Osharae Harriot-Williams
Osharae Harriot-Williams is a senior sales operations leader, author, pastor, and life coach with more than a decade of experience in revenue operations and driving operational strategy across the life sciences and technology sectors. She currently serves as Senior Sales Operations Manager at Medidata Solutions, where she leads a distributed team across the United States and Europe responsible for complex quoting, pricing, and contract operations that support organizations conducting global clinical trials.
In this role, Osharae operates at the intersection of commercial strategy and operational execution. She oversees critical processes that enables sales teams to structure and deliver highly complex technology agreements while maintaining financial and contractual integrity. Her leadership helps align revenue operations with broader business objectives, enabling life sciences organizations to accelerate deal cycles, enhance forecasting accuracy, and improve overall commercial performance. Through her work, she contributes to the infrastructure that supports the development of innovative therapies and the advancement of clinical research worldwide.
Originally from Jamaica, Osharaes’ professional journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and determination. After immigrating to the United States, she faced the challenge familiar to many newcomers: questioning whether her background and qualifications would translate within the American corporate landscape. Rather than allowing those uncertainties to define her trajectory, she leveraged them as motivation to excel. Early in her career, she recognized the broader significance of the work she was doing; supporting the operational and technological systems that enable clinical trials to run efficiently and ultimately help bring new treatments to patients faster.
Over the course of more than twelve years in the industry, she has steadily advanced into leadership roles, developing deep expertise in revenue operations, contract governance, and cross-functional team leadership. Known for her strategic mindset and disciplined approach to operational excellence, Osharae has built a reputation as a trusted leader capable of navigating complex business environments while empowering high-performing teams.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Osharae is deeply committed to personal development and service. She is the bestselling author of Discovering Purpose in Chaos, Dearest Daughter and the visionary behind the book and podcast Parables for a Woman’s Heart, through which she encourages individuals to find purpose and resilience even during life’s most challenging seasons. Through her writing, speaking, and coaching, she continues to inspire others to pursue excellence while remaining grounded in faith, authenticity, and service.
Known for her people-centered leadership philosophy, Osharae believes that the most impactful leaders combine operational rigor with empathy and purpose. Whether guiding corporate teams, mentoring emerging professionals, or serving as a volunteer crisis counselor, she remains committed to using her influence to empower others and create meaningful, lasting impact.
• Pastor
• Leading with Purpose
• Influencing with Diplomacy
• Crisis Counselor
• The University of the West Indies, Mona- Bachelor's
• ENEB - Escuela de Negocios Europea de Barcelona- Master's
• Best-Selling Author
• Contributor to the group book Devotion with Queens (Parables for a Woman's Heart)
• Crisis Counselor
• Youth Empowerment
• Pastor
What do you attribute your success to?
One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is the work I do at Medidata Solutions. Medidata provides technology that supports clinical trials for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies around the world. Through data platforms and operational systems, the organization helps researchers run clinical trials more efficiently and bring new therapies to patients faster.
Knowing that my work contributes to that mission is deeply meaningful to me. When I hear patients share their stories about how life-saving treatments have impacted them or encourage those in the industry to keep doing this work because it truly changes lives, it reinforces the purpose behind what we do every day.
This mission became even more personal for me this year. One of my coworkers was diagnosed with cancer, and my mother-in-law was also diagnosed with lung cancer just a few months ago. After undergoing surgery, she is now cancer-free. Experiences like these remind me that the work we do in the life sciences industry is not abstract; it directly touches people’s lives. When I think about the role I play in helping improve the operational systems that support clinical trials and accelerate access to treatments, it strengthens my commitment to the work.
For me, success is not only about career advancement; it is about impact. It is about knowing that the work you do contributes to something greater than yourself and that your efforts are helping to bring hope and healing to others.
I also believe that influence does not always require being the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it comes from consistently showing up with excellence, integrity, and purpose. This year was a meaningful example of that for me. For me, that moment represented something powerful: when you remain committed to your purpose and the impact of your work, the opportunities meant for you will find you.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received was to remember that I am not meant to be like anyone else. Early in my career, my mentor reminded me that comparison can be one of the greatest barriers to growth. Each of us brings a unique perspective, background, and set of strengths into the workplace, and real leadership begins when you embrace that individuality rather than trying to replicate someone else’s path.
The second part of that advice was even more powerful: make sure your name enters rooms before you physically do. In other words, build a reputation for excellence, integrity, and consistency so that your work speaks for you even when you are not present. When you lead with professionalism, deliver results, and treat people with respect, your reputation becomes your greatest advocate.
That principle has guided me throughout my career. I’ve learned that when your work ethic and character are strong, opportunities often find you because your name has already created trust and credibility in the room.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Two values guide both my professional and personal life: balance and leading from the heart.
Balance is essential because success should never come at the expense of the things that matter most; our faith, our families, our health, and our overall well-being. In today’s fast-paced professional environment, it is easy to become consumed by achievement and performance. However, I believe true success is sustainable only when we create space for the relationships and values that ground us. It is absolutely possible to pursue excellence in one’s career while also nurturing the people and commitments that give life meaning.
Equally important is leading from the heart. Whether in corporate leadership, ministry, or any professional setting, I believe leaders should operate with empathy, integrity, passion, and purpose. Leadership is not just about results or metrics; it is ultimately about people. When leaders remain focused on the human impact of their work, they create environments where individuals feel seen, valued, and empowered to contribute their best.
For me, leadership always comes back to impact. When we show up authentically and genuinely care about the people we lead, we foster a culture where individuals feel safe to grow, innovate, and thrive. I have seen this firsthand with my own team. When people feel supported and valued, they naturally become more engaged and committed to the work we are doing together. That kind of environment doesn’t just drive performance; it builds trust, loyalty, and lasting impact.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in my field is contributing to the systems and operational strategies that help accelerate clinical trials and the delivery of innovative therapies, enabling patients to access life-saving treatments faster. Being part of an industry that directly impacts human health is both a responsibility and a privilege.
At the same time, there are real challenges that shape my perspective. As an immigrant, I experienced firsthand the uncertainty that many professionals face when trying to navigate a new system and prove that their qualifications and abilities translate within the American workforce. That journey has given me a deeper appreciation for resilience and the importance of creating opportunities for others who are navigating similar paths.
Beyond the workplace, my volunteer work has also exposed me to broader social and health challenges that communities continue to face, including youth suicide and families impacted by serious illnesses such as cancer. These experiences serve as a powerful reminder that our work and our leadership should always be rooted in compassion and purpose. For me, success is not only about professional advancement; it is about contributing to work that improves lives and supporting communities in meaningful ways.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my professional and personal life are leading from the heart and maintaining a strong sense of balance between my career, faith, and family. I believe that true success should never come at the expense of the relationships and principles that ground us.
In my leadership and in my personal life, I strive to operate with empathy, integrity, passion, and a clear sense of purpose. For me, leadership is not only about achieving results; it is about people. When we lead with authenticity and compassion, we create environments where individuals feel valued, supported, and empowered to bring their best selves to the work they do.
