Thermo Fisher Scientific

Tell us about your experience with the Leadership Program and what it involved!

I joined Thermo Fisher Scientific as part of the first-ever Graduate Program cohort in 2020. I got to rotate through Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs (QARA), Sales, and Marketing. Each rotation had a mix of cross-functional projects and daily tasks, which gave me a lot of variety and the chance to learn about different functions. I got to lead meaningful projects and really contribute to team goals. After a short time in Regulatory Affairs post-program, I'm now enjoying my role as a Biosciences marketing specialist.

What are some of the perks and benefits of working at Thermo Fisher?

For me, the people make a huge difference. I've met some amazing people at Thermo Fisher, from the other graduates in the program to my managers and colleagues. Everyone is driven, friendly, and super helpful. I also love how we genuinely work together towards our mission every day. I was a bit skeptical at first, but I quickly realized that Thermo Fisher's mission of "enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer" is something we truly live by.

Tell us about your experience with the Leadership Program and what it involves?

The Leadership Program involved rotating through three 8-month roles over two years. My first role was as a Financial Planning and Analysis business partner for the Specialty Diagnostics and Analytical Instruments Groups. This challenging position pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me develop financial acumen while gaining commercial insights. Next, I became an Associate Product Manager with the Third-Party Lab Consumables team, where I learned to manage key stakeholders and oversee the product lifecycle. My final rotation was with the Service (Engineering) division, focusing on optimising our service delivery process. Additionally, we were encouraged to take leadership roles in social clubs within the company, further expanding our leadership, people management, and organisational skills.

How has the graduate program supported you in launching your career?

The graduate program significantly advanced my career by offering diverse experiences and skill development. It enabled me to build professional relationships and immerse myself in the MedTech industry. The blend of technical and soft skills I gained has been invaluable in addressing complex challenges and contributing to healthcare advancements. These experiences were crucial in my current role as a Field Engineer for the Parkville Health Precinct, specialising in Life Science and Specialty Diagnostic instruments. The program facilitated a natural transition into this role, where I now witness firsthand how medical technologies improve health outcomes daily.

Tell us about your experience with the Leadership Program and what it involved!

Within the Leadership Program, my first rotation was in the Sales department where I covered various customer accounts and product portfolios. An essential role of Sales is to build and maintain positive customer relationships and act as the conduit for the customer and the rest of the commercial organisation. Daily tasks in Sales involve customer interactions via email, phone or in-person and creating quotes.

My second rotation put me outside of my comfort that led to one of my most significant professional growth developments; Finance. The Financial Planning & Analysis department partners with commercial leaders to provide revenue forecasting, track sales performance to targets, and build budgets. Finance provides an opportunity to progress analytical skills and work with business Directors that no other department offers.

My third rotation within Product Management allowed me to leverage the skills that I built upon in my first two rotations. A Product Manager is involved in managing a certain portfolio of products such as phasing out products at the end of their lifecycle, introducing new products to market, and planning product strategies. After my two-year Graduate program, I secured an Associate position as a Product Manager which is my current role.

How has Thermo Fisher Scientific supported your personal growth?

The Graduate program helped me develop soft skills that go beyond the workplace, like adapting to different personality styles and positively connecting with people around me. At the beginning of the program, each of us in the cohort completed a DiSC analysis. This analysis identifies your personality style, preferences, and priorities within the DiSC model and offers tips on how to strengthen relationships with people who have different styles.

Keeping this in mind during my time at Thermo Fisher, I reflected on my own personality style and tried to understand others' priorities and behaviors. This has helped me grow personally. For those curious, I have a clear 'C' personality style, which means I prioritize accuracy, logic, and efficiency. 

How does Thermo Fisher promote continuous learning and development?

Thermo Fisher is really dedicated to helping employees grow and develop their careers. They offer a Clinical Foundation Program that includes both instructor-led and self-learning options, giving deep insights into their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). They also have various soft-skills development trainings and role-specific department training, which are key for career advancement. Collaboration is a big part of the company culture, with teams regularly brainstorming, sharing ideas, and exchanging knowledge. I've been lucky to participate in monthly departmental meetings, Clinical Research Associate (CRA) forums, and networking events. It's been really fulfilling to see Thermo Fisher win the 'Pharmatimes Clinical Researcher competition' and hear inspiring stories from colleagues that motivate everyone.

What opportunities have you had for professional growth at Thermo Fisher?

Diversity and Inclusion are core values here, and they really help build trust and empathy. Starting my first role as a Clinical Trial Coordinator during COVID was pretty daunting, but the strong sense of teamwork made me feel like I belonged. As a new employee, I went through an extensive induction program and was assigned a mentor. Regular check-ins with my line managers helped me understand the growth opportunities at Thermo Fisher. I've had the chance to observe remote and onsite visits, and attending client and investigator meetings both in and outside of Australia has helped me get involved with cross-functional teams. I've been moving on to more complex studies and developing the skills I need. Recently, I even got to take on a leading role in APAC, supporting the Clinical Team Manager (CTM) during their leave. This gave me a better understanding of project management.

How long have you been with Thermo Fisher and what has kept you here?

I've been with PPD, part of Thermo Fisher, for the past three years. I started as a Clinical Trial Coordinator Local (CTC-L) and moved up to a Clinical Research Associate (CRA). The mix of challenging work, continuous growth opportunities, and a positive workplace environment has kept me engaged. Managing complex and fast-recruiting studies with tight deadlines and finding innovative solutions to day-to-day problems has pushed me to keep improving. The company's commitment to learning and growth, with tailored training programs and support systems like work buddies, has helped me deepen my industry knowledge and take on more responsibilities. Working with supportive colleagues and effective leadership in a place where ideas flourish and teamwork is valued has been crucial to my job satisfaction.

What career paths do people take after working in this role? What career path did you take?

Being a CRA opens up a lot of career opportunities that can fit different life stages and interests. You can move up to become a Senior or Principal CRA, a Clinical Team Manager, or even a People Manager. I chose the path to become a CRA and eventually a Principal CRA. There are plenty of opportunities to travel and get onsite experience while still having the flexibility to work remotely. Building strong customer relationships has let me see the impact of my contributions firsthand, giving me a sense of purpose and fulfillment as I advance in a career that aligns with my passion for enhancing patient care.

How has your career progressed from starting as a Clinical Trial Coordinator (CTC)?

I started in the CTC role, where I provided administrative support to my project teams. It was here that I built my first-ever Investigator Site File and gained significant knowledge of essential documents.

Moving to the Assistant Clinical Research Associate (ACRA) role, I took on more responsibilities by becoming the primary point of contact for my sites, handling all aspects of in-house site management, from site management calls to remote training sessions.

I then transitioned to the Clinical Research Associate role, where I conducted onsite visits, ensured protocol adherence, and maintained data integrity.

Now, I’m a more experienced CRA, I continue to refine my skills as a monitor, handling more complex trials in different therapeutic areas.

What development opportunities were available to you throughout your career?

I’ve been fortunate to have a variety of development opportunities that have contributed to my career progression.

As a CTC/ACRA, I participated in the ACE-Program which was a mix of self-lead trainings, training workshops and quizzes.

Prior to transitioning to the CRA role, I also completed the Clinical Foundation Program and CRA Academy which builds on clinical research industry experience and enables effective monitoring of clinical studies.