An Unexpected Career in Biotech
Sneha’s trajectory into the biotech industry was one that she had never envisioned. As a recent college graduate aspiring to attend medical school, she faced unexpected financial challenges when her mother fractured her foot. As an only child determined to support her family and fund her medical school applications, she discovered Catalent through a basic online search for jobs in life sciences. Reflecting on her initial lack of awareness about the biotech industry, Sneha remembers: “I didn’t know how invested in biotech I would become when I applied, having always focused on pre-med.” Embracing the opportunity to work nights allowed her to care for her mother during the day. However, this entry-level night shift job would launch her unexpected yet exceptional path at Catalent Pharma Solutions.
Swift Advancement
Beginning as a Manufacturing Associate 1 in Commercial Manufacturing, Sneha swiftly progressed to Associate 2 within her first year. She credits Catalent’s substantial opportunities, sharing, “I learned so much so fast, and loved it. This was a new world to me, and I wanted to learn everything I could – and was always encouraged and empowered to do so.” Seeking fresh challenges, Sneha transferred to the Montgomery sites to expand her exposure to clinical manufacturing.
After a brief departure from Catalent, realizing the grass wasn’t greener, Sneha rejoined the company as a Training Specialist. Drawn back by Catalent’s supportive environment and development opportunities, this unexpected career path resulted in great meaning. “When I first started in the industry, I was just thrown into my role and told to figure it out. My goal for growing in this industry has always been to be in a role where I have the ability to help those who were once in my position, and set them up for success. You have to develop your employees if you want them, and the business, to be successful. I realized that coming back as a Training Specialist would help me get closer to that goal.”
Investing in Employee Growth
Over 4 years at Catalent, Sneha witnessed the company’s strategic investments in employee growth. For instance, the Center for Training Excellence’s comprehensive programs aim to transform onboarding and training. Employees will be able to gain hands-on experience through simulation in mock cleanrooms before working on on actual products. “This initiative minimizes quality risks and empowers new employees to learn from their mistakes, and even make mistakes, before they handle products.”
In addition to training, Sneha highlights Catalent’s robust development programs as crucial sources of support. These include 9 Employee Resource Groups, Lean Six Sigma training and certifications, fast-track leadership programs, and various other programs for all levels.
“The investment in employees here is unparalleled,” she emphasizes. “For instance, as a Training Specialist, I was able to get involved with a lot of opportunities beyond my role, which fast-tracked my development and interdepartmental exposure.” Some of these opportunities include participating in audits, mentoring, college outreach, deviation remediation, and obtaining Lean Six Sigma certifications. “I have been lucky to have exemplary mentors at Catalent. Leadership is very invested in the development of the next generation, and I owe a lot of my success to the opportunities they afforded me. Catalent also hosts a very collaborative culture across departments and sites, which exposes it’s employees to continuous learning and encourages problem-solving through different perspectives.”
The Power of Representation
Sneha’s career at Catalent has been significantly influenced by the presence of women in leadership positions. Seeing a Pakistani woman as the Director of Manufacturing at the Montgomery site deeply impacted her. She recalls: “I’d never seen someone who looked like me in a position like that. I used to tell myself ‘that’s the future me’ because I had an example of what was possible.”
Sneha also attributes a lot of her development to her former boss and mentor, Cassie Wells. “Cassie empowered me tremendously. Being a young woman growing rapidly in this industry comes with it’s challenges, but having someone who can relate and advise you accordingly because they’ve been there is vital.”
Reflecting on an Exceptional Journey
Reflecting on her unexpected path, Sneha is grateful she broadened her horizons beyond medical school. At Catalent, she realized there were myriad ways to still contribute to the medical field because of the emphasis on a patient-first mindset. “I think when you’re pre-med, you believe medical school is the end-all be-all, but sometimes life doesn’t work out that way. Other career paths out there, such as biotech, can provide a fulfilling career.”
Throughout her journey, Sneha learned the importance of viewing challenges as opportunities for growth. “Biotech is a beast. When things don’t go the way you planned, you have to look at it as an opportunity rather than a setback. An opportunity to learn something new, to improve the process overall, to troubleshoot – however you need to view it. I think that’s the key to being successful in this field.”
The Catalyst for Career Aspirations
Throughout her career, Sneha learned the importance of mindset. Highlighting the wide variety of roles available at Catalent, she emphasizes that background or on-paper qualifications aren’t necessarily limiting factors. “When I first started in biotech, even with a college degree, I had to learn everything from scratch. The equipment, the processes, aseptic technique, what in the world a BSC is, etc. No matter your background, you can be successful in this field with the right mindset. When looking to fill roles, we put an emphasis on character. Are you passionate? Proactive? Patient-focused? These are three main traits that we look for. Just because we come from different paths, doesn’t mean we can’t end up in the same place.”
Dedicated to the greater medical community and supporting those in it, Sneha discovered that Catalent offered unlimited potential. What will you discover there?
