With a background spanning biotech and executive roles at Medtronic, Anu brings a unique blend of resilience, collaboration, and strategic insight to her role—transforming challenges into opportunities for growth in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Could you give us an overview of your work?
I am on the leadership team of Aldevron, a leading provider of high-quality and scalable biologics for gene therapy, cell therapy and vaccine development. I am responsible for developing the company’s strategy, and implementing it through product management and marketing.
When did you realize you were interested in science - as a young child, teen, or older?
I have a unique backstory as my interest in science began at a young age. I’ve always been close to medicine; both my grandmothers and my mother were physicians in India. Growing up, my house was behind my grandmother and mother’s hospital, so I was always exposed to healthcare. This environment fueled a constant curiosity about science and math. When I ultimately came to the U.S. to study, I intended to pursue biotechnology, aiming to make a foundational impact on patients’ lives in a different, yet still impactful way, as my family before me.
Could you describe your personal journey bringing us to where you are now?
My journey has been deeply rooted in my interest in biotechnology and math. As a senior in college, I majored in math with a minor in biotechnology, microbiology and chemistry. And from there, that set the stage for my career to come.
My first real job post-grad as a healthcare consultant was formative, it helped me build a strong toolkit of problem-solving and accelerated learning through exposure to different types of clients and challenges. I eventually pursued an MBA, aiming to work in healthcare at a larger scale. My career path then led me to Bain & Co., and then Genentech, where I was part of core teams developing medicines on the commercial side. Later, I joined Medtronic in Minneapolis, where I had increasing responsibilities, eventually becoming the general manager of interventional pain business. Seeking to return to my biotech roots, I joined Aldevron, a company whose mission is clear, purpose driven and upholds a real culture of innovation by providing the basis for developing cures – all aspects that I felt strongly about helping foster and grow.
What challenges did you face - as a woman or otherwise - along the way and what is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
Throughout my career, I have often been ‘one of’ (i.e. a woman, immigrant, person of color, etc.) – whether back in school in advanced math classes or in my career during executive meetings, it was clear I wasn’t what people normally looked or sounded like in my field, but that did not stop me. Earlier on in my professional life, I initially didn’t think much of the things that may have been obvious to anyone else, likely because it was ingrained in me from my mother and grandmothers’ to simply work harder and be resilient. However, throughout my career, I can think of moments, especially when growing into leadership roles. People often had preconceived notions of what a leader should look like, and I’ve had many examples of facing microaggressions, such as being excluded from decision-making meetings, being ignored while a guy repeats the same thing I said moments ago and gets acknowledged for the brilliant insights, etc. I have built my tribe of trusted mentors and colleagues who in those moments, provide me a greater sense of belonging and are willing to help me address challenges. The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from those experiences is to not allow it to affect my inner confidence, and make sure I make space for those not always invited to the table.
What ignites your passion in your current role?
I am very grateful to have found my purpose early on in life. Seeing the impact my grandmothers and mother had on so many people’s lives inspired me to pursue work that did the same, without seeing human blood (hah). My passion is ignited by the breakthrough medicines we develop at Aldevron, which have a profound impact on patients’ lives. This is more than just a tagline for me; it’s the driving force behind my career!
What is your current work ethos/style?
The first word that comes to mind for my work style is collaborative. As a leader, I prioritize getting to know my team and always strive to lead with authenticity, humility and empathy.
Could you share some advice for young women starting to develop an interest in science or wanting to pursue a career like yours?
My advice is to figure out what you are most curious about and let that guide you. What are the types of problems you like solving? What are the types of questions you want answered? Let that be your guide, and your skills and inner confidence will follow. Also, building a strong network of people who recognize your potential, who are willing to share the hard truths around you is crucial for learning and support.
And ultimately, be bold, take risks on yourself! If you find yourself being ‘one-of’ or the ‘first,’ ensure you are not the last by bringing others along with you.
