ISPE Member Benefit from Networking Opportunities
There are many benefits to networking. In addition to strengthening business connections and meeting new people, it can help you discover new ideas and gain a fresh perspective on topics in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. It can help you advance your career and learn about new opportunities. Done properly, networking can introduce you to people that will become mentors and friends throughout your professional career. While you are still in school, it can help introduce you to potential career paths and professions you didn’t know existed and help you find your first job.
There are many benefits to networking. In addition to strengthening business connections and meeting new people, it can help you discover new ideas and gain a fresh perspective on topics in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. It can help you advance your career and learn about new opportunities. Done properly, networking can introduce you to people that will become mentors and friends throughout your professional career. While you are still in school, it can help introduce you to potential career paths and professions you didn’t know existed and help you find your first job.
“I became involved with ISPE when I was a student at Solano Community College after attending a presentation about ISPE. At that time, I was pursuing my B.S. in Biomanufacturing. Many of the students, including myself, were anxious about finding employment after graduation. We knew that we had the talent, the education, and the drive to contribute to the pharma industry but what we lacked was the opportunity to make connections with key individuals in the pharma community to demonstrate these abilities,” said Andria Thomas, Manufacturing Associate, BioMarin Pharmaceutical, who started the ISPE student chapter at her college while she was in school. “I utilized ISPE and my position as the Solano Community College Chapter President to approach pharma professionals interested in giving back to their communities. These fantastic professionals provided information on potential career paths that were available to us. Many outstanding ISPE members attended advisory panels to share general advice on career development. It was through one of these events that I ultimately obtained an internship. This internship, as well as the leadership and organizational abilities I obtained through ISPE, were instrumental in the hiring decision made by my current employer, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.”
A robust networking group can also give you the opportunity to share ideas with others and a collection of colleagues outside your organization to turn to when you have a question or are facing a new challenge.
“Joining ISPE enhanced my technical knowledge. It allows you to network and connect with colleagues that have probably already solved the challenges that you have in front of you,” said Ferdinando E. Aspesi, PhD, Senior Partner, Bridge Associates International LLC.
“Being so deeply involved in GAMP® gave me critical insights in where industry and regulators were heading. By putting in the work, I developed a reputation as a global thought leader for computer systems compliance, which helped me within my company and in dealings with regulators. They didn’t always agree with me, but they listened seriously,” Randy Perez, PhD, Novartis (retired).
Sometimes a networking group can help you unlock a new discovery or lead you to an “aha” moment. “The best part of working with the (ATMP Guidance Document) team is being able to talk to other people and hear their challenges. Sometimes they are the same, sometimes they are slightly different. It is interesting to hear how other people are looking at problems, it helps me to think about what solutions will work best,” said Erich Bozenhardt, Lead Process Engineer, Regenerative Medicine, United Therapeutics Corporation.
But ultimately a strong networking group will help you meet professional and technical challenges that you encounter throughout your career. “Even when you feel alone or lost when facing challenges like entering your career or starting a new job or business, you will always find someone that wants to mentor you and share their lessons and journey with you. Conversations with mentors give me hope and push me to keep following my dreams and turning them into reality. We can all learn from each other and broaden our mindset,” Tanya Sharma, Co-Founder, Assurea LLC.
For more than 40 years, ISPE has been bringing people in the pharmaceutical industry together to collaborate, network, and learn. ISPE Engage is an online networking site that is available to all Members, 24/7, with focused topic forums and an exclusive ISPE Annual Meeting Forum for registrants. On Wednesday 27 October, 11 am to 12 pm EST, ISPE will be hosting a live exclusive networking event for registered 2021 ISPE Annual Meeting and Expo attendees. At this event, you will be able to have virtual face-to-face interactions with attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and more.
