This document summarizes Bonnie Kuehl's career journey from academia to industry to founding her own consulting business, Scientific Insights. It describes her educational background in biophysics and postdoctoral research. It outlines the decisions she faced when leaving biotech industry jobs due to economic downturn. It then describes how she started her own consulting business to apply her scientific skills and knowledge, the challenges of running a small business, and keys to its growth, such as networking, teamwork, and understanding clients' needs.
3. WHERE HAVE I COME FROM -
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING!
• Honours BSc Guelph
• Accelerated PhD (4.5 years)
– Department of Medical Biophysics U of T
– Drug metabolism
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship (3 years)
– p53 with David Lane, University of Dundee, Scotland
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2 years)
– Telomerase with Silvia Bacchetti, McMaster University
4. DECISION POINTS
• BSc to where?
– Enjoyed the lab, natural leader
(poor follower)
– Encouraged to do PhD
– Accepted at OCI
PhD to where?
– Enjoyed the lab
– Managed the lab
– President of Student Executive
– Held NCI studentships
– Become a PI - future likely Pharma
7. BIOTECHNOLOGY in 2000
• Industry booming
• Young and dynamic –fun
• Excellent growth opportunities
• Good money, stock options, bonuses
• Like academia – but with lots of $$$
• No grant applications
9. DECISION POINTS
• Industry busting
• Everyone’s position uncertain- mood dark – money tight
WHERE TO NEXT?
• Biotech? Pharma? Service Industry?
• Bench Scientist? Clinical? Regulatory? Communications?
11. BONNIE KUEHL –
SCIENTIST/CONSULTANT
Research to address biological questions
Write white papers
Write scientific articles
Assist with writing consumer information
Assist with writing physician information
12. BONNIE KUEHL –
SCIENTIST/CONSULTANT
• Network
• Ask questions of industry people
– MBA?
– Biotech?
– Pharma?
• Business Course
Lack of affiliation → lack of credibility
13. BONNIE KUEHL –
SCIENTIST/CONSULTANT
SKILLS
– PhD
– Excellent communicator
– Outgoing
– Like to NETWORK
– Stubborn – don’t give up
– Understanding of business
development
– Understanding of IP
– Understanding of management mindset
– Understanding of marketing
14. Scientific Insights Consulting Group
• Scientific Consultant to Service
Industry and Pharma
– August 2002
UPSIDE
• Mine
• I’m the boss
• Follow personal objectives/goals
• Business skills – growth
opportunity
• Experience
• Choices
15. Scientific Insights Consulting Group
• DOWNSIDE
• Age
• Scientific experience (only 10 years post-BSc)
• No longer a scientist
• Business experience (minimal)
• Limited connections outside of Biotech
• Lack of Focus – Jack of all Trades
• Every project a learning experience
• No $ safety net
19. THE STORY
• BEGINNING → what I am going to tell you
• MIDDLE → now I am telling you
• END → what I told you and/or why it is important
that you know
29. Transdermal Drug Delivery
Stratum Corneum/Skin Barrier
• fluid interaction: corneocytes, lipids and natural
moisturizing factors.
• corneocytes cluster together
in groups of 2-10 cells
• lipids fill the spaces between the cells forming lamellar
bilayers
• Three routes: transcellular, lipid partitioning,
transappendageal
30.
31. WHAT WE CAN’T SHOW YOU!
• White papers
• Industry reports
• FDA submissions
• Clinical reports
• Training material for sales and marketing groups
• Professional slide kits
• Newsletters
• Advisory Board Reports
• And more…….
32. WHAT DOES SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS® DO?
COMMUNICATES
TEACHES
EDUCATES
BRIDGES
DIRECTS/GUIDES
CONNECTS
34. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS
BEST AT REMOVING BACTERIA?
35. Prevention for traveller’s illnesses should include
avoidance of all of the following except (choose
one):
a)Ice
b)Salad bars
c)Local beer
d)Seafood
e)Wading in ocean or lake
36. c) beer is considered safe since the brewing
process should kill most micro-organisms
38. Believe it or NOT
• IT is all about NETWORKING
Who you know
Who you know
Who you know knows
Life/Work/Business is all about
MARKETING yourself and your skills
39. STARTING UP!
• Branding
– Name
– Logo
• Office
– Telephone/fax/ e-mail
– Paper/ files
• Marketing materials
– Website
– Business cards
– Pamphlets
• Visibility
– Networking
– Word of mouth
– Referrals
– Cold calls
40. MENTORS - EXPERIENCED VOICES
• Identify your weaknesses
• Ask questions
• Every encounter is a learning opportunity
• Ask questions
• Admit you don’t have a clue
• Be open to trying and learning different things
• Learn to ask for help
• Ask questions
LEARN TO STRECH YOURSELF
41. Scientific Insights® Consulting Group Inc.
• Lawyer
• Bookkeeper
• Accountant
• Administration
• Graphic Design
• Marketing
• Web support
• Bank – investment
• Insurance
• Cleaning
• Advisors
Scientific Insights®
WE OWN IT!!!
43. GREATEST CHALLENGES
• What to charge?
• Asking for the project –closing the sale
• Invoicing and collecting money
• Prioritizing jobs
• Getting the work done – wearing too many hats
• Juggling projects
• CHOICES
– Family
– Clients
– Networking
– Volunteering
44. GROWTH
• More brains –
more projects
• More hands on deck
• Good turnaround
• Greater diversity
– Team
– Projects
• Larger client base
45. KNOW THE PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE
OF THE COMMUNICATION
46. TELL A GREAT STORY
DON’T FORGET THE SO WHAT!