Biotech Career Coach

This week, I participated in an American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) panel discussion with Brandon Miller on salary negotiations. We answered audience questions that explored creative strategies for successful negotiations, addressing topics such as counter offers, flexibility beyond base salary, and handling 'best offer' scenarios. We also discussed the importance of understan...

This week, join me for our monthly Ask Me Anything event where I address your questions about the biotech job market, effective networking strategies, and making successful career transitions. I discuss the impacts of the NIH and HHS funding uncertainty, tackling employment gaps on resumes, leveraging connections after a bad interview, and which to update first: LinkedIn profile or resume. Additio...

Ready to make 2025 your most organized and productive year yet? In this episode, I'm sharing a powerful Notion template that transformed my own annual planning process. Whether you're a Notion newbie or a seasoned pro, you'll discover: • A step-by-step system for setting meaningful goals that align with your values • How to leverage AI prompts for deeper self-reflection and creative problem-solvin...

Happy New Year! In this episode, I take you through my comprehensive strategy for annual career planning. We start by reflecting on achievements from 2024, followed by a journaling exercise where you write letters to your future self for one, three, and five years out. I guide you through breaking down these goals into manageable milestones and mini-milestones, translating them into SMART goals, a...

This week, listen to our monthly live virtual event, 'Ask Me Anything.' Attendees get insights on how to navigate job applications on LinkedIn, including strategies for contacting hiring managers and effective networking. We discuss tailoring resumes for biotech positions, transitioning from academia to industry, and navigating job market trends. I share tips on increasing energy in Zoom interview...

In this career chat, I had a fun conversation with Nicole Gampp, Senior Alliance Manager at Compass Therapeutics. Nicole shares her unique, non-linear career journey from research to HR and medical affairs, eventually leading to alliance management. We discuss the intricacies of an Alliance Manager's role, the importance of networking, and career transitions. Nicole emphasizes the significance of...

In this episode, I explore 10 common resume mistakes that might be hindering your biotech job search. Drawing from my recent BioSpace column and observations, I offer practical advice on pitfalls to avoid, such as using profile pictures, fancy formatting, and not proofreading. I emphasize the importance of a professional email address and discuss the specific information you should never include....

In this episode of the Biotech Career Coach Podcast, we revisit an interview with John Doyle, Education Director at the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, originally conducted for the Building Biotechs podcast. We discuss pathways for individuals with little to no experience to enter the biotech industry, emphasizing the academy's role in re-skilling and transitioning careers through intensive trai...

In this episode, I explore the notion of perceived career setbacks, particularly regarding the decision to return to academia after a stint in industry. This topic often arises during coaching sessions where individuals express concerns about the job market and their career trajectories. We discuss recent trends, including market corrections and layoffs, that have impacted employment prospects in...

In this episode, I share highlights from a recent ask me anything event in our community, where I addressed key questions from members about biotech careers, including opportunities for immigrants, tackling interview challenges, job market trends, and strategic job application timing. Join our community ask great questions and learn from others making their way in biotech. Learn more about the Col...

In this episode, I discuss actionable tips from our recent book club read, 'Captivate,' on how to enhance your charisma for job interviews and networking. I'll share key themes and personal strategies for making a strong first impression, even if you're not naturally charismatic. Learn about the importance of setting up your environment, using body language effectively, and engaging others with ge...

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Kyle Huggins, the founder and CEO of Management Mogul. Kyle shares his journey from a rocky start with a liberal arts degree amidst the post-2008 crash to becoming a leader at Deloitte and eventually founding his own company. We explore the importance of developing foundational leadership skills such as building rapport, influence, and trust wi...

In this episode, I dive deeper into my monthly BioSpace column answers, providing detailed advice on transitioning from academia to biotech, creating impactful industry resumes, and handling team leadership stress. I also discuss how to address pre-planned vacations when starting a new job and announce an exciting new format for next month's session: a live 'Ask Me Anything.' Sign up for the newsl...

In this career chat, Christina Guerrier shares her journey from healthcare and biotech to founding her own consulting firm, Protean Insights Partner. Christina discusses her transitions across various roles, from project management to strategy development, and the blend of skills that facilitated her success. She provides valuable insights on networking, the nuances between the healthcare and biot...

This week, I am thrilled to share an inspiring conversation with Bruce Wu, whom we’ve interviewed before on our sister podcast 'Building Biotechs.' Bruce has held a series of executive roles, including Chief Legal Officer and Chief People Officer. Bruce has recently started to offer executive coaching to aspiring leaders. In this episode, Bruce shares his philosophies on executive coaching, career...

In this episode, we chat with Surina Sikka, a Program Manager at Moderna, about her unique career journey. Serena begins by discussing her early career as a biochemist and her progression from lab work to program management. She highlights the skills and experiences that facilitated her transition, including a crucial course from MassBio in biotechnology project management. Surina also shares inva...

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of my office hours session, where I answered questions from our community that were featured in my latest career coach column in Biospace. I discussed how to gain lab experience for a biotech career, handling a bad interview experience, and navigating promotions without salary increases, aks 'Dry' promotions. Tune in to hear practical advice and action...

In this insightful live discussion, we explore the career journey of Priya Baraniak, PhD, Chief Business Officer at OrganaBio. Priya shares her unexpected transition from a traditional academic path as a biomedical engineer to strategic positions in growing biotech startups. She discusses the challenges and opportunities she faced, the importance of networking, and balancing multiple responsibilit...

Our monthly career coach column on BioSpace just dropped! This month we discuss strategies for handling multiple job interviews, the importance of keeping an open mind, and pursuing roles that align with your career goals. We also tackle the disappointment of pulled job offers and provide advice on maintaining momentum in your job search. For those seeking career growth, we address handling diffic...

In this episode, we discuss whether your job search is on the right track by examining key metrics. I give a blueprint for a gold-standard job search, informed by a decade of experience and interviews with numerous successful candidates in the biotech industry. We go over metrics for networking, applications-to-interviews ratios, interview progression rates, and offer negotiation tactics. By the e...

In this episode, we dive into 'Radical Candor' by Kim Scott, a must-read for anyone aiming to improve their leadership and communication skills. This podcast features excerpts from a recent interactive book club, highlighting key discussions about how to provide and receive honest feedback effectively. I share some personal insights on applying the book's principles in both professional and person...

In this episode, we explore the step-by-step process of preparing an industry job talk that can significantly boost your chances of landing a job. From crafting a compelling introduction with a strong hook to organizing your presentation with engaging storytelling techniques such as 'yes, and' and 'and, but, therefore,' this guide provides invaluable tips. Learn the importance of simple and visual...

Our monthly career coach column on BioSpace just dropped! This month we offer deeper insights into navigating the job market and the hiring process. There's a lot of stigma and confusion surrounding career gaps, but recruiters are more interested in how candidates have used their time to maintain or enhance their skills. This episode provides practical advice on how candidates can positively frame...

This week my monthly BioSpace Career Coach column dropped, so I'm going into greater detail about each of the questions I answered in that column. We chat about excelling in Zoom calls, acing HR interviews, and navigating potential layoffs. This advice is widely applicable for those of you wanting to stand out and take control of your career. Check out the full column on BioSpace for more insights...

In this episode, Dimple Doshi, MS, SAPM, shares her inspiring journey from a bench scientist to R&D Strategy and Operations, where she now blends science and business. As a first-generation immigrant, she navigated challenges and leveraged transferable skills to carve her unique career path. From the Northeastern Co-op program to her experience in large and small companies, Dimple's story will...