Women In Pharmaceutical Science Binodh DeSilva Vice President, Analytical and Bioanalytical Operations Bristol-Myers Squibb November 15, 2016
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Learning Objectives • See the blind-spots that can become career opportunities for women • Identify tools women can use to overcome career barriers • Evaluate and strategize approaches to barriers women may face in their careers • Share ideas with other women scientists in the pharmaceutical community
My Journey
Opportunities and Learnings Organizational Design Building teams Regulatory Filing
Performance Management
Integration of organizations
Independent research, Problem Solving, Experimental Design
Pharmaceutical Industry Experience
Graduate student in a new country
Scientist in a regulated laboratory
People Management Biotech Industry
Leading cross-functional teams
Continuous Learning mode
1988-1995
1995-2001
2001-2010
2010-2016
Be THE EXPERT in your discipline • Learn to operate multiple laboratory instruments • • • • •
HPLC Spectroscopy – UV, fluorescence etc. Mass spectrometry Plate readers Many others
• Handling animals • Cell culture, aseptic techniques • Design of experiments, Statistics • Regulations and working in a regulated environment (FDA, EMA etc.) • Many more 11/15/2016
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Soft Skills that enabled my career progression • Dependency to independence in scientific thinking: undergraduate research to graduate research • Importance of documenting your work – five to six years is a long time to remember by memory • Team work and inter-dependent/cross collaboration • Negotiation skills • People management • Time management • Conflict resolution • Giving feedback • Working without authority – working across matrices • Difficult conversations on performance
Perfectionist, Super woman Cannot balance life and family – integration Dinner with family – why not breakfast, what is special about dinner Great Soft skills Cannot think strategically Lacks EQ (Emotional Quotient)/EI Cannot handle difficult situations Success = acting like a male Unconscious biases Critical of other women
Some Personal tips • Request feedback • Share feedback with the group • Continuous learning • Three year plans – personal and professional • Write it down • Diverse group of mentors – formal, informal, big brothers and sisters etc
Thank you for your Attention
No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path - Buddha
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For Discussion only if needed
Research
What can you expect with a Science Degree • • • • • • • • •
A university professor A scientist who is having lots of fun solving cool scientific problems Doctor Nurse Physical therapist Write scientific stories – be a science reporter, scientific writer for journals Lawyer (Patent) Many many more …………………….. Just dream the world is your playground