Description

I have nearly two decades of experience in political policy analysis, conflict management, and institutional development in the Middle East. I have worked as an international consultant for foundations and multinational companies, structuring private-public partnerships and sustainability strategies, as well as facilitating cross-border business deals in developing markets such as Africa. I have built and led institutions and global projects spanning across continents and advised heads of state, royal families and CEOs in complex policy and business development as well as negotiations. Fascinated with Neuroscience and emerging potentials within biotech and medtech, I changed careers entirely in mid-life, deciding to expand on my BSc in Psychology by pursuing a Masters in Neuroscience, next moving on to obtain a PhD in Neuroscience at University College London. It was an extraordinary leap going from global politics and policy to science and while many thought I was crazy to take this leap, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Through my experience in academia, I have had the privilege of helping numerous academics from undergraduates to post-doctoral researchers and PI's to identify and highlight where their strengths are, and to think through future placements from academic career choices to those within non- traditional scientific industries, especially within start-ups. I have also helped colleagues think through how to build unique projects leveraging collaborations to expand their scientific work. One of the ways I have been able to do this is through hosting conferences at my university focusing on career choices and transition. I truly believe growth comes from testing base assumptions we have held about ourselves throughout our lives and what we are capable of consistently. I have now had 3 successful careers in very different areas and while change is always uncomfortable, I have learned what humans are capable of by challenging my own assumptions. Having deep experience in both academia and industry has given me a unique ability to understand both sides. Whether you are at a crossroads in your career, and are exploring your choices, or want to spin out a technology from your lab and want to understand how, or want to build an initiative within your university and bring in stakeholders, I would love to hear from you, and to assist you through your process wherever you are. My greatest strengths are my empathy, and my ability to help others find and do what they love most at the MAXIMUM. I am half Japanese, half American and now live between Geneva and London with my Swiss husband Camille, an angel investor with whom I participate with in startup investments in (among other things) med tech, health tech, biotech, fem-tech, near/AI interface,, aging and personalized medicine. Along with my professional responsibilities as a consultant, I also remain a visiting Dementia researcher at University College London, and am a public speaker, having addressed international audiences including world governments, academic conferences and large-scale public events such as TEDx Athens. In my free time, I am an avid reader (a fan of Japanese writers such as Soseki and Murakami) and love being anyplace where there is good jazz, sea and sunshine.