Biophysics Alumni Dinner Talk "Chats w/ Biophysicists" & End of Semester Celebration
Date and Time
Location
Dr. Yasmine Ndassa, PhD '08
VP of Data Strategy & Analytics, Sylvan Road Capital LLC
“Leaping into the Unknown: Embrace Fear and Discomfort to Design your Career"
Tuesday, December 10th, 2024
5:30 pm start*
This talk will be held as an In-Person Event, and with a Zoom Link for remote/ Hybrid participation (below):
In-Person with food and drink to celebrate the end of the semester and start of the holiday season starting at 5:30 pm (*Talk & Zoom link beginning at 6:00 pm):
Northwest Laboratories Building
Room 425
52 Oxford Street
Harvard Main/ Cambridge Campus
A little note Dr. Ndassa wrote about her journey:
How My Science Background Shapes My experience in Analytics and as a BusinessLeader
Here I want to share the soft skills I broughtfrom my scientific training into my corporate career.
Strategic Thinking
As a Ph.D. candidate, I had to align my research question with the broaderfocus of my advisor (shout out to Dr. Jarrod Marto at Dana-Farber). Similarly,in my professional life, I ensure that my analytics work aligns with thecompany’s strategic goals (e.g., market share, efficiency). I start byunderstanding the company’s priorities, then work backward to develop a datastrategy that supports those goals. This is the same thought process I used inmy academic research, applied to business.
Collaboration
Scientific research is inherently collaborative. Successful scientists reachout to others, share knowledge, and borrow best practices, which I’ve carriedinto business. I build collaborative leadership environments and leverage thestrengths of those around me. Being comfortable with both what I know and don’tknow has allowed me to partner with people whose skills complement mine,fostering inclusivity and teamwork.
Planning and Execution
Research requires meticulous planning and execution. As a Meyerhoff Scholar atUMBC, I developed a four-year academic plan, which included my summer researchinternships. This skill carried into grad school, where I crafted annual,monthly, and daily research plans. In business, I invest time in understandingthe organization before creating long-term (1-3 years) and short-term analyticsstrategies. Planning effectively enables me to execute with precision anddeliver value.
Authentic Leadership
The best academic mentors inspired me through their balance of confidence, humility,and kindness. Likewise, my corporate mentors have emphasized the importance ofleading both people and business with integrity. Their role modeling helped medevelop a leadership style that prioritizes doing what’s right for both thebusiness and the team. I am forever grateful to mentors from high school to allthe companies I’ve worked at for their guidance and support in shaping myprofessional identity.
Effective Communication
Science is only impactful if communicated effectively. While I loved labexperiments, my favorite part was translating technical results into clear,compelling narratives that anyone could understand. In business, I’ve appliedthis same skill by translating business requirements into technical ones andturning complex technical insights into actionable business insights.
Reflecting on my career, I see how my transition from science to business makessense. While I didn’t have everything figured out in my 20s or 30s, I’m deeplygrateful for the journey and for those who guided me along the way. MyVillage—mentors, mentees and colleagues—has been my greatest blessing.