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Harold, IT Manager at Public Bay Area Biotech: Advize Career Interview
An IT Manager's journey in biotech began unconventionally, navigating IT sales and a brief pre-med detour before finding a niche "keeping the lights on" at a Public Bay Area Biotech company.
Day to day is a dynamic mix of tackling incidents, managing a team, and ensuring alignment with stakeholders, requiring adaptability and problem-solving skills.
However, the real key to success lies in being a "decent human being" with strong communication skills, fostering trust and collaboration to overcome challenges like breakdowns in communication that erode team cohesion.
The most rewarding aspect is solving problems for others and equipping the team for success, all while contributing to cutting-edge technologies like targeted gene editing that ultimately further humanity.
While a strong academic background may be valued in the biotech industry, building relationships and maintaining professionalism, especially given the regulated nature of biotech, are crucial.
For aspiring IT professionals, entry-level roles like help desk technician can be accessible with certifications, and proactive experience-gathering is key to paving the way towards an exciting and fulfilling career in biotech IT.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Harold Wong
IT Manager
Public Bay Area Biotech
CUNY, NYU
NA
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Computer Science
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical
Cyber Security and IT
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path of an IT Manager at Public Bay Area Biotech
Harold's initial foray into IT began pre-college with an IT sales job to fund education, but the role focused heavily on customer service and upselling rather than technical work, "they didn't let me touch a computer". College courses emphasized programming and high-level math, which Harold found largely irrelevant to hands-on IT work, leading to an exploratory detour into pre-med, ultimately solidifying a path in IT management rather than medicine when Harold's brother excelled in organic chemistry.
Main Responsibilities Of An IT Manager At A Public Bay Area Biotech Company
Harold, an IT Manager, primarily focuses on "keeping the lights on" in IT operations, handling incidents and outages while also managing a team of help desk admins and backend network/server personnel. Playing the "go between", responsibilities include ensuring work is completed on time, SLAs are met, and projects stay aligned with stakeholder expectations, with the ability to step into any of their roles as needed.
A Day In The Life Of An IT Manager At Public Bay Area Biotech
An IT Manager's day at a biotech company typically begins with addressing a flood of emails and unresolved issues, then prioritizing tasks which could involve creating dashboards or investigating security concerns; the manager also focuses on team performance, offering guidance on lingering tickets by saying "oh, we had this issue before," and directing the team to the knowledge base. However, "in IT you have these always, you have these unexpected things," suggesting a constant need to adapt to unforeseen challenges.
Most Important Skills for an IT Manager at a Bay Area Biotech
Harold, an IT Manager at a Bay Area Biotech firm, believes that the most crucial skill for an IT professional is being "a decent human being," emphasizing interpersonal and communication skills as the "foundation of everything" because technical skills can be learned, but trust and collaboration are essential for success; without those skills, "no one would really want to talk to you" or bring problems to be solved, which undermines the role's value.
Favorite Parts of Being an IT Manager at Public Bay Area Biotech
Harold, an IT Manager, finds the most joy in "solving issues" for others, acting as a "savior" by reducing their problems, and in managing the team by equipping them with the necessary tools to succeed and resolving any challenges that arise, viewing each day as a unique puzzle to solve.
Biggest Challenges Faced By An IT Manager At A Public Bay Area Biotech Company
Harold, an IT Manager at a Bay Area biotech company, finds the biggest challenge in the role to be the "breakdown of communication" with both stakeholders and team members, observing instances where individuals withhold information due to fear or embarrassment, or when teammates avoid disclosing personal issues affecting their work. This lack of open communication "erodes the trust that we should all have" and hinders Harold's ability to provide support and solutions.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Biotech Industry as an IT Manager
Harold enjoys being in the biotech industry because it allows one to work with "cutting edge technology" and contribute to something larger, such as "furthering humanity in a good way" through developing targeted viruses for gene editing. Harold's previous work involved exploring viruses beyond the standard CRISPR-associated virus, tailoring them to target specific areas of the body like the liver or bone marrow for more effective gene therapies.
What Type of Person Thrives in Biotech, According to an IT Manager at a Bay Area Biotech
Harold, an IT Manager in biotech, believes strong communication skills are crucial for thriving in IT within that field, as clear communication allows managers to advocate for one's needs and collaborate on solutions; however, Harold also notes that the biotech industry overall requires individuals to be "very learned" with many roles demanding at least a master's degree, if not a PhD, indicating a strong emphasis on scientific knowledge.
What An IT Manager At A Bay Area Biotech Wishes They Knew Before Biotech
Harold, an IT Manager at a Bay Area biotech company, wishes someone had emphasized the importance of maintaining a professional demeanor at work, despite the prevalent "work hard, play hard" mentality and the friendly atmosphere that many tech companies in the Bay Area foster. Harold notes that biotech companies are "strictly regulated," and one must always be "on it and on top of your game."
Entry Level Positions For Aspiring IT Managers At Public Bay Area Biotech
Harold, an IT Manager, suggests that entry-level IT roles don't necessarily require a degree, as certifications are a valid alternative and provide a structured learning path, especially for roles like "computer technician help desk" where an A+ certification could be beneficial. Aspiring IT professionals should also analyze job postings to identify desired qualifications and proactively gain relevant experience through personal projects or by seeking similar projects within their current role to work towards their career goals.
College Experiences That Helped an IT Manager at a Bay Area Biotech Succeed
Harold feels that college was "kind of a waste" academically for IT Management, but emphasizes the immense value of the relationships built with fellow students who can later provide career opportunities like referrals, calling it "a foot in the door." Harold suggests that taking advantage of relationship and communication building is more valuable than technical knowledge, drawing comparison to college dropouts who found success through their networks.
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