Peki Anim: accelerating R&D with data-driven strategies

What is your professional and educational background?

I have a BSc in Biomedical Science and a MSc in Bionformatics. Beginning as a bioinformatician in the pharmaceutical industry, I was fortunate to be part of the movement of scientists using in silico techniques in molecular biology to identify potential new disease targets. I quickly developed a love for project management and progressed rapidly in the life science industry as a project manager specialising in the delivery of data and software solutions in R&D.

Moving into consulting has been a natural progression of turning my scientific and technical expertise into solutions and advice for our top clients who are rightly asking critical questions of the industry. How do we accelerate the discovery and development of new drugs and get treatments to our patients faster? How do we leverage our most prized asset – data – such that we may gain deep insights that lead to the development of innovative crops and crop protection solutions? I find consulting to be an exhilarating mix of challenges waiting to be solved, and successful deliveries to be pursued.

What is the most exciting thing about your work?

Bringing people together from all backgrounds and creating a shared sense of purpose and achievement. This is what I’m good at. I’m a great believer that, if these foundations are strong, then great results will follow. I have the privilege of being able to do this with every project I lead or every new client that I engage with.

What attracted you to Cambridge Judge Business School and the Executive MBA?

The Cambridge EMBA is an opportunity to develop new leadership skills in an environment that promotes diversity and thought leadership. The Business School is a vibrant hub of academic and practical learning and one gets the sense that the next exceptional leaders are honing their skills, ready to burst into the global arena imminently. Being part of this network is a lifelong journey and I’m delighted to have embarked on it with such a distinguished, committed, supportive, engaged and fun cohort! Right here and now, I know that I’m making friends for life. And that’s the best feeling.

What are you hoping to get out of the Executive MBA?

World-class leadership skills and new practical management strategies that I can employ in the next chapter of my career story.

What are your long-term career ambitions?

I see an opportunity to bring together my expertise in technology and science, to improve food security and access to healthcare in the most underserved communities. Being of Ghanaian decent, my focus will be on meeting the needs of communities and growers in sub-Saharan Africa. What difference will I make in a market that has the key ingredients for success? I will be doing what I do best: bringing people together to combine and deliver the technology and data solutions into the heart of the communities that need it. And I will be putting into practice all the well-honed leadership skills that the Cambridge Executive MBA and my new network offers.