deep personal passion for animals, medtech and a mission-first mindset. Jennifer had a proven ability to align teams, translate science into business impact, and build trusted partnerships across disciplines. The board and founding team were strongly aligned and fully confident she was the right person to take the helm.
Today, Jennifer leads Exubrion Therapeutics—a company dedicated to transforming the way we treat osteoarthritis in pets. For her, it’s not just business—it’s personal. Every day brings new stories from veterinarians and pet parents about how Synovetin OA™ is improving animals’ lives, making the work not only meaningful, but also joyful. “We get to tell the world about a life-changing treatment for our best friends,” she says. “And I’ve been amazed by the volume of international inbound interest. It’s a lot easier to lead when you believe so deeply in the product.”
Culture as Catalyst: Trust, Values, and Smart Risk
Jennifer emphasizes that culture isn’t just a component of success at Exubrion—it’s the catalyst. “We’re a small but mighty team, united by a mission that resonates deeply: improving the lives of pets living with osteoarthritis,” she shares. “That shared purpose creates energy, drive, and a sense of accountability that shows up in everything we do.”
Everyone on the Exubrion team is a pet parent, which brings a personal passion to their work and a deep empathy for the patients and families they serve. The company fosters a culture where every team member, regardless of title, is encouraged to bring ideas forward. This openness, paired with a foundation of trust and shared values—integrity, compassion, and accountability—fuels their innovation and accelerates their growth.
The team is made up of highly experienced and uniquely qualified leaders. Eric, the Chief Commercial Officer, who leads all marketing, advertising, and sales initiatives, brings over 30 years of industry experience to the table and is building an authentic, powerful brand that resonates across the veterinary space. Equally important, he has an exceptional work ethic and brings tremendous energy and positivity to the team. Nigel, the Chief Operating Officer, is one of the original inventors of the technology and brings a deep background in physics, nuclear physics, and radioisotope R&D—ensuring the scientific integrity and innovation pipeline remain strong. He brings an incredible sense of humor that lifts the team’s spirits, especially when the pressure is on. The Chief Veterinary Officer, Bob, leads Exubrion’s comprehensive veterinary technical education and outreach efforts, serving as the go-to expert for clinicians and delivering on the company’s promise of being a true partner to the veterinary profession. His empathy and kindness are infectious, making everyone feel genuinely listened to and valued. Behind the scenes, their exceptional administrative lead, Anita, brings extraordinary organization, institutional knowledge, and a long-standing commitment to the company’s mission. These skills make her a master at keeping us all on task. Rounding out the leadership team is Tim, the production manager, who brings over 35 years of manufacturing experience in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries—playing a critical role in maintaining operational excellence, quality, and reliability as the company scales. Years of experience have given Tim a calm, steady hand and an uncanny ability to turn challenges into solutions.
Jennifer is also quick to credit the board as an essential ingredient in Exubrion’s culture and success. Laurie, the board chair, plays a critical dual role—not only ensuring strong shareholder alignment and communication, but also serving as a trusted coach and thought partner to Jennifer. “Having that kind of support and candor at the top is invaluable,” she says. The broader board brings a diverse mix of experiences—from life sciences and finance to commercial strategy and animal health—and their thoughtful questions, varied perspectives, and strategic insight have been instrumental in shaping and advancing Exubrion’s growth strategy. Jennifer’s own experience serving on boards has underscored the value and importance of corporate governance and the role of the board—and she sees that value in action every day at Exubrion.
In addition to the internal team, Exubrion has cultivated strong relationships with key partners, including a trusted contract manufacturing organization that plays a critical role in ensuring product quality and availability. Together—with shared values, diverse expertise, and a commitment to excellence—this team is driving meaningful impact and setting the stage for transformative growth.
Learning Leadership Lessons and Building a Dynamic Team
“One of the biggest leadership lessons I’ve learned is the importance of patience and persistence—especially in a highly complex regulatory environment like ours,” Jennifer says. “Working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) adds a whole other layer of nuance and time. It’s not just about having a great product; it’s about navigating a system that can move slowly and requires incredible attention to detail and discipline.
“That said, resilience is everything. You have to be willing to go through the hard times as a team, support each other, and stay focused on the long game. But at the same time, I’ve also learned how critical it is to fail fast when needed—take smart risks, learn quickly, and pivot with agility. That balance between staying the course and adjusting in real time is where true leadership shows up.
“Above all, surround yourself with people who share your values, trust each other, are not afraid to challenge the status quo, and are in it for the mission. That kind of alignment makes it possible to weather the challenges and move forward stronger than before.”
