One Year of Elevate: Women Shaping Careers in Pharma Outsourcing

We're celebrating one year of Elevate: Women Leading the Way in Pharma Outsourcing, which brought together exceptional women leaders from across the biotech, CDMO, and CRO ecosystems to share deeply human stories rooted in professional growth, resilience, and impact. These conversations dug into the nuanced realities of navigating careers in science-driven industries and they surfaced lessons that are as actionable as they are inspiring.

Whether you’re charting a leadership path, building influence, or scaling teams in complex regulatory environments, these episodes offered perspectives that sharpen thinking and expand possibility.

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Turning Experience into Opportunity with Elizabeth Malson

In one of the standout conversations of the year, Elizabeth Malson, a seasoned commercial executive and founder of Executive Echo, shared why personal branding matters in the modern life sciences landscape. Liz walked us through how to assess when your brand needs refreshment, craft an authentic presence on LinkedIn, and navigate company policies with confidence. One standout idea is that visibility isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency and courage. That’s where real opportunities begin to take shape.

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From Scientist to Global Sales Leader: Grace Kim

Grace Kim’s episode bridged the worlds of science and commercial leadership with elegance and honesty. Grace, SVP of Global Head of Sales & Business Developmenta at Minaris, unpacked her transition from the lab bench to global strategy leadership, highlighting how embracing fear less than before propelled her forward and transformed her approach to team building and leadership. Her story resonates for any professional juggling technical expertise with commercial impact.

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Authenticity at Work with Maja Pedersen

Quality leadership isn’t just about compliance; it’s about connection. Maja Pedersen, former Chief Quality Officer and now Chief Operating Officer at FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, shared why authenticity and psychological safety are not just “nice to have” but core drivers of high-performing teams. Her insights underscore that great leadership emerges when people feel safe to bring their whole selves to work, and when leaders seek understanding before being understood.

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Future-Proofing Your Career with Demetria Johnson

Career bends and pivots are no longer occasional; they’re expected in fast-evolving fields like pharma outsourcing. A DEI and Talent Expert in the biopharma industries, Demetria Johnson’s conversation shifted the frame on resilience: it’s not just recovery, it’s strategic adaptation. She grounded resilience in proactive networking, lifelong learning, and building a Personal Board of Advisors to support long-term growth, reminding us that your network is your net worth.

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Planting Seeds, Not Expectations: Oksana Lukash

Networking often gets reduced to transactional exchanges, but Oksana Lukas, Global People and Culture Expert, reframed it as a long-term relational investment. Her metaphor of “planting seeds” captures the essence of meaningful professional relationship building: where small, consistent actions yield strong trees of support, opportunity, and shared learning. This episode was a reminder that connections grow when cultivated with generosity and intention.

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The Art of Managing Up with Debra Vasques Bruneau

Understanding how to manage up is crucial for advancing influence without sacrificing integrity. Debra Bruneau, now Chief People Officer at KBI Biopharma, unpacked what it really means to communicate effectively with senior leaders, tailor communication styles for different stakeholders, and advocate for yourself in ways that align with organisational goals. Her advice brought clarity to a topic many find daunting but crucial for modern leaders.

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Pivoting with Purpose with Audrey Greenberg

Pivot points define careers; not as detours, but as intentional transitions toward mission-aligned roles. Our conversation with Audrey Greenberg, Mayo Venture Partner, explored how to weigh opportunities across industries, perform cultural due diligence, and build resilience during uncertain change. Her mantra of “action causes clarity” is especially resonant for professionals considering big career moves or entrepreneurial opportunities.

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Themes That Emerged Across the Series

A few powerful threads ran through these conversations:

• Authenticity fuels leadership success. Whether building brand, leading teams, or managing transitions, showing up as your real self creates trust and influence.

• Connections, not transactions, drive opportunity. Intentional networking and relationship stewardship unlock pathways that no job description ever could.

• Resilience and adaptability are strategic advantages. In an industry shaped by rapid scientific and operational change, agility is a professional superpower.

Each podcast in the Elevate series is more than a conversation; it’s a toolkit. These episodes speak directly to professionals who are navigating complex environments, forging careers that blend technical precision with human impact.

As we look ahead, these stories continue to illuminate how women in life sciences lead with clarity, courage, and community. They remind us that career growth isn’t linear. It’s relational, intentional, and deeply personal.

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As we kick off 2026, we’re continuing the conversations with more inspirational women leaders across diverse functions and organisations. You’ll find all our episodes on Spotify and Apple and be sure to subscribe to catch our newest episodes this year.  

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