Her Story
About Claribel
Claribel Colon serves as Director of Compliance and Training Administration at QualTex Laboratories, a non-profit laboratory specializing in testing services for blood and tissue products. Since joining the organization in 2018, she has been instrumental in developing and managing training programs that support regulatory compliance, employee readiness, and operational excellence within a highly regulated laboratory environment. Her responsibilities include overseeing training activities, ensuring employees complete required education programs accurately and on schedule, maintaining training resources, and supporting compliance initiatives related to laboratory operations, investigations, and customer requirements. Colon holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, earned in 1998, and brings extensive experience across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food industries, laboratory operations, quality systems, and education. With 22 years of experience in regulated industries and four years in education, she has successfully combined her scientific background and instructional expertise to create impactful learning solutions. Her experience includes quality assurance, quality control, cGMP compliance, laboratory investigations, validation processes, and continuous improvement initiatives. Throughout her career, Colon has demonstrated a strong ability to design innovative training strategies that enhance employee performance and organizational success. One of her most notable accomplishments was developing a comprehensive training program and career progression framework for laboratory technologists, introducing cross-training opportunities and clear advancement pathways that contributed to reducing staff turnover from more than 20 percent to approximately 7 percent. She attributes her success to strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and building partnerships with colleagues whose strengths complement her own. Guided by values of accountability and responsibility, Colon remains committed to developing people and strengthening quality cultures.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Claribel
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to recognizing and leveraging my strengths, particularly my ability to solve problems, navigate complex challenges, and create solutions that support others. I focus on understanding issues, identifying opportunities for improvement, and collaborating with colleagues whose skills and perspectives complement my own. By building strong partnerships and embracing teamwork, I have been able to achieve meaningful results while continuing to learn, grow, and contribute to the success of the organizations I support.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was to focus less on pursuing additional degrees and instead prioritize gaining meaningful, diverse experiences that would broaden my perspective and strengthen my professional capabilities. That guidance helped me understand the value of learning through different roles, challenges, and opportunities, allowing me to develop a well-rounded skill set and a deeper understanding of the organizations and people I support. By building experience across multiple areas, I have been able to grow professionally, adapt to new challenges, and bring a broader perspective to my work.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be confident in their knowledge and never be afraid to share their perspectives. Take the time to learn as much as possible about your field, ask questions, and develop a strong understanding of the topics that matter most. When you build expertise and trust in your abilities, you can become a valuable voice within your organization and position yourself as a knowledgeable and respected professional. Confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to contribute are key to creating meaningful impact and advancing in your career.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the industry today is navigating a more traditional market where growth in areas such as blood product testing can be limited. However, there are also significant opportunities emerging through advancements in areas like advanced therapies and cellular therapies. These evolving fields allow laboratories to play an important role in supporting innovative treatments and contributing to the development of solutions that can improve patient outcomes. By embracing innovation and adapting to new technologies, the industry has the opportunity to expand its impact and continue advancing healthcare.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Accountability and responsibility are the values that guide me both professionally and personally. I believe in holding myself to a high standard, taking ownership of my commitments, and stepping in to support others whenever there is a need. Whether I am solving complex challenges at work, collaborating with colleagues, or leading my team, I strive to make a positive impact through reliability, service, and a willingness to help others succeed.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.