Her Story
About Nikita
I'm a PhD-trained medical science liaison with experience across immunology, oncology, and neuroscience. After grad school and my PhD, the typical path is academia with postdoctoral fellowship and PI position, but I researched alternative options and found the MSL role through LinkedIn networking and podcasts from the Medical Science Liaison Society. I transitioned after my postdoctoral fellowship to get closer to patients, as industry work allows therapies to reach patients faster and influence treatment decisions directly. In my current role, I work on getting clinical trial sites for advanced cell therapies for patients with no other options, which has led to proud moments seeing patients in remission.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nikita
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having a supportive fiance, friends, and family who help during challenging times. I also have a hardworking mentality but understand the importance of balance in life. I have an optimistic personality, believing that if something doesn't work out despite my best efforts, something better will come along. A personal motto is that hard work beats talent.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Keep trying even after multiple rejections. Each attempt makes you better at the skill. Failure is the stepping stone to success. Put yourself out there to learn. If you gave it your all and it didn't work out, something better will come along.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is initial skepticism toward newer therapies. My role is to present neutral evidence and data. The opportunity comes when providers see the data and have an aha moment, realizing it can work better for patients, which impacts treatment choices positively.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is very important, including acting with urgency and hard work. Accountability is key - taking responsibility when things don't go as planned. Empathy is also valued in personal life. Honesty and integrity go hand in hand with accountability.
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