Elizabeth Stutzmann

I think having an attitude of being open to trying again when you fail and finding the next best thing is very important. It is also critical to find good mentors and people to support you when you aren’t sure where to turn and who tell you honestly when you need to change your approach. It is key to be open to feedback when it comes your way and see it as an opportunity to improve.

I've recently joined a global role instead of site-based supporting roles, and I just recall one of my mentors in my career just saying I was getting a lot of really good experience at the site, but he was very encouraging for me to kind of seek out more of a global role. This has really given me a new perspective on both sides of the coin, and it also has given me a lot more opportunity to present to leadership and be a lot closer to leadership and make a lot more of those leadership calls. It is also great to be in an opportunity where I have the ability to work with multiple sites from a global standpoint and help coordinate and work together. It gives you much more an interesting experience and sets you up well for success and leadership roles.

I would say don't get discouraged. I feel like being a woman in a technical role is always challenging. Sometimes it's hard to carry yourself the right way where you feel like you're getting the respect you deserve and people are trusting your technical opinions. It can be very challenging as a woman in a technical field to not get discouraged. I know part of it is corporate America, but it can be very challenging for women to achieve success in an area where older men in the field aren't used to women being necessarily in a manufacturing field and what you may bring to the table. I think that's been a very challenging thing for me, and I think it's just very important in understanding that you might have to kind of change the way you're approaching things, even though it doesn't feel right a lot of the time, and it is hard to stay authentic to yourself. I just try, in that situation, to say, “You know what, maybe this is who I have to be to be successful in this role for now, maybe I can find something that's a more supportive environment, and maybe I can try to be the person that's more supportive for other women who are facing this challenge too.” So I would say don't get discouraged, but also if you notice that you're in this environment where it just feels like it's very male-dominated maybe you can try to be the support for other women or make it a more welcoming environment for everyone as well.

I would say the biggest challenge right now and always is developing successful candidates that make it through clinical trials and onto the commercial market. Beyond that, it is also a challenge to ensure that we are continuing to manufacture to the highest quality standards and to find ways to improve the process so we continue to serve patients to the best of our ability.

It is most important to me to be in a strong team that’s supportive and can work together. Outside of work, I definitely try to prioritize my relationships with friends and family and keeping myself healthy and happy.