From Lab Bench to Leadership: Navigating the Transition to Biotech Leadership Through Executive Coaching
by Leslie Kaufman
Long days turn into long nights studying biology, chemistry, physics, and the myriad of other subjects that result in the depth of knowledge required for a successful career in the sciences. Years are spent tending to experiments in labs or toiling over patients in an effort to achieve the coveted PhD, MD, and sometimes, both. Successful academic careers, where individual achievements result in highly coveted accolades and rewards, often lead those in them to pursue the complex, risky, and potentially highly rewarding world of biotech.
And then, suddenly thrust into a world where collaboration is valued over independence, where leadership involves influencing others, where technical expertise gets trumped by an ability to think strategically, these same individuals find themselves struggling. Very few recognize, until they are in it, the shift in mindset and skillset that is required to thrive in the multifaceted, cross-functional organizations that make up most biotech companies.
Over the course of a career – often with many missteps along the way – some are able to develop the right combination of intellect and emotional intelligence required to thrive in leadership roles. But how many attempts (and potentially successful leaders) get thwarted as they run up against the same problems again and again?
They are…
- Too in the weeds
- Not strategic enough
- Overly controlling and non-collaborative
- Not team/enterprise focused
- Lacking executive presence
Very often, an inability to overcome these challenges stems from an individual’s inability to understand organizational dynamics and the role they play in influencing them. With the help of an experienced executive coach, a motivated leader can gain the insights required to transform their impact on their organizations. Working together over several months, the coach and the leader use a combination of self-assessment and feedback to identify not only critical developmental areas, but also the (often overlooked) strengths that can and should be leveraged as well. The coach provides a safe, confidential space for the individual to share concerns, ideas, approaches and in some ways, a laboratory to experiment with new, more effective behaviors.
Executive coaching requires a commitment of time and money, but given the high-stakes nature of the work done at biotech companies, it is vital to give every leader the optimal chance of success. A company’s ability to harness both the scientific excellence and leadership capabilities of its employees is the key to building and sustaining a competitive advantage in the always-evolving biotech world.
