My career has undergone one positional change since being named an ASCP Forty Under 40. At the time of the recognition, I was working for an established, publicly traded precision oncology company. Since then, I have transitioned to a start-up company in the same space, BillionToOne, which is a precision diagnostics company that develops innovative molecular tests to transform prenatal and oncology care through accurate, affordable, and accessible solutions.

This change in position was a new opportunity that came my way and, while similar in many ways, involved increased responsibilities. In addition to my roles in patient reports, I now have added responsibilities in product development, product testing, and assisting with the operational needs of the Clinical Genomics department.

An additional credential I have received since the recognition is completing my MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Geis College of Business. This was a tremendous help in understanding the business and marketing aspects of a company, which is critical in a start-up environment. This credential has helped create a marriage of laboratory skills and experience with business knowledge.

I think the ASCP 40 Under Forty recognition helped catapult my career by serving as the extra differentiator needed to secure my position. There was only one opening when I applied, and having recognition from a well-known organization like ASCP was instrumental in making me stand out as a candidate on my resume. This new position has truly been one I have been searching for and has opened many doors for me.

Since being named a 40 Under Forty, significant and notable achievements in my work include being part of a company that brought a new test to the commercial market and developing workflows to help maintain the product. Switching from a well-established company, where processes and products are already in place, to a start-up was a very different experience. Many processes, whether operational or product-related, had not yet been created. These things had to be developed from the ground up, and I am proud to be part of a company in the start-up phase, contributing to its growth over the years.

Lessons Learned

One of the biggest lessons that I've learned in the years since being named 40/40 is the importance of good leadership and finding the right people. Good leaders make all the difference in the world; they can affect motivation, mood, output, and overall satisfaction. Good leaders understand the important role they play in the workplace and genuinely want to see the people they are leading succeed.

Secondly, finding the right people was another huge lesson. Although it may sound simple and almost like common sense, taking the time to find the right people who are hungry and humble has a huge impact on the workplace. The right people can alter the mood of the group and the company, much like good leaders do.

Lastly, one lesson that has really stuck with me is that you should never stop trying to learn from others. Everyone brings a unique view to an idea or problem, and active listening can really impact how quickly or how efficiently an issue is handled.

I am most professionally proud of in the years since my 40 Under Forty recognition is jumping into a start-up company when this area was unfamiliar to me. In addition, during this time, I was able to complete my MBA while working full-time. I have also taken on some leadership roles at my company, which were new to me, and I am proud that leadership is still part of my job description.