Influential Woman · PR Communications

Kaila Parker

Senior Account Executive, LifeSci Communications

Austin, TX

5Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience Degree University of Texas at Austin Degree Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience with minor in Statistics Degree DePaul University Cert PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience Cert Certified Yoga Instructor Member International Association of Yoga Therapy (former board member)

Her Story

About Kaila

I got my PhD in behavioral neuroscience from UT Austin, and early on in my PhD career, I knew that I didn't want to go the traditional academic route. I'm kind of like a natural speaker, and I like talking to people. I actually got a lot of side-eyes and annoyed looks when I would be at the bench doing lab work, because all I wanted to do was just talk about research and the things that we were doing. I quickly knew early on in my PhD that my favorite part about my program was talking about the research and translating it for multiple different types of audiences, going to conferences, and judging science fairs. That was ultimately what led me down to the science communications and PR path. I've always had a sweet spot for patient outcomes, particularly in biotech and biopharma. The company I'm at now, LifeSci Communications, is exactly that. I do all sorts of communication strategy for early biotech and biopharma companies, ones that are still getting started in their garage, all the way to commercialization, helping with patient recruitment and really focusing in on how to best impact patients in the indication spaces that they're working with. My favorite part of signing with a new company or client is hearing where they're at, and then best figuring out where to go from there, figuring out for them how to talk about themselves in a constructive way within the guidelines of the FDA or with other competitors. It's like a really fun puzzle for me to figure out the verbiage that works for them and that's also understandable for their patient populations, their investors, and patient advocacy groups.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Kaila

01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Stay eager, and ask every single question, and talk to the people around you. When I had first started out in my PhD program, I was like, I know I don't want to do academia, I'm not sure what I want to do, but I don't know who to ask, or if I even should ask. And it ended up being that I did talk to my advisor, and she said, you know, I don't know how to help you, but I'll get you there, I'll help you try to get there, I'll try to connect to the right people. So really leaning into a trusted network that you have of if anybody knows anything about what you want to do, or if you're like, I might have an interest in this, ask about it, and chase after that, and be proactive, and be curious about what your interests are, because it might just take you to where you want to be.

02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think in this industry, for someone who's very patient outcomes focused and wants the best for the end result of ultimately what the goal is for these companies, the financial gain and business objectives are something that is still hard for me to grapple with sometimes. We're obviously, yes, these companies need to make money, but I think sometimes, ethically, I'm like, ugh, but you're making money off of an indication that patients really need this, and sometimes it does feel hard of, you know, certain CEOs or CBOs of, are you doing this because you actually care, or is it because it feels like an opportunity in the market for you to make money? I think in my previous role, even in academic research as a PhD student, it's hard to stand up for yourself, especially in grad school where you're kind of at the helm of your research advisor and what they want to do. There's a cycle from the 60s and 70s, and probably through the 90s, honestly, of toxic academic environments where it's just how it is, like, of course you get reamed out in front of a room of people by your advisor or your dissertation committee. I think kind of learning how to effectively break this cycle is tough, and being able to stand up for yourself within reason, without constantly coming up with something to potentially complain about, but knowing that it's within your rights to say something and speak up.

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