Alyssa Villanueva
Alyssa Villanueva is a seasoned IT Senior MES Technical Manager with more than 19 years of experience leading complex technology initiatives within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. She currently serves at Takeda in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, where she leads manufacturing execution systems (MES) strategy, deployment, and lifecycle management in a highly regulated environment. Known for her results-driven leadership style, she specializes in aligning business objectives with scalable technical solutions while building strong partnerships with executive stakeholders and cross-functional global teams. Alyssa has spent her entire 19-year career in biotech IT within the same organization through multiple acquisitions, beginning at Baxter International Inc. in a portfolio financial accounting role supporting IT department budgets despite not initially having an IT background. Her exposure to technology operations sparked a transition into IT, where she advanced from Business Systems Analyst to Project Coordinator and ultimately into Project Management and senior leadership roles. Over the course of her career, she developed deep expertise in implementing and managing enterprise platforms such as Labware LIMS for manufacturing sample tracking, ERP systems supporting supply chain and inventory management, and equipment calibration systems including Blue Mountain RAM. She also served as a Senior Global Project Manager, overseeing major implementations across laboratory systems, ERP platforms, and manufacturing execution solutions in highly regulated environments. Throughout her career, Alyssa has led large-scale, multi-million-dollar initiatives and is recognized for consistently delivering complex projects on time and within budget, often ahead of schedule. She attributes her success to adaptability, continuous learning, and a strong commitment to execution excellence, as well as her ability to lead cross-functional teams through challenges such as upstream delays and compressed timelines. She has been supported and mentored by industry leaders including Anil Bharwani and Steve Munoz, who have influenced her professional growth and leadership approach. Outside of her career, Alyssa enjoys outdoor activities and traveling and stays busy with her husband and teenage son, balancing a demanding professional life with a strong focus on family and personal time.
• Certified Scrum Master
• Business Analysis Certification
• Yellow Belt Certification
• University of Phoenix - BS, Business Management with a concentration in Project Management
• Nominated and Recognized as a Woman Leader at Takeda
• Project Management Institute
• Scrum Alliance
• Women at Takeda – Business Resource Group/Women’s Inclusion Network
• Habitat for Humanity
• Casa Pacifica (volunteering to make meals for less fortunate families)
• St. Joseph the Worker
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my ability and willingness to take on new things. I got into the IT department at Baxter 19 years ago, originally coming in as a portfolio financial accounting role managing budgets at the department level. I never had an IT background, but I always worked within IT. Just being part of that and seeing what types of roles are within IT got me interested, and I started off as a business systems analyst, learning the ins and outs of the business. That transitioned into a project coordinator role, working with various managers and helping them drive their projects. I think I've been very fortunate to be with the same company, even through multiple acquisitions, and my willingness to be open to new things and just taking it on, putting my 1000% into it, has been key to my success. I'm very fortunate and blessed to have been with ultimately the same company, just under different names, through the 19 years.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is believing in myself and knowing that I can take on anything that is given to me. Sometimes we doubt ourselves when something new comes along, but just being able to take on things with confidence, being able to drive it, and figuring out what needs to be taken care of and the next steps has been invaluable advice for me.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just know that it's a wonderful industry to work for, but it is very busy and chaotic with many challenges, because I think a lot of people don't quite understand what goes into working for a pharmaceutical company. Being patient is important, and just knowing that things won't always be perfect. You're gonna have your mountains you're gonna have to climb, but as long as you stay positive and network with the correct people to help you succeed within your role, you'll do just great.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In my field, one of the biggest challenges is balancing rapid digital transformation with the strict requirements of a highly regulated manufacturing environment, where system changes must meet compliance and validation standards. I also navigate complex global integrations, compressed timelines, and dependency-driven delays that can impact delivery. At the same time, these challenges create opportunities to modernize legacy systems, improve data-driven decision-making, and expand automation across manufacturing and laboratory operations. I see real potential in strengthening MES and digital platforms to improve efficiency, traceability and compliance. Not everything is going to be perfect, but success comes from staying adaptable, communicating clearly across teams, and consistently moving projects forward despite constraints
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is extremely important to me, as well as being positive at all times, even during the difficult times, though that's not easy. I think being patient is crucial, especially because working in our industry can get very chaotic. At the end of the day, we're making medications for patients and saving lives, so I always have to remember during those difficult times that we are doing a good thing at Takeda. The work I do is contributing to saving someone's life at the end of the day, and reeling back and remembering that, because we forget about that when things get chaotic.
Locations
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Los Angeles, CA 90039