Meet Amrita Maitra: Senior Manager in Clinical Data Engineering (India)

How would you describe what it is like to work at Parexel?

Parexel India is now officially certified and recognized as a “Great Place to Work-Certified™” organization and for good reason! An organization is only as strong as its people, and I've been fortunate to work alongside many inspirational, talented, and genuinely fun colleagues at Parexel.

My senior colleagues have paved the way for my learning and led me to success through continuous encouragement and guidance. I have been given several opportunities throughout to contribute and grow in different forums. The study teams I work with, my peers across functions, my managers, and my direct reports have all been incredibly supportive.

Parexel has several initiatives centered around employee growth, involving both professional development and personal well-being – basically a lot to choose from if you want to grow! It really has been a great place to work.

What traits and/or skills are needed to be a successful Programmer?

Attention to detail, passion for quality, and analytical thinking are essential. The role of Statistical Programmers and Clinical Data Engineers, both, are pivotal in the clinical industry. We work with large volumes of data collected from healthy volunteers and patients, and it's critical to remember that our work directly impacts the health and safety of many others. Thus, in addition to good programming skills and analytical thinking, it is important we do it with heart!

What excites you most about the work you do?

We are able to make a difference in people’s lives every day. Our work can be demanding, but at the end of the day we can say with passion that we contributed something meaningful back to the community in our own way. A single data discrepancy demands hours of discussion, which might seem tedious until we remember that the data represents a person’s health condition. Our decisions will have an impact; however small they may seem.

What would you like people to know about your job or department?

Quality is paramount in my role; meeting timelines is also significant to ensure the drugs reach the market as soon as possible. My job is to provide support to the studies through close oversight, liaising with clients and making successful deliveries with the help of a group of experienced, dedicated programmers and statisticians.

What would you like people to know about your job or department?

Quality is paramount in my role; meeting timelines is also significant to ensure the drugs reach the market as soon as possible. My job is to provide support for studies through close oversight, liaising with sponsors and across functions and making successful deliveries as fast as possible with the help of a group of experienced, dedicated programmers.

How has Parexel supported your career?

Parexel has been instrumental in my career growth. This was my first permanent role in India after nine years of working as a consultant and another four years of work in the UK.

I have been given flexibility and opportunities to learn, contribute, and grow. As a decentralized employee, I have never felt distance hinder my experience - the teams have always been genuinely inclusive. Being part of a large, global organization has reinforced our openness to inclusion and celebration of diversity. Every day, I continue to learn something new, experience meaningful growth, and look forward to moving from strength to strength within Parexel!

What key moments shaped your career as you advanced from Principal Programmer to Senior Manager?

My senior colleagues at Parexel have invested in my growth from the start. A couple of years ago, I transitioned from Statistical Programming to Clinical Data Engineering team - a move that brought significant growth. I took on a larger team, expanded account responsibilities, and faced new challenges that required innovative solutions and high-impact leadership. Most importantly, this transition gave me a more holistic, hands-on understanding of the end-to-end clinical trial process. The change injected fresh energy and motivation while allowing me to remain grounded in Parexel's culture and values.

This career evolution was only possible because of the opportunities created for me and the responsibilities I was entrusted with. Each one taught me resilience, the importance of learning from mistakes, keeping commitments, and perhaps most importantly, that my team and seniors truly drive my success and achievements as a manager. I'm now committed to creating the same opportunities for my team that were created for me.

What principles guide your decisions as a manager? How do they reflect the Parexel values?

Patients and People – my leadership is grounded in Parexel's "We Care" philosophy, guided by three principles:

• Keeping Patients First by delivering quality data as fast as possible
• Empowerment with Accountability by trusting my team while providing adequate support, training, and an environment conducive to grow
• Respect and Collaboration by finding patient-focused solutions together through meaningful discussions and leveraging strengths across functions

How do you help your team members develop and grow in their roles while maintaining quality and timelines?

I delegate strategically, engage early in timeline and quality discussions with study teams, assign challenging tasks with appropriate support, and create personalized development plans with timely opportunities. I embrace a culture where mistakes are learning opportunities and innovative thinking drives efficiency. By building the right skillset, maintaining strong communication, and planning realistically, we deliver quality while people naturally grow.

How does your philosophy of treating everyone equally translate into supporting your team's success and well-being?

Work-life balance is an investment in people so they can take on challenges head-on, work hard, but avoid burnout. I actively promote work-life balance in my team by understanding my team’s aspirations and circumstances so I can create the right growth opportunities without work taking over their lives. When we care for the whole person, they bring their best selves to work.

I am an active member of the India Inclusion group, where I focus on acceptance and inclusion for the Pride community, with a vision of creating an environment where everyone can bring their whole selves and diverse strengths.

How do you intentionally develop that culture of empowerment and trust?

I believe trust is built on consistency through behaviors that demonstrate understanding and reliability from both sides and supporting one another through challenges. I intentionally develop this culture of trust and empowerment by recognizing diverse strengths, working collaboratively, giving timely credit, and providing real-time feedback for growth. This maximizes our collective strengths and builds a confident team that takes ownership and accountability for everything they do.