We're going to try and start sharing more insights and info from these brilliant panels, so here's a round-up of what went down last night!! Thank you to the panellists - Charlotte Smerdon, Jacqueline Abbas PhD, Ming Ewe, and Jyothi Kumaran - who were open, authentic and shared real experiences and insights from their diverse experiences in the biotech industry. Also, a massive thanks to Christina Giakou for putting it all together! They discussed strategies for promoting career resilience and solidarity among women, tactics for attracting investment to early-stage cell and gene therapy companies, factors to consider when joining startups, and advice for coping with redundancy. Here's a bit of a summary, but please get in touch with the panellists if you want to discuss further! 💪 Promoting Career Resilience for Women Strategies discussed included being vulnerable to ask for help, building support networks with peers/mentors, seeking coaching, and understanding that perfection is impossible when juggling career and personal life. Having open conversations with managers about goals and getting realistic guidance on promotion pathways was advised. 💸 Attracting Investment to Early-Stage Companies The discussion centred on having a clear long-term vision, regulatory strategy, market access plan, and considering potential risks/mitigations. Involving regulatory expertise early can validate your approach for investors. VCs now conduct extensive due diligence and want visibility into decision-making. ⚖️ Evaluating Startup Opportunities Factors like funding sources, partnerships, transparency in decision-making, leadership team, and cultural fit were highlighted as important to assess. Having a backup financial plan, expanding one's skills portfolio, and going with gut instincts were some of the other tips. 🏔️Managing Expectations and Development Setting realistic expectations around promotions, identifying stretch opportunities to gain experience, and managers providing honest feedback are crucial here. Sometimes a move to a new company may be advisable for career growth over and above financial gains. 🧭 Navigating Redundancy Redundancy is often a business decision, not personal. Maintaining mental health, patience, and leveraging networks are crucial. Support through coaching, realistic perspectives, and sharing experiences can help cope with redundancy's emotional challenges. If you're interested in hosting, get in touch!
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Regulatory Strategic Enabler & Disruptor / Leadership Coach & Mentor for Biotech Start-ups 😎 Helping you attract funding & begin your development pathway to commercialisation with confidence, clarity and credibility 😎
1moWhat's helped me to have realistic expectations around my career progression is by taking ownership and playing the long game. 1) proactively soliciting feedback 2) build long term relationships with a couple of Recruiters 3) investing into my personal and professional development which has included a coach which led to my training as one because I found it so powerful and empowering as a leader, manager and with my clients. I've interviewed many candidates in the past whose CVs looked good but it was all talk. Soft skills are crucial but are often overlooked.