69 TWENTYFOURSEVENBIOPHARMA Issue 3 / October 2025 WOMEN IN SCIENCE mom and I was very lucky to have her in my life. She raised three children by herself as my dad had passed away when my two brothers and I were young. Watching her suddenly take over everything amazed me, but of course at the age of ten, I did not realise how much she did for us and how she wanted our lives to continue as best they could without my dad. She took on the role of two parents and learned to drive a car in her mid-30’s, got a full-time job at the hospital working directly for a surgeon (which she worked with for over 30 years) after staying home to take care of us and maintained a house (inside and out) with a lot of bills to pay. She also managed to make time for all of us amongst her responsibilities. Being a working mom myself and seeing what it takes to work full-time, take care of a house and raise children between two parents is a lot of work. As my mother aged, her body slowed down and she ended up with a heart condition, restless leg syndrome and diabetes. Thank goodness for the pharmaceutical industry in assisting her to get the right treatments to help her survive and get through additional years with these illnesses, which never slowed her down. My mom was a hard worker and while raising us, she took every opportunity to encourage us to work hard, excel and succeed. I started working at the age of 15 and even today, I continue with the same foundation which she taught us; to be respectful and kind to everyone you meet, to always be honest and to be a reliable person, who people can call on in any situation. There is value in everything my mother taught me, and she is imbedded in my work ethic. As I watch my own children, who are now young adults, I can see how respectful, hardworking, strong and independent they have become. So, a special thank you to Elizabeth A. Oliver and my mom for their influence and support. Is mentorship an important component of professional development? Sonia Rasi: Absolutely, mentorship is a crucial part of professional development. A mentor can open doors to new perspectives, provide the confidence to seize opportunities and help navigate difficult transitions. At the same time, it can be the spark that allows someone to recognise and develop that ‘innate strength’ I mentioned earlier. In my own case, moving across different departments, I had the privilege of working with colleagues and leaders, who trusted me and gave me the space to grow. Their support helped me gain a well-rounded view of the company and the courage to take on responsibilities. That is the real value of mentorship; not just teaching technical skills, but inspiring self-belief and resilience in others. Clara Usanna: Mentorship plays a crucial role. Great mentors don’t just provide guidance; they amplify your potential and encourage you to take bold steps. Women in leadership positions, who act as role models, is clearly important, but it is also important to tangibly support women in their career with actions as well as words. Reference *Located in Cameri, Italy, PROCOS SpA is a wholly-owned CBC Co Ltd Group, specialising in the development, scaleup and production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), advanced intermediates and related services for the pharmaceutical industry.
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