Here's how you can build resilience in the challenging biotechnology field.

El aprendizaje continuo ha sido un pilar en mi carrera en diagnóstico clínico, especialmente durante los desafíos de la pandemia. La biotecnología, al estar en constante cambio, exige que los líderes no solo se adapten, sino que se anticipen a las nuevas tendencias. En mi equipo, fomento una cultura de actualización permanente, ofreciendo capacitaciones y promoviendo el acceso a nuevas investigaciones. Este enfoque proactivo no solo ha mejorado nuestras habilidades técnicas, sino que ha reforzado nuestra capacidad de respuesta ante los desafíos más complejos en el laboratorio.

Continuous learning is the key to open doors. In the core business of biotech it helps to stay up to date on new developments and new research results. Once moving into leadership roles - whether in a large enterprise or a startup - it helps to move from individual contributor to managing teams and employees. Important is the decision what to learn next. What is your goal for the next year, next 3 years? What's the plan to get there? Which steps need more solid foundation with training?

Durante mi trayectoria como director de un laboratorio clínico, la creación de redes ha sido fundamental para impulsar la resiliencia, especialmente durante la pandemia. Establecer conexiones con colegas y líderes en biotecnología nos permitió acceder a recursos clave en momentos críticos, así como aprender de experiencias compartidas. Estas relaciones fueron vitales para superar obstáculos inesperados, permitiendo una adaptación más rápida a nuevas tecnologías y metodologías. Aprovechar la red profesional no solo fortalece al equipo, sino que también abre nuevas oportunidades para la innovación y el crecimiento continuo.

The saying goes: "You're the average of your 5 closest friends." In professional networking this applies too. It's not just about having a network that you're able to seek help from, it's also the opportunity to offer help. The more you help and explain concepts to others, the more you understand yourself. And of course networking widely helps to have people think of you and your skills even when you're not around.

En el ámbito del diagnóstico clínico, gestionar riesgos es esencial para garantizar resultados consistentes y de calidad, especialmente durante tiempos de alta demanda como la pandemia. La anticipación de desafíos, como problemas de suministro o cambios regulatorios, nos permitió desarrollar planes de contingencia sólidos que mantuvieron la continuidad operativa. La implementación de estas estrategias, alineadas con los riesgos específicos de biotecnología, no solo minimizó los impactos adversos, sino que también fortaleció la confianza del equipo y nuestra capacidad para adaptarnos rápidamente a escenarios inciertos.

The risk in biotech companies is often higher than in many other industries. It's not just the regulatory risks or the nature of the production process but also the entire supply chain. Probabilities are hard to estimate in particular if the company is young. However, focus, instead, on the space of solution options and ability to recover. If a supplier is high risk but 2 others are in the market, the risk may be acceptable. On the other hand, if a production batch fails, you'll be stuck until the next batch is available (or for startups, the cash to produce another one). In all activities, the scientific mantra of failure is acceptable, a sloppy process is not, should help to navigate the risks.

Durante mi experiencia liderando equipos en diagnóstico clínico, el cociente de adaptabilidad (AQ) ha sido tan crucial como la experiencia técnica. En biotecnología, la capacidad de adaptarse rápidamente a nuevos procedimientos, tecnologías y situaciones inesperadas fue clave para superar los retos de la pandemia. Fomentar una mentalidad flexible dentro de mi equipo nos permitió pivotar con agilidad cuando los proyectos cambiaron de rumbo. Ver los contratiempos como oportunidades de aprendizaje no solo fortaleció nuestra resiliencia, sino que también impulsó nuestro crecimiento colectivo en un entorno dinámico.

Adaptability is one of the most important skills for anyone in any industry. For biotech companies the source of the need to pivot may be different (in many other industries its mostly the customer) but the effect is the same. The right mindset is a combination of the growth mindset, pragmatism and determination. In a way, it's important to not focus too much on the goal or the end result but instead enjoy the way to get there. Thus, when the goal has to change, the way may change too but if you can find something interesting and enjoyable about it (growth mindset), it's easier to figure out what to do next to achieve the goal (pragmatism) and keep doing it to get to the goal (determination).

Hi there, my name is Boipelo "Self-Care" Ncholo. One of the biggest lessons I've learned in the biotechnology field is that resilience begins with taking care of yourself. Without well-being, it's hard to maintain the energy and passion that this industry demands. Just this past weekend, I took time for some much-needed self-care after a busy week. Simple acts, like using my favorite eye masks, may seem small, but they make a big difference in how I feel physically and mentally. When I take care of myself, I can show up fully in every area of my life—whether in the lab or in meetings. While learning, engaging, and adapting are key, they all rely on a solid foundation of self-care to keep me resilient and productive.

Self-care is the difference of caring about your life outside work and your life interrupting your work. A technique I'm using to get the balance right is to think about the most important aspects in my life: Work and research, family and friends, hobbies and exercise, mental and physical health, (and add your own). Then defining which activities to do for each one. And then scheduling each of them. Thus making sure, that all aspects of my life get planned. In the past I only had a to do list for work and as a result, everything else only got the time that was left over. It may sound weird to schedule family and friends but you get the important activities taken care of. And nobody stops me from being spontaneous on top of that.

¡La resiliencia en biotecnología no se encuentra, se construye! Aquí tienes 3 consejos para fortalecer tu capacidad de adaptación: 1. Implementa "Micro-pausas de aprendizaje". Dedica 20 minutos diarios a explorar nuevas técnicas o descubrimientos. Comparte estos hallazgos en reuniones para fomentar una cultura de crecimiento continuo. 2. Crea un "Círculo de Resiliencia". Reúne mensualmente a colegas de diferentes áreas para compartir desafíos superados y estrategias exitosas, fortaleciendo el apoyo mutuo. 3. Establece "Rituales de Reflexión". Agenda 15 minutos cada viernes para documentar logros y aprendizajes de la semana, resgistrando el crecimiento personal. ¿Cómo construyes tu resiliencia en biotecnología? Comparte tus experiencias.