Her Story
About Rasshmi
Rasshmi Shinde is a strategic sourcing and procurement leader with more than 25 years of experience spanning the pharmaceutical and clinical research industries. She launched her career in 1997 after completing a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree at Pune University, gaining early experience through an internship at Pfizer before joining a leading Indian pharmaceutical company, where she spent time in regulatory affairs before moving into international exports, managing product shipments across Africa, Europe, and the Americas. She went on to lead API sourcing initiatives spanning India, Singapore, the United States, and Europe, and later took on a national leadership role overseeing Indian operations and contract manufacturing.
Seeking to broaden her global business acumen, Rasshmi earned an Executive Diploma in International Business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, followed by an accelerated MBA from Hult International Business School in Boston—a milestone she pursued at age 37 while raising two young daughters in a new country. This pivot marked the beginning of an extensive career in the U.S. pharmaceutical and biotech sector, where she has held senior procurement and strategic sourcing positions at organizations including PAREXEL, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boston Scientific, and Ocular Therapeutix. Across these roles, she has built a reputation for driving cost savings, strengthening supplier performance, and ensuring compliance within highly regulated, GxP-driven environments, while negotiating complex master service agreements and statements of work. She currently serves as a Manager at Takeda, supporting Research and Development through cross-functional collaboration with supplier services teams.
Beyond her technical expertise in regulatory affairs, clinical outsourcing, vendor management, and category strategy, Rasshmi is known for mentoring young women entering the pharmaceutical field, encouraging them to seize opportunities and recognize the lasting value of every skill they acquire. Fluent in English and Hindi, she draws energy from collaborating with diverse teams and cultures, and has recently begun channeling her global expertise into consulting, guiding biotech startups on commercial strategy, outsourcing, and investment opportunities. Outside of her professional pursuits, she finds balance through travel, music, meditation, and time spent with her daughters.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rasshmi
01What do you attribute your success to?
I owe my success to a willingness to reinvent myself at every stage of my career. After earning my pharmacy degree in 1997 and completing an internship at Pfizer, I made the decision to pivot into the export side of the business. Later, at age 37, I uprooted my life to pursue a fast-track MBA in Boston. Balancing that intensive one-year program while raising two young daughters in a new country is one of the achievements I'm most proud of, and I couldn't have done it without the unwavering support of my family and my husband. I'm energized by the daily mosaic of cultures and backgrounds I get to collaborate with, and that has fueled my drive throughout my career. Outside of work, I recharge through traveling, music, meditation, and spending time with my daughters — I believe ambition and grace can coexist beautifully.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to grab every opportunity you get to shine, and to always do good work. Even the small things you learn across different jobs will prove useful later on — every skill has value. I'd also encourage young women to build strong professional references, as they will help you throughout your future career. Give your best forward, and the rest will follow.
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