Section Styles spotlight-header
I am a
BIOTECH INVESTOR
Gladys Nuñez
Presented by
LABCENTRAL IGNITE + the AMGEN FOUNDATION
WHEN a biotech company has aN idea that can help patients, they need funding to bring it to life.
As a Biotech Investor, I make decisions about promising new companies to invest in.
MY WORK SETTING
Indoor vs. Outdoor
I spend most of my time working inside at a desk or in meetings.
People vs. Alone
My job involves a lot of meetings, talking with others, and collaboration.
Creative vs. Defined
There’s no real rule book for what I do. It requires a lot of problem solving and thinking outside the box.
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I am a venture capitalist for a large biotechnology company. That means I look for new companies that are doing work that aligns with our goals so that we can invest in new ideas, including potential new medicines to treat serious diseases. I get to support entrepreneurs, many of whom are women who have started companies based on their own stories and medical challenges. The goal of making a difference for patients is at the core of every decision I make.
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I combine scientific, business, and financial knowledge to evaluate funding proposals from entrepreneurs. The companies I review are usually start-ups with fresh ideas and strategies for treating diseases. My team analyzes the available evidence and potential impact of proposed solutions, and we prioritize support for companies that could make a big difference in the lives of real world patients. My job involves a lot of research, financial modeling, interviews, and collaboration across investors to support promising entrepreneurs and potentially life-saving medicines.
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There are a lot of large companies working on major diseases that impact millions of people, but great ideas can come from anywhere. Start-ups can sometimes be more flexible and imaginative when thinking about healthcare solutions, with passionate leaders that represent diverse perspectives. But the challenge is, many of these start-ups don't have the funding they need to really test their ideas. When companies like Amgen choose to invest in these early-stage companies, it expands our community of researchers and possibilities, and gives us an even better chance of making a serious impact on diseases.
my work needsEssential Skills:
INTUITION
With so many proposals to review, I need to make fast, accurate decisions. Years of scientific and business training helped me develop the instincts I need.
FINANCES
Budgets and finances are a big part of the equation, so it’s important for me to understand the business side of the companies I review.
LEADERSHIP
When I believe in a company, part of my job is to make the case for it. I need to be a persuasive communicator to bring together other investors and leaders.
ORGANIZATION
With so many moving parts, I need to stay highly organized throughout all stages of the process.
DAYS IN THE LIFE
Days in the Life
Come along and explore what three days at my job might look like!
How I Work
Check out what my place of work looks like on an average day.
This is what my workspace looks like!
Multiple Monitors. I am always multitasking, so having my desk set up to facilitate that helps my workflow.
Plants. I love the outdoors, and I spend so much time inside at work, so I like to bring a little bit of nature to my workspace.
A picture of my twin boys. They really are the loves of my life and working hard provides a good example for them.
A globe. I’m passionate about exploring the world.
Books. I cannot live without them, so you’ll definitely see a stack anywhere I go.
Did you know...Historically, medical research and investments haven’t prioritized all diseases equally… but that’s changing.
The people leading research and deciding where money goes can have biases, often without even realizing it. Throughout the 20th century, women’s health issues, like heart disease and reproductive health, were far less studied than men’s health problems. This wasn’t because these issues were less important, but because the decision-makers were often men who didn’t instinctively see these areas as priorities. Conditions that primarily impact communities of color faced similar neglect. For instance, sickle cell disease, which predominantly affects Black patients, historically received less funding and attention compared to other genetic disorders.
The people leading research and deciding where money goes can have biases, often without even realizing it. This has also been true in venture capital, which is one reason why it’s so important that venture capitalists consider investments in entrepreneurs of different backgrounds. People are naturally going to notice different problems (and potential solutions) depending on their personal experiences and perspectives, so if we want equitable healthcare, we need to provide more investment opportunities entrepreneurs and researchers. For example, a Black woman suffering from fibroids – a condition that disproportionately impacts women of color – realized it was extremely difficult for her to find treatments and support. Because of her experience, she started a company that connects women suffering from fibroids to qualified doctors, and also educates doctors on how to better support patients with related conditions. Investors helped her make that company possible, and now a problem that has been overlooked is being addressed.
Fortunately, there’s a growing effort to direct resources toward understudied conditions and support entrepreneurs from various backgrounds. This increased diversity among researchers, leaders, and investors means more medical conditions are being recognized and addressed. With ongoing commitment, we’re moving towards greater health equity, creating a healthier world where the needs of more people are studied and supported.
Rewarding
These are the parts of my job I find particularly rewarding.
Sifting through hundreds and hundreds of proposals to find a select few with enough promise to push forward.
Attending a lot of meetings to discuss every aspect of a project.
But everyone is different! Drag the circles to place them where you rate them.
Challenging
These are the parts of my job I find particularly challenging.
Having to do deep dives into research to ensure that the ideas we select are highly credible.
Preparing convincing presentations to deliver to leadership and funders to get them to say “yes”.
Section Styles movable
These are the people I work with:
Entrepreneurs
These are the people who are bringing ideas to the table. Their proposals may contain the key to developing the first treatment option for a disease.
Company Leadership
I am the first filter for hundreds and hundreds of proposals, but, ultimately, other members of leadership make the decisions for which proposals get funded.
Other Investors
Once we have a compelling proposal, we are looking for like-minded investors who want to join our team to help bring fresh ideas for biotech solutions to life.
WHAT’S NEXT?
What’s next for my field of work?Diverse investors often support a diversity of ideas. We’re working towards a biotech and healthcare ecosystem that supports everyone.
Women are playing more of a role in deciding what gets funded.
More women are training to become leaders in venture capital and investing, and that’s a great thing. Our differences can be very powerful in biotech and healthcare, as they help us to notice and prioritize different challenges and opportunities. As the investing industry becomes more diverse, there will also be more diverse mentors who can support the next generation of venture capital leadership. This kind of shift could help make new medical and biotech innovations possible that have not previously received the needed support.
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