Bioentrepreneurship alumna Stefania drives development of next generation technology

Tell us your story!

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Greece, followed by two years of experience in cancer research. I knew I enjoyed studying science, but I was always looking for something more. I wanted to use my skills in another context and understand the mechanisms behind the development and commercialization of medical innovations.

I always admired KI’s educational standards and when I saw the Bioentrepreneurship programme, I knew that it was the right fit for me.

I worked as a Product Manager at the medical device company LivaNova. In this role, I collaborated closely with R&D in order to develop the next generation technology. My primary responsibility was to represent the “voice of customer” - in other words, ensure that our customer needs are going to be translated into meaningful solutions.

As a Product Manager, I essentially act as the CEO of my product every day. This requires a lot of interdisciplinary work and involves rapid decisions based on cross-functional input. My studies at KI involved a lot of group work with people from different backgrounds, so this has helped develop my people management skills. The Bioentrepreneurship program opened a new world of opportunities for me where I could translate my scientific knowledge into tangible solutions.

In the future I hope to continue working within the product management area and eventually move into a strategic product portfolio role. I always try to stay up-to-date with industry trends and continue my education accordingly. I am currently working on my Project Management certification.

What is your advice to students

Take advantage of every opportunity presented through the program - the internships, networking, extra-curricular activities – everything. Being a student at KI can open a lot of doors and I encourage you to maximize your chances to learn as much as possible. Think about what you want to do next and figure out what skills you need to build to get there!