Meet Amrita Maitra: Senior Manager in Statistical Programmer (India)

Please introduce yourself and your role at Parexel?

I am Amrita Maitra, Manager in Statistical Programming, based in Kolkata, India. I joined Parexel in 2019 as a Principal programmer and recently got promoted after completing two amazing years of learning, bonding and meeting challenges head-on. In my current role, besides overseeing projects, managing resource needs and maintaining compliance, I also get to work closely with a group of wonderful people I call my team!

How does a day in your job look like?

I work with my study teams to ensure we are on track, providing technical support, estimating resource needs, assessing budget status and discussing risks. Last but not the least, I work with my brilliant team of programmers, helping them develop and grow in their roles. Recently I have started learning the R programming language as part of the skill upgradation program.

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

Attention to detail, passion for quality and analytical thinking. The role of a statistical programmer in the clinical industry is pivotal. We deal with a large amount of data collected from people who might be healthy volunteers or patients but at all times it is important to keep in mind that what we do with the data 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 would you like people to know about your job or department?

In the Statistical Programming team, we analyze clinical trial data and create outputs that summarize the results to make it simpler to assess the safety and efficacy of the trial drugs. There are several therapeutic areas with their individual nuance.

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 excites you most about the work you do?

That I am able to make a difference in people’s lives every day, though in a slightly roundabout way! At the end of a hectic day I can say with passion that I did some meaningful work during the day by contributing in my own small way back to the community. A single data discrepancy demands hours of discussion, which at the time might seem tedious but then again makes so much sense when we remember that the data is pertaining to an actual person’s health condition and the decision we take about handling the issue, will have an impact, however much small it may seem.

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. Need I say more! An organization is made up of its people and I am glad to say I have been fortunate enough to come across many such inspirational, fun, talented people in 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 line reports have always been ever so supportive. There are 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! So far, it really has been a great place to work!

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. I've been trusted with several important accounts and the opportunity to lead initiatives focused on building efficiencies, increasing employee engagement, and promoting inclusiveness. A couple of years ago, I transitioned from Stats & Programming to the 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.

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.

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 would you describe what it is like working with your colleagues?

I am fortunate enough to be working under a knowledgeable and motivating leader, alongside brilliant managers and programmers. I have a team of 11 spirited programmers, eager to learn and perform, keeping me on my toes to continuously grow and help them grow. We have our little laughs in between serious work, thankfully the spirit doesn’t die down even during occasional late calls when fighting a deadline.

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.

You've spoken about treating everyone equally and avoiding judgment. How does that philosophy translate into how you support your team members' overall success and well-being?

To me, work-life balance isn't a luxury – it is an investment in people so they can take on challenges head-on, work hard, but avoid burnout. That's why I actively promote work-life balance in my team. I take time to understand my team’s aspirations and circumstances so I can create the right growth opportunities without work taking over their lives. I show genuine compassion and extend support proactively - I don't wait to be asked. I prefer to truly listen to my team rather than just hear their concerns, so I can support them to the best of my ability in every way. 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 has Parexel supported your career?

Parexel has helped me grow within my career. This was my first job in India, coming back to a permanent job role after contracting for 9 years. I had my share of apprehensions being a decentralized employee as well. However, I have received enough flexibility and opportunities to learn, contribute and grow. Being a decentralized employee, I have never felt the distance come in the way, the teams have always been very inclusive. Being a rather large organization spread across the globe helps in this way as we become more open to inclusion amidst diversity. From leading studies to overseeing projects, it has been a great experience so far. Every day still I learn something new, I constantly feel the growth and look forward to moving from strength to strength within the organization!