A Q&A session with Suvoda’s IRT Project Manager about her day-to-day, our culture & core values, and how she’s grown her career in the past year.
As we grow, we are evolving our company culture to become more grounded in both personal and professional development. One of our greatest assets is our people! This drives us to continually invest in giving our coworkers the opportunity to grow and evolve within the company.
We sat down with one of our Associate Project Managers turned Project Manager, Maria Nicholson, to talk about the ins and outs of her role and how she’s grown in the past year.
What did you do before joining Suvoda?
I graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and didn’t really know what I wanted to do afterwards. I knew I was interested in Health Sciences and had a tech background, so I did some searching – found Suvoda – and here I am, 2 years later!
So you started as an Associate Project Manager, what was your favorite part of that role?
I really liked that I was able to do a lot of different things as an Associate Project Manager (APM), I helped the Project Manager with tasks like trouble-shooting issues, working with our clients to make sure all project requirements are met, and providing system training. Being an APM gave me the opportunity to see the many aspects of not just the Project Manager role, but every role at Suvoda. It gave me the opportunity to explore different aspects of the IRT world and truly understand the clinical trial industry. I was really able to learn more about myself and what I wanted to do with my career moving forward.
You’ve been here about 2 years and you’ve changed roles twice, right? Tell me about that!
Yes! After learning the ropes in the APM role, there are several more specialized roles to move into. So after about a year, I had a professional development meeting with my manager who asked me a lot of questions about what I liked, didn’t like, where do I see myself next year, etc. I initially moved into a new role as a Technical Consultant and then a Project Manager. With each role change, I experienced more responsibility and decision making.
What is your typical day like as a Project Manager?
I am often jumping between a lot of different tasks each day, working with multiple clients on a number of clinical protocols. Mostly, I am making sure the clinical trials we are involved in are running smoothly, our clients are satisfied, and that my team members have the information and documents they need to do their work effectively.
Now that we know "what" you do here, we REALLY want to know "why". Why are you passionate about your work everyday?
The industry we are in motivates me to do my best work. We are a piece of a large puzzle that, when put together in the right way, can directly improve the lives of people and ease suffering. I particularly value our work in oncology. As is true with many, cancer has touched my life and the lives of those close to me. Whenever I have a rough day, I remember the end result of my work and I think of the people in my life who could benefit from these trials.
Why do you love working at Suvoda?
One of the things I appreciate the most is Suvoda's commitment to improvement and employee development. Suvoda makes me feel like my voice is heard and that we are continuously improving as individuals and as a company. I really feel like I am part of something bigger than just myself and my work. I have always felt valued and appreciated by my superiors.
Excellence, Integrity, Service, Curiosity, and Passion. Which one of our core values resonates with you the most and why?
Excellence resonates most with me. I value not just doing good work but doing great work. I appreciate being part of a company that is quickly becoming the best in our industry. I love to see our product through our clients’ eyes and hear how we make their lives easier.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Veterinarian
What do you love to do in your free time?
I have a lot of different hobbies that I am passionate about. I love to paint, draw, knit and cook when I'm outside of work.
We really enjoyed sitting down with Maria and learning more about how she’s grown in the past year at Suvoda. Stay tuned for the next edition of our “Life at Suvoda” Blog!
Want to join our team? We are always looking for superstars who want to grow their careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Check out our job openings here!