Her words resonated with me as I contemplated starting a family and how it might impact my career. However, through Women in Pharma®, I witnessed mothers excelling at work and home, giving me hope that I could “have it all” too. I sought mentorship with these successful working mothers to uncover their secrets.
Secret 1: Create a Balance
The first secret I learned was to create balance in my life. At the start of my career, work was my primary focus. I traveled extensively, building biologic and plasma facilities globally, and worked long hours. These years were invaluable for my career growth and allowed me to build relationships worldwide which have molded who I am today. When I considered starting a family, I realized I needed to reshape my professional life to align with my career and family aspirations. This led me to Takeda because of their strong support of women in engineering and working mothers, two of my primary focuses at the time. Transitioning to an engineering role at a local site reduced my travel but as my family grew, I realized I needed even more flexibility. Fortunately, I found the flexibility I needed in a non-technical strategic role, allowing me to work hybrid and avoid on-call work during prime family time.
Secret 2: Find Ways to Maintain Balance
Balance is a tricky thing to maintain as personal priorities are always shifting. While transitioning to a non-technical role, I feared losing touch and confidence in my technical capabilities. This is where ISPE became my anchor. Active participation in local Chapter boards, Communities of Practice (CoPs), and conference planning committees allowed me to stay informed about industry trends and remain at the forefront of technological developments. ISPE has also supported my growth as a leader through opportunities to serve on local executive boards and chair the 2026 Facilities of the Future Conference Planning Committee. Through these experiences, ISPE has provided me with an outlet to stretch myself on my terms and in my time frame, allowing me to maintain my balance.
They say it takes a village, and Women in Pharma is the pub at the center of my village—a place to connect, celebrate successes, and confide in friends when struggling.
Secret 3: Embrace the Balance
Many women say, “I am a better mom because I work,” a sentiment that resonates with me. I also believe I am a better employee because I am a mom. Motherhood has broadened my perspective and expanded my thinking. It has encouraged me to take risks and make career shifts I might not have otherwise. The new balance I have created keeps me energized at work and home. It allows my head to be where my feet are—focused on work while at work, and on family while at home. This enables me to be more efficient with my time and reduces the stress of trying to do it all at once. As priorities shift, I remain focused on the balance, as I have learned it is the key to my success.
Through my evolving roles at Takeda and ISPE, I have developed my version of “having it all.” Each woman has her definition, but for me, “having it all,” means creating peace with what I can achieve today and finding, maintaining, and embracing my balance. They say it takes a village, and Women in Pharma is the pub at the center of my village—a place to connect, celebrate successes, and confide in friends when struggling. Most importantly, it’s a place I know will always be there when I need it, no matter the problem.
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