Her Story
About Shakila
Shakila Shaik is a clinical research professional with six years of experience across pharmaceuticals and medical devices. She most recently served as Senior Clinical Research Associate at IQVIA for four years before resigning to prioritize work-life balance, where her work encompassed research management, trial management, site management, monitoring, project management, patient care, recruitment, and safety in Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials as well as Class III medical devices. Shakila holds a Master's degree in Biotechnology from Andhra University in India, obtained between 2007 and 2009, a certification in clinical trials, drug development, and device management from the University of California, Irvine, and a licensed vocational nurse license from California State. She is actively involved in community volunteering through the women's team at the Islamic Association of Morrisville, North Carolina, organizing educational outreach, Zumba classes, healthcare awareness seminars, and social events, and with KIRAN, a nonprofit supporting South Asian women who have experienced domestic abuse by providing legal and financial assistance, a helpline, community outreach, and fundraising galas. Shakila attributes her success to perseverance and the support of her husband, and she values ethics in research with patient safety as a top priority, along with dedicating time to family.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shakila
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think there are two things. Perseverance, like believing that things can be done in the beginning, but all you need to do is believe it, that it can be done. And also I give credit to my partner as well, my husband. He's super supportive and he supports in every other way. I feel like partners play a key role in their marriage and in their successes.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I did have mentors when I joined IQVIA. A very influential mentor. They said there would be difficulties. My job is hospitals and site management, clinical site management and hospitals. So we do interact with a lot of doctors and nurses, so it's a lot of people management too. The patience is the best advice I got during my research, and also think from their perspective. Try to put yourself in others' shoes to see perspective and understand what they are trying to tell, because that makes communication easy. It was more like patience, open communication, and understanding others' point of view. Open to learn, open to understand what they are trying to tell you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Passionate. Don't think that industry standards are industry standards. Have done things that nobody believed I could be doing. Following through your passion and believing. These two will get you opportunities. Work hard, and then yourself and your work cannot do it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
With all of the advancements especially since COVID, and also now with the advancements of AI. It is not monitoring is not traditional anymore. Where the person is actually needed, and going through the data and making sure the processes are done correctly or not. The industry is going to change with the innovation and technology. It is important to recognize the gaps and to be ready to fill that, because those gaps might be bigger than we actually realize. Staying proactive is extremely important, and trying to understand the gaps between innovation and research and making sure we are ready to fill in the gaps and trying to recognize the problems before we actually get into that.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say ethics play a major key role in research. I value because patient safety comes first. The patient has agreed to use a medicine that hasn't been approved by the FDA. That means they are willing to give their best health in your hands. So ethics play a super key important role in my work role. In my personal life, I feel like giving time. It's important to give your family the time you give to the society and your research and your personal, you know, professional life. At the end of the day, you work from 9 to 5, and you come back. I feel like it is important to give that, and have that.
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