In celebration of International Women’s Day, with ‘Inspire Inclusion’ as the central theme for 2024, we sat down with some of the QbD Group’s power ladies. We discussed several relevant topics with each of them, such as how other women have inspired and influenced their careers, or what advice they would give to young women aspiring to join the life sciences sector. Find out more about their experiences and views as women in the life sciences.
Carole Pugh: “Different cultures and people coming together in a global environment truly enhances a team’s performance”
Carole Pugh, Country Head for the QbD Group in the UK, mother of 3 very active boys, and fervent triathlete:
“Given my technical background, when I was younger, I used to focus a lot on the details of projects. 18 years ago, I was reporting to an amazing female Vice President in EU Regulatory Affairs. She developed my confidence to work on complex projects beyond the details and taught me to focus more on the bigger picture and consider solutions from a higher level. This ultimately led me to be confident enough to set up a consultancy business in the UK. Me and my team ended up winning the UK’s Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2018. I am still very proud of this accomplishment!
I therefore would like to inspire younger women to always try and understand the wider purpose of every project they are working on. Not everything will be as interesting, and your tasks might be quite repetitive, but the goal is to learn how your role fits in the broader organization. You can take your time to improve your tasks and processes in terms of quality and efficiency. Or you can develop your soft skills in addition to technical skills, for instance, how to communicate effectively across all levels and types of people within an organization.
Of course, I recognize that being included as a woman, the central theme of International Women’s Day this year, is not always the case. For me, however, inclusion has never been an issue as my career progression has always been based on merit. I have also witnessed very closely that different cultures and people coming together in a global environment truly enhances a team’s performance.”
Sofia Parada: "Each person brings unique value”
Sofia Parada, Project Consultant for the QbD Group in Colombia, and commercial wonder:
“I am proud to have started my professional career at the QbD Group as Project Consultant, and -in the meantime- to have proceeded into the strategic role of Commercial Executive for South America. The advantages of my job are endless. I find myself immersed in an exceptional collaborative, human-friendly environment, embraced by my team as part of the family. I’ve had the honor of contributing to the growth and expansion of the company, and of developing myself personally as well. I have, for instance, strengthened a wide range of skills, such as leadership, effective communication, dealing with challenges and constantly finding new collaborations.
For me, there is not one woman in particular who has changed my views or career. I think everyone, at any level of the organization, brings their own experience, skills and unique perspective that propel us forward. All the women at the QbD Group are examples of strength, dedication, and talent. I am grateful to grow alongside each of them. Also, in the context of the ‘Inspire Inclusion’ theme of International Women’s Day, I strongly believe recognizing all individuals, regardless of gender, is essential. Especially within the life sciences sector, where interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial, inclusion is key for driving innovation and progress. When all voices are heard and different perspectives are valued, everyone can contribute to the company to their fullest potential.
So, to all future women in life sciences I would say: keep educating yourself, stay curious, build a strong network of mentors and colleagues who can support you, stay resilient to challenges and learn from each obstacle. But above all: embrace diversity and inclusion in your professional environment, recognizing the unique value that each person brings.“
Belinda Rozenhart: “Always stay true to yourself”
Belinda Rozenhart, Senior Consultant at the QbD Group in the Netherlands, and warm-hearted woman:
“I am proud to be currently working as a Senior Life Sciences Consultant. As a true Dutchie, I am an emancipated woman, who is not afraid to speak her mind. I love to spread the positive vibes of working in the life sciences sector. In February, for instance, I gave a lecture to a group of solely female pharmacy students on joining our sector. It was nice to see that an increasing amount of pharmacists-to-be are interested in working in life sciences, more particularly in industrial pharmacy.
Seeing all these young women embarking on their careers, I think the most important advice I can give is to stay true to yourself. When you feel you cannot be yourself, do not fight your environment, but leave it. I am myself mostly inspired by women who chose their own path and succeeded, against expectations of the surrounding world. Some examples are Maria Magdalena, Iris Apfel, Maria Salomea Sklodowska-Curie who has long been undervalued for her contributions to science, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These women perfectly represent the theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’. Women should be judged on their added value.
Lieve De Wolf: “If another person can do it, why can’t you?”
Lieve De Wolf, Quality Management Expert at the QbD Group Headquarters in Belgium, and a true leader you can count on:
“As a Quality Management Expert Consultant, I fulfil a project at Johnson & Johnson on Advanced Therapies CAR-T. I am responsible for surveillance audits and qualification of sites for the commercial launch of CAR-T in the entire EMEA region. On top of that, I am leading a core team at the QbD Group on ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products), always on the lookout for new trends and opportunities.
I have found my greatest inspiration within my family and have been mostly impacted by the teachings of my grandmother. Her mantra ‘If another person can do it, why can’t you?’, ignited and fueled my drive both in my professional and personal life. I take immense pride in being the first generation of women in my family that have pursued and completed university degrees, alongside my twin sister. For me, the theme ‘Inspire inclusion’, is therefore also highly linked to education opportunities. Women need to be able to grow in a safe environment where they can express ideas, opinions, and concerns without fear of judgment or reprisal.
After graduating, I built my career and met a lot of inspiring women. I would like to give a big shout-out to Elisabeth Verbruggen, my former Quality Assurance Manager, who played a pivotal role in shaping my decisions. Her passion, determination and work ethic still significantly influence my mindset in the workplace.
To any female joining the dynamic roller coaster of the life sciences sector, I would like to give two important takeaways. Firstly, build a strong educational foundation, not only during your studies, but also during your career. Never stop enhancing your knowledge. I am now also a mentor for some of my colleagues and am learning new coaching skills. This is ‘Inspire inclusion’ as well. Giving women an equal chance to fulfil a leadership position. My second piece of advice is to realize that the path to success is rarely linear and therefore to embrace challenges. Learn from setbacks and see them as opportunities to grow.”
Ana María González Fuente: “I am lucky to know smart, strong, fearless women”
Ana María González Fuente, Medical Information Coordinator at the QbD Group in Spain, and family person:
“In 2023, the QbD Group acquired the Spanish life sciences & health consulting company, Azierta. I am proud to work as a Medical Information Coordinator for the Group, and to have broadened my scope to a more international setting. For me, always continuing to learn, for instance by changing environments with the acquisition, is key for your career. I can only advice other women wanting to join the life sciences sector to keep an open mind, develop the skill to manage frustrations and fallbacks, learn from them and start seeing them as opportunities to grow.
Being open-minded, having a progressive view that can acknowledge talent no matter the gender, is what the theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’ means for me. By working together, you can inspire each other in chasing your dreams and following your passions. This is also the lesson I learned from the women in my family, especially my mother, and the women I have met during my professional journey. I am very lucky to know smart, strong, fearless decision-making women who are generous in sharing their know-how with me.”
As we wrap up our celebration of International Women’s Day, we are inspired by the stories of resilience, dedication, and success shared by the remarkable women of the QbD Group. From overcoming challenges to making significant contributions in the life sciences sector, each story highlights the importance of inclusion, mentorship, and staying true to oneself.
Thank you to all the incredible women who shared their stories, and to everyone who supports inclusion and diversity in the life sciences and beyond. Here’s to many more achievements and milestones together!
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