🎓 Key Learnings from My First Six Months in Consulting

Transitioning from an academic role at the University of Melbourne and The National Institutes of Health, to joining the rocket ship that is Vow, and finally to establishing my own consulting practice, has been an incredible (25 year) rollercoaster ride 📉📈

Embarking on this consulting journey—my first venture without a regular salary—has been a revelation. These past six months have been among the most exhilarating and fulfilling of my career. In this time I've had the opportunity to speak with almost 100 founders and operators working across the biomanufacturing sector. I've been fortunate to collaborate on diverse projects from bioprocess and media design, to bespoke market research and the creation of detailed economic models.

Interestingly, the most frequent question from potential clients has been, "What exactly do you do?" Initially, my response was uncertain, but now I describe my role as helping companies transition from good to great. I achieve this by leveraging my deep technical knowledge to reduce costs of goods sold (COGS), open new market opportunities, and forge strong commercial partnerships. I have consistently seen that success intertwines technical R&D with commercial strategies and partnerships. 💼🔬

As thrilling as the last six months have been, I'm eager to see what the next will bring.

(as a complete aside, I'm enjoying the AI generated image of me below without the grey hair!)