Driving Exubrion’s Strategic Growth
She further reveals that, both in terms of business and market reach, strategic growth at Exubrion Therapeutics over the next 2–3 years is centered on aggressively expanding its presence in the canine osteoarthritis market while preparing to enter the equine space. This growth is guided by Exubrion Therapeutics’ mission to revolutionize osteoarthritis treatment through innovative, targeted radiotherapeutics that improve animal health and quality of life.
In the U.S. alone, more than 20 million dogs suffer from osteoarthritis, representing a total addressable market of over $6 billion annually. And that’s just the beginning—the equine market holds enormous potential, especially as awareness grows around non-surgical, targeted treatments like Synovetin OA™.
Jennifer shares, “Our goal is to more than double our sales year over year for the next two to three years, and we’re putting the infrastructure, partnerships, and commercial strategy in place to make that happen. At the core, everything we do is driven by our mission to deliver transformative therapies that truly change the way osteoarthritis is treated.”
To support this mission, they’re investing heavily in education and awareness so veterinarians and pet owners fully understand the importance of treating the root cause—not just managing symptoms. Beyond canine OA, Jennifer and her team are actively developing a strategy to bring their Tin-117m platform to the equine market, where there is a high unmet need and limited minimally invasive treatment options.
The long-term vision is to position Exubrion Therapeutics as a leader in targeted radiotherapeutics for inflammatory joint disease—across species and across markets. “It’s an exciting time, and we’re just scratching the surface of what this platform can do,” says Jennifer.
Innovating Forever with Advancing Technologies
Moreover, Jennifer sees the future of veterinary medicine moving rapidly toward more targeted, specialty therapeutics and minimally invasive treatments that go beyond symptom management and actually address the root cause of disease. Pet owners today are more informed and more invested in their animals’ long-term quality of life. That’s raising the bar for innovation.
Technologies like Synovetin OA™ are great examples of where we’re headed. It delivers a precise, localized therapy directly into the joint, minimally invasive, without systemic side effects, and is super easy and long-lasting, which is a huge shift from the days of relying solely on oral pain meds, multiple appointments, and major surgeries that can be very disruptive to the pet owners and their families’ lives. And when you pair that with platforms like Tin-117m, which has potential across a range of inflammatory diseases, you’re looking at a whole new class of tools for veterinarians—tools that are both effective and practical in real-world clinical settings.
Jennifer believes the next wave of breakthroughs in veterinary medicine will come from nuclear medicine, gene therapy, immunomodulation, and other technologies that have historically been limited to human healthcare. The line between human and veterinary innovation is blurring—and that’s a great thing for pets and the people who love them.
Advising Aspirants
In her advice to women aspiring to lead in the life sciences or biotech space, Jennifer suggests:
“Believe in your seat at the table—and use it. Life sciences and biotech are complex, fast-moving industries, and we need more women’s voices shaping the science, strategy, and culture. Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready to take on a new role or speak up in the room—you probably already are.”
“Surround yourself with people who challenge and support you. Mentorship matters, but so does sponsorship—find those who will advocate for you when you’re not in the room. And be that person for others coming up behind you.”
“Lead with both head and heart. In biotech, we deal with data and molecules, but ultimately we’re working to improve lives. Women leaders often bring a powerful mix of empathy, clarity, and resilience to the table. That’s not a soft skill—it’s a strategic asset.”
“Finally, don’t underestimate your ability to drive change. Whether it’s the culture of your team or the future of a technology, your perspective can shape more than just your own path—it can open doors for the next generation too.”
Legacy in Layers: Family, Leadership, and the Next Generation
Ultimately, personally and professionally, the legacy Jennifer hopes to build through her work at Exubrion Therapeutics is deeply connected to her life as a wife and mom. “I want to set an example that it’s possible to love your work and incorporate it naturally into your life—showing that your career and family can complement each other.”
At Exubrion, her goal is to reach as many patients as possible, bringing effective pain relief and restoring quality of life not only for the animals but also for the families who care for them. That kind of impact is what motivates her every day.
Equally important is building a team that loves what they do—a team that feels inspired, supported, and empowered to innovate. When people are passionate and collaborative, the breakthroughs and positive impact multiply.
“Eventually, I want my foundation of faith, family and friendship to drive a legacy e of compassion, innovation, and integration—proving that with the right mindset and support, you can create meaningful change both at work, at home and in our community.”
Read Also: The Rise of Inspirational Women Leadership
