Read our interview to discover how losing her beloved horse ended her desire to be a vet to her belief in destiny and transformative power of pursuing opportunities got her to where she is now.
Could you give us an overview of your work?
In my current role, I never get bored. It is hard to give a quick overview, as I do a lot of different things. As part of the Genomic Medicine CSO organization, we are involved in driving innovation and ensuring science is well covered. We operate at the crossroads of R&D, marketing, sales and all supporting services.
I do a lot of technology scouting, looking at innovative companies that have developed either technologies that could be of interest for our customers or used to improve our current products and processes (mostly around the biology area). I work very closely with the strategy leads whenever a good opportunity is spotted. I generate content for marketing and present at conferences. As thought leader in my area, I represent Cytiva or Danaher (Cytiva is part of the Danaher corporation) in different industry committees, such as BPSA CGT, ISCT PPD ERM, BGTC manufacturing and A3P GIC Biotherapies. Ultimately and most importantly, we support our sales colleagues in high level strategic conversations, or whenever our help is deemed necessary.
When did you realize you were interested in science - as a young child, teen, or older?
Hmm this is tough, but I guess as a young child, it all started with my love of animals (horses, dogs, cats…). Then when we started to have sciences at school, I realized I loved math and biology and discovered I was really good at it. Not so good in physics and chemistry though… I quickly decided I wanted to become a vet and went for a Baccalureat Scientifique. Then, when I was 16, I had a bad fall with my horse during a competition. The injury to my horse was fatal and we had to put him down, no matter how many vet experts my father flew in. His passing made me realize I had always wanted to become a vet to care for my horses, but I would have not been able to save him. It was too heartbreaking, so I decided to switch and went to study biology at university, not fully knowing where that would take me.
Could you describe your personal journey bringing us to where you are now?
Embarking on my university journey in biology opened my eyes to a world of possibilities I previously hadn’t considered. Growing up in Uruguay, far away from France, added another layer of challenge. However, with hard work and determination, I finished high school with honors focused on science; then made the leap to a scientific university in France. It wasn’t long before I dove into an internship in a CNRS lab, exploring the intricate world of the yeast genome.
A pivotal moment came when my mentor at CNRS shared invaluable advice: to pursue an engineering path rather than remaining in academia. I took her advice, and I chose to study biotechnology at Polytech Marseille, where an inspiring project with Roche on monoclonal antibody manufacturing awaited.
My journey continued with an enriching internship at Novartis in Basel, focused on uncovering biomarkers for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Though initially intrigued by the prospect of an industrial PhD, fate had other plans. Without the PhD position materializing, I found myself gravitating towards the industry, fueled by an inner belief that simplicity and destiny guide our paths.
My tenure at Merck Serono as a cell culture process development scientist was a period of intense learning and growth. After four years and facing a stagnation in advancement opportunities, the unfolding of life events and a desire to close the distance in a long-distance relationship led me to a new opportunity at Pall. The role of biopurification specialist was a perfect fit, blending my skills and passion in a way that felt almost destined.
Pall not only offered a fascinating four years delving into virology but later, a chance to immerse myself in the cutting-edge field of gene and cell therapy. Progressing swiftly to a senior and then principal scientist role was exhilarating. While growing my career, I embraced motherhood, juggling the demands of travelling for work with family life, a balance we managed to maintain until a demanding travel schedule prompted a reevaluation of priorities ahead of welcoming our second child, so I took a different position – the one I had been waiting for - in Europe to be closer to family, which is now my current role.
It’s clear how every decision, every turning point, has led me to where I stand today. It reaffirms my belief in destiny and the transformative power of pursuing opportunities that align with one’s passion and purpose.
What challenges did you face - as a woman or otherwise - along the way and what is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
Early in my career I had a manager micromanage me. Being a very proactive person, I found it difficult and frustrating.
A few years later I had people around me who made assumptions about my career and my availability when starting my family that I felt wouldn’t have happen to a male colleague. It left me furious. Looking back, I wish I had spoken up about it formally. I strongly support rigorous programs where employees register complaints. Such a program does exist today at Cytiva and Danaher. I would encourage any person, when someone makes assumptions about your workload or career without your input, to speak up about it.
The most important lesson I took from these experiences is that you can’t control everything or everyone around you. The key is finding ways to grow stronger from the challenges that come your way. Having a strong network of colleagues and mentors helps. When something doesn’t feel right or fair - and these things do happen from time to time - it’s important to speak up about them.
What ignites your passion in your current role?
Knowing I play my part in helping the field advance life changing therapies, and more importantly helping them become accessible to all. I’m also passionate about solving customer challenges in the manufacturing of advanced therapies; using better tools and creating more efficient processes are some of the keys to decreasing the cost of dose and therefore improving patient access.
What is your current work ethos/style?
I am results driven, proactive and passionate about innovation. I like solving problems and I try to respond to emails within 24hrs (at least saying I will look into it).
Could you share some advice for young women starting to develop an interest in science or wanting to pursue a career like yours?
Believe in yourself, trust yourself to make the right decisions, and embrace the opportunities that come ahead. Do not let others define or limit you.