Transformative Impact: My Journey with ISPE from Aspiring Student to Emerging Professional

Joining ISPE has changed my life. I still remember when I was checking out ISPE Boston in August 2022 as an aspiring student in regulatory affairs. Upon my arrival in the US, I joined ISPE in October 2022, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey.

My first event was at a EDEI event, where after an evening of food and dance, I was amazed by how warm and friendly everyone at ISPE was.

It was my first networking experience as an international student, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start!

I stayed in touch with the EDEI committee and seeing the passion and excitement in their endeavors made me feel that I had finally found the right forum for me to engage in and participate. I gradually got introduced to the ISPE SDC through a career workshop where I met several students like me, eager to advance their careers. ISPE has been showering me with several opportunities—starting from full funding for attending the 2023 ISPE Aseptic Conference in Washington D.C., to creating events for the EDEI committee. With the help of like-minded young professionals, we were able to reactivate our student chapter club (ISPE NU) in May 2023.

I couldn’t have had a better experience being the secretary of the ISPE NU chapter! Putting our best foot forward, it was exhilarating to be part of the process of finally receiving ISPE recognition and tentative recognition from Northeastern University. Eventually, we ended up creating two events with another student group at Northeastern University (GWISE) with a record number of participants. Our first event was centered around a diverse career panel with 100+ registrants, while the second event was centered around the transformational impact of the international community in the biotech world. Being a part of the organization and execution of these events has given me the chance to explore my leadership style and learn from others in the field. Also, our student chapter has over 80 student members involved in chapter and committee events.

My professional life has been touched by almost every aspect of ISPE—starting from winning the Joel Goldenberg 2023 scholarship to attending GAMP workshops on computer system lifecycles. And most importantly, there has not been a single event where I have not seen smiling faces—both familiar and unfamiliar. Every conversation at ISPE has been intellectually stimulating, supportive, and helpful in many more ways than I could have imagined back in August 2022.

It has been an exciting, productive, and inspiring journey so far. Transitioning from a student to a fellow professional opens a new chapter for my role at ISPE—and I am excited! ISPE has honed me as a professional and inspired me to go above and beyond in the pursuit of knowledge and real-world applications, not just in quality and regulatory, but also in developing soft skills related to growth both personally and professionally.