Her Story
About Alice
Alice Hurlbut, PMP, is a healthcare and diagnostics professional serving as Project Director at Labcorp in San Diego County, California. With a career spanning approximately 15 years in the healthcare and biotechnology industry and extensive experience in scientific research, product development, and project leadership, she has developed expertise across diagnostic assays, next-generation sequencing, molecular technologies, analytical chemistry, and cross-functional program management. She currently leads initiatives spanning marketing, IT, operations, and sales, overseeing project portfolios and working closely with project managers, bioengineering teams, and senior leadership to advance new diagnostic assays and product innovations.
Before moving into project and program leadership, Hurlbut held scientific and engineering positions with organizations including Mesa Biotech, AltheaDx, Abbott Laboratories, and SAIC. Her technical experience includes next-generation sequencing, genotyping, biosensor and assay development, microfluidics, forensic DNA preparation, RT-PCR, HPLC, mass spectrometry, and process development. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia in 2003 and her Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California San Diego. She later earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) credential and completed Labcorp’s Mid-level Leadership Excellence Program through Harvard Business Publishing.
Hurlbut is particularly passionate about leadership, team development, and creating an environment where people can grow. She describes her leadership approach as one centered on learning and listening to her team and identifies the development and growth of her team as one of her proudest professional accomplishments. Her contributions at Labcorp were recognized with the 2021 Labcorp Chairman’s Award. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys Pilates, golf, sports, music festivals, and spending time with her family; she was also formerly a certified Pilates instructor and taught Pilates for approximately 10 years. She attributes her career success to preparation, persistence, the support of family and friends, and being willing to pursue opportunities when they arise.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alice
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to preparation, persistence, the support of my family and friends, and taking advantage of opportunities when they arise. I believe being prepared allows me to recognize opportunities, while persistence helps me continue moving forward when challenges arise. The support and encouragement of the people around me have also played an important role in my professional journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to learn how to handle failure. Failure is an inevitable part of professional growth, and learning how to respond to it allows you to move forward, adapt, and become better at what you do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is not to wait until you feel completely ready. Pursue opportunities even when you do not believe you are fully qualified, because you will never know what is possible unless you apply. Be willing to learn along the way, take risks, and understand that opportunities can become important steps in your professional development.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is adapting to rapidly evolving technology. Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly significant part of healthcare and the broader business environment. At the same time, it is important to maintain the human experience. The opportunity is to embrace technological advancements while continuing to preserve meaningful communication, relationships, and the human element of healthcare and leadership.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are clear communication, supporting others, and building strong relationships. I believe effective communication creates trust and alignment, while supporting others helps teams and individuals grow. Relationship building is equally important because meaningful professional relationships create stronger teams and better long-term outcomes.
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