Biotech Career Coach

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 invaluable insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of a program manager and offers tips for those looking to make a similar career shift. Additionally, she recounts her unique experience obtaining a green card, providing actionable advice for those on a similar path. 

00:00 Introduction to Program Management with Serena Seca

01:31 Serena's Unique Path to Program Management

01:51 Transitioning from Lab to Management: A Personal Journey

04:27 The Pivot to Program Management: Learning and Adapting

16:00 The Role of a Program Manager: Insights and Responsibilities

19:37 Navigating Clinical Stage Program Challenges

20:29 The Journey to a Green Card: Overcoming Obstacles

28:02 Exploring Career Paths: From Research to Program Management

31:28 Future Aspirations and Career Planning

34:01 Understanding Alliance and Portfolio Management

37:16 Closing Remarks and Community Engagement

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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• Link In with Surina!

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 actionable tips for advancing your biotech career, and let me know if you like this format for some of our future podcast episodes.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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00:00 Introduction to Office Hours

00:35 Breaking into Biotech Without Lab Experience

03:25 Handling a Bad Interview Experience

05:52 Dealing with a Promotion Without a Salary Increase

09:16 Conclusion and Feedback Request

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 responsibilities. Priya also reflects on the emotional experiences of being laid off and having to lay off others.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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• Link In with Priya!

00:00 Exploring the Role of a Chief Business Officer in Biotech

01:54 The Unconventional Journey from Scientist to Business Leader

03:21 Navigating Career Shifts: From Academia to Industry

12:52 The Power of Networking and Embracing New Opportunities

17:20 Balancing Science and Business in a Leadership Role

19:48 Balancing Work and Family Life

19:58 The Joy and Challenges of Parenting

20:16 Finding Time for Personal Connections

20:24 Navigating Work-Life Chaos

20:50 Transitioning into Regenerative Medicine

21:06 Career Opportunities in Regenerative Medicine

21:15 The Importance of Versatility and Lifelong Learning

23:11 Leveraging Free Educational Resources

24:15 The Impact of Networking and Professional Growth

24:36 Reflecting on Career Milestones

25:20 The Power of Networking and Opportunities

28:37 The Value of Professional Organizations

31:42 Navigating Layoffs from Both Sides

38:43 Embracing the Rite of Passage in the Industry

39:21 Conclusion and Encouragement to Connect

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 difficult work environments, the importance of effective communication with managers, and the transition from academia to industry. Join our community to share experiences and find support in your biotech career journey.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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00:00 Introduction to the Career Coach Column

00:21 Navigating Multiple Job Interviews

06:02 Dealing with a Pulled Job Offer

10:48 Career Development and Promotions

19:00 Conclusion and Community Engagement

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 end of the episode, listeners will understand how to measure their job search effectiveness and address any bottlenecks in the process to achieve better outcomes.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

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00:00 Introduction: Is Your Job Search Going Well?

00:49 Understanding the Job Search Funnel

02:13 Networking: The Key to Job Search Success

07:33 Applications: Maximizing Your Hit Rate

11:06 Interviews: Advancing Through the Process

13:27 Offers: Negotiating Your Worth

16:57 Conclusion: Recap and Final Thoughts

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 personal settings, including practical advice on maintaining regular, goal-oriented meetings with managers.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

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Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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00:00 Introduction to Radical Candor

00:23 Book Club Format and Purpose

01:24 Personal Impact and Application

02:44 Updated Version Insights

03:39 Effective Feedback and Communication

05:59 Managing Upwards

08:34 Goal Setting Strategies

09:51 Conclusion and Community Invitation

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 visually appealing slides, tying your research back to the job description, and effectively handling Q&A sessions. This comprehensive roadmap also emphasizes the need for practice and the power of enthusiasm in delivering a captivating job talk.

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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00:00 Introduction to Crafting an Industry Job Talk

00:23 Creating a Compelling Introduction

02:48 Structuring Your Talk with Stories and Roadmaps

03:41 Tying Research Back to the Job Description

09:20 Effective Slide Design and Presentation Tips

12:11 Connecting Your Work to the Job and Handling Q&A

17:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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 their career breaks during interviews, using tutoring as an example of a valuable experience. We also advise junior hiring managers on running an efficient and compliant hiring process within resource-limited environments, such as startups. We also touch upon the legal considerations in interviews, stressing the importance of only asking job-related questions to avoid discrimination.

• Webinar: Navigating a Competitive Job Market
• May Career Coach Column

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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00:00 Welcome to My Career Coach Column Deep Dive

00:18 Navigating Career Gaps with Confidence

00:53 The Art of Presenting Your Career Gap in Interviews

02:51 Leveraging Tutoring and Mentorship During Career Breaks

06:36 Advice for First-Time Hiring Managers in Startups

07:56 Mastering the Hiring Process: A Guide for New Managers

12:06 Optimizing Hiring with Data and Efficiency

15:12 Implementing a Data-Driven Candidate Assessment Strategy

18:39 Mastering Data-Driven Hiring

20:12 Creating a Solid Hiring Process: A Three-Pronged Approach

21:34 Navigating the Legal Landscape of Hiring

22:50 The Dos and Don'ts of Interview Questions

32:38 Effective Behavioral-Based Interviewing

34:38 Concluding Thoughts on Hiring Excellence

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!

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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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 resonate with many aspiring biotech professionals we meet in the community. We discuss career transitions, mentorship, immigration hurdles, social impact, and more!

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual presenter and should not be attributed to any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated.

• Link In with Dimple Doshi
• Executive Education
• Authority Magazine

Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources:

Join our Skool Community

Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge

Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs

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