Favorite Parts of Working in the Biotech Industry as an Assistant Program Manager
Angel, an Assistant Program Manager at American Biotech Co., highlights the industry's innovative spirit, noting its origins "on a paper napkin" and the need for individuals to be "comfortable with uncertainty." Success requires "thinking outside the box" and embracing change, lest one become a "blockbuster or any other fortune 500 company that does not last."
Innovation, Resourcefulness, Uncertainty Tolerance, Ingenuity, Adaptability
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Angel Torres
Assistant Program Manager
American Biotech Co.
University of California, Davis
University of Oklahoma, Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (2022); University of California, Los Angeles, Masters in Business Administration (2025)
Political Science, American Studies
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical
Operations and Project Management
Disabled, Scholarship Recipient, Veteran
Video Highlights
1. The biotech industry values resourceful and innovative individuals who are comfortable with uncertainty.
2. The industry thrives on ingenuity and requires a willingness to embrace change and think outside the box.
3. A career in biotech demands continuous innovation to keep up with advancements and avoid becoming obsolete, mirroring the dynamic nature of the tech industry.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
That's a great question. People in this industry are resourceful and innovative. This industry started on a paper napkin in a bar in San Francisco, or rather, South San Francisco.
They were discussing how to make cells in the human body react in a way that promotes healing. They debated what could be done to the cell and what could be added. That's how cell therapies and the biotech industry literally began on a paper napkin.
Therefore, you have to be innovative and comfortable with uncertainty. If you're comfortable with certainty, you won't do well in an industry based on ingenuity. This industry thrives on innovation.
You could say the same for the tech industry; you have to continue to innovate and not fear change. Those who fear change get left behind. They risk becoming like companies that don't last longer than a generation.
So, be mindful of that. To succeed in this industry, you have to be innovative, think outside the box, and be comfortable with uncertainty.