Progress in our industry is often measured in milestones, approvals, data readouts, and regulatory submissions. But behind every milestone are people.
This International Women’s Day, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the women across Phastar whose expertise, judgement, resilience and leadership shape our work every day. Not just in senior roles, and not just in visible moments, but across teams, disciplines, and career stages. We asked colleagues from across the organization to reflect on their work, their challenges, and the advice they would offer the next generation.
Sam Hinsley, Statistics Manager, Based in UK, 4.5 years at Phastar
What part of your work feels most meaningful to you, and why?
I love working with organizations, clients and collaborators to make a difference. Seeing a drug come to market, successfully improving and/or extending the lives of so many, is incredibly rewarding. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the big picture when you’re stuck in a bit of SAS code or doing a tricky analysis, but at the end of the day, helping other people is the end goal. Alongside this I really enjoy helping more junior colleagues develop through mentorship, coaching and management. Seeing someone’s confidence in their abilities grow and being able to hand over the reins makes me truly happy.
What challenge has shaped you most in your career so far, and what did it teach you?
Moving from academia into industry was a challenge in many ways. The requirements of your role are similar, but there are a lot of differences. Suddenly there were a lot more people around me which in one sense was fantastic, and in another quite worrying – what if I wouldn’t be good enough? I quickly learnt the importance of believing in yourself, and being proud of your accomplishments. Sure, I might not have known the ins and outs of some of the industry jargon, but I had various other experiences and skills that others didn’t.
Working through the pandemic on Covid-19 studies was also an interesting challenge. You have friends and family on furlough, while both your workload and the pace at which information moves has increased. Alongside this, many of the staff in the department at the time were medically trained and pulled back to support the NHS. Prioritization became more important than ever – do I analyze data from an oncology study so we can move the drug forwards, or do I re-design the covid-19 study again with the ever-changing landscape? I learned just how valuable close working relationships are when tensions are high and time is ticking.
What advice would you give to women starting out in this field today?
I would say believe in yourself and remember that everyone has different strengths – it’s how you hone them that’s important! Ask questions and take knowledge and opportunities in any way they come. There will always be days where you question yourself, what you are doing, or why you are doing it. Try and remember the big picture and how it fits with your own values. And finally, imposter syndrome is real but tomorrow is another day!
Tricia Peng, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition, Based in China, 3.5 years at Phastar
What part of your work feels most meaningful to you, and why?
It lies in the opportunity to shape careers and change lives. Every time I place a candidate in a role where they can grow, contribute, and feel valued, I know I’ve made a difference, not just for that individual, but for their team, their family, and the organization. In recruitment, we don’t just fill positions; we unlock potential. From a company perspective, what I do is help build the backbone of the organization. Every hire we make shapes our culture, drives our performance, and defines our future. Knowing that my work contributes to both personal fulfillment and organizational strength, that’s what makes it truly meaningful.
What challenge has shaped you most in your career so far, and what did it teach you?
One of the most formative challenges I faced was early in my career, when I was managing a high-volume hiring with extremely tight timelines and shifting client demands. At one point, I felt completely overwhelmed. What shaped me most was not the difficulty itself, but how I learned to navigate it. I had to move from a mindset of “doing it all alone” to building trust and delegating effectively. I learned to ask for help, lean on my team, and communicate early when things were off track. That experience taught me that resilience is about adapting, collaborating, and staying transparent.
What advice would you give to women starting out in this field today?
I would like to say, don’t wait until you feel completely “ready” to take the next step. Growth rarely happens in comfort zones. It begins the moment you raise your hand, even before you feel fully prepared. Trust your potential, not just your experience. Back yourself because the opportunities you hesitate on will be seized by someone else. Go for it. You are more capable than you think.
Alice Wang, Associate Director of Data Science, Based in the USA, 4.5 years at Phastar
What part of your work feels most meaningful to you, and why?
For me, the most meaningful part of my work is that I’m making a positive impact on medical research and improvement of patient health outcomes for humans around the world. My work will help future medical researchers and doctors provide better treatment for patients.
What challenge has shaped you most in your career so far, and what did it teach you?
There have been many challenges, but I think one of the top challenges is constantly growing and adapting to changes in technology and work streams (including AI and ML applications) over time. For example, we have gone from running statistical analyses on a few observations in SAS to millions of observations on the cloud to generating entire dashboards using different types of AI.
What advice would you give to women starting out in this field today?
Look for opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the field. It could be an internship or possibly even a laboratory-based research project. And be willing to learn a lot of new things. It’s a rapidly changing field, and no matter how experienced, we’re always learning something new.
Katie Best, Senior Statistician, Based in UK, 5.5 years at Phastar
What part of your work feels most meaningful to you, and why?
As a statistician, a lot of the work I do happens behind the scenes – this doesn’t mean it isn’t important though. Helping to shape the study from the very start and provide input into statistical decisions means that when the results do come, they can be interpreted confidently and correctly. I find it incredibly meaningful to bring that integrity to trials that may take years or decades to complete.
What challenge has shaped you most in your career so far, and what did it teach you?
Early on in my career, my biggest struggle was trusting myself to speak up and add my perspective to a discussion. I often assumed that other people had more knowledge than me and second-guessed myself. Working alongside strong mentors, who supported and encouraged me, helped build my confidence and trust my experience. Their influence has shaped how I think and work and also how I mentor junior colleagues today.
What advice would you give to women starting out in this field today?
My advice would be to pursue something you enjoy and don’t underestimate yourself. Accept new opportunities even if you don’t feel 100% ready and use them to expand your understanding and ask questions. Find people who you can trust but who will challenge you as well as supporting you. And when the time comes, be that person for someone else.
Linah Wazome, Graphic Designer, Based in Kenya, 5.5 years at Phastar
What part of your work feels most meaningful to you, and why?
The most meaningful part of my work is having the opportunity and ability to strategically transform ideas and briefs into something that communicates clearly and helps people understand complex concepts more effectively. Creating concepts that simplify information, influence decisions, and foster brand trust and perception is highly fulfilling.
What challenge has shaped you most in your career so far, and what did it teach you?
A huge challenge that has really shaped me over the years is when it comes to criticism, feedback and revision, I had to learn to separate design decisions from personal attachment. I learned that design is not about personal preferences, but solutions being built together as a team, and the lessons that come from that are statistics that improve the final and future outcomes. I found more importance in collaboration, adaptability, and really listening and observing.
What advice would you give to women starting out in this field today?
Focus on building your design skills. Explore different industries and how changes in design trends have been impacting them. Apart from technical skills, be confident, ambitious, and learn to properly engage with different teams within any environment. Always remember design requires new ways of viewing the world, and sometimes a different perspective and insight are all you need.
Celebrating International Women’s Day is important. But meaningful progress happens in everyday decisions in who is heard, who is supported, who is given opportunity.
At Phastar, we remain committed to building an environment where talent thrives, careers grow, and diverse perspectives shape the future of our industry.
