Meet Blessy Vandana: Data Management Lead I

"My role requires an extreme eye for detail and proactiveness. One should be able to proactively review and deliver the services to meet client expectations. Being productive and performing the tasks efficiently, by analyzing and utilizing technical skills along with team collaboration is the key to success in my role."

Blessy Vandana, Data Management Lead I, provides us with oversight of the complexities of her role, her main responsibilities and the reasons why she values working at Parexel.  Blessy also demonstrates what skills are needed to be successful in Data Management; as well as talking about what great colleagues she has and the supportive work environment she has around her.

• Please introduce yourself and your role at Parexel.
  Hi! I am Blessy Vandana, and I work as a Data Management Lead I at Parexel India- Hyderabad Office. I have over 8 years of experience working with Parexel.
  
  
• Can you tell me what a day in your job looks like? What are your core responsibilities?
  Being the Primary Clinical Data Analyst for three studies, the day starts with checking my emails and planning my day. It is my responsibility to equally prioritize various study activities on different studies in parallel for that day. Hence, it is vital to plan my day before I start working. I will often list the various tasks that need to be delivered for that day, and I will prioritize the tasks. Also, it is my responsibility to follow up with the team and assign them various study tasks, and I will also evaluate the progress of the activities assigned.
  
  I often work with different stakeholders for various setup activities. So, I schedule the meetings in their time zones and work with them closely to meet the client's expectations. I am involved in all the data management activities from database setup to the “Conduct Phase” activities and the “Lock Phase” activities. I always endeavor to deliver the projects I work on with high quality and more than meet the client’s expectations.
  
  
• What traits and/or skills are needed to be successful in your role?
  My role requires an extreme eye for detail and proactiveness. One should be able to proactively review and deliver the services to meet client expectations. Being productive and performing tasks efficiently, by analyzing and utilizing technical skills along with team collaboration is the key to success in my role.
  
  
• What is it about the position of Clinical Data Analyst that challenges you most?
  As a Primary CDA, I play a vital role in the hassle-free conduct of a study. I must interact with various stakeholders and cross-functional departments and set project and study expectations. Being able to be highly collaborative, always working by the mantra 'owning the problem and the solution' requires cohesive teamwork and effective planning of the activities as various stakeholders are involved. I need to efficiently delegate and manage the team to meet the expected deliverables.
  
  
• How would you describe what it’s like to work at Parexel?
  Working at Parexel, each day I wake up to an exciting and challenging day. I am lucky that I don’t have a monotonous job, where I just go to “work”.  For me, each day is filled with opportunities to challenge myself. There is a great scope for learning, and opportunities to gain knowledge, and most importantly, I find there is a high level of transparency that the leadership team exhibits in communicating to their employees on the corporate updates. The way that Parexel recognizes and rewards its employees is also a noteworthy point that always motivates the employees to work devotedly for Parexel.
  
  
• How would you describe what it’s like working with your colleagues?
  I have been working with an amazing team in a cohesive work environment. The management is approachable. I can say what I think which empowers me to express my thoughts and share my opinions. I have wonderful colleagues who are highly intelligent and are always willing to guide me. This motivates me in taking on new roles and responsibilities, and continue to challenge myself.
  
  
• Can you share with us an example of some of the work that you do, where you have gained a real sense of job satisfaction?
  For me, the true sense of satisfaction is when I know that the efforts that I am putting in are improving the lives of the patients we support. It really is all about 'putting the patient first'. Aligning with the core values and principles of Parexel, I take complete responsibility for 'first-time quality' and that the data I am working with is contributing to the wellness of our patients' lives. It makes me feel proud and I feel rewarded when I know the product on which I have worked on is subsequently approved and is used for treating people and bettering their health and life.
  
  
• How has Parexel supported your career development?
  I started my career as a Data Manager with Parexel. In my journey with Parexel from the day I joined, I had been given many opportunities, roles, and responsibilities that have enabled me to develop my professional skills and abilities. The opportunity to learn has never stopped whilst I have been working at Parexel. The resources available, and the initiatives taken up by the organization to the benefit of their employees are truly unbelievable.
  
  
• Tell me something most people don’t know about you.
  I graduated from university as a Dentist and practiced as a Dentist for over a year. I injured my right-hand wrist while performing a dental procedure, and this incident led me to quit my job as a Dental Professional and take up a career in Clinical Data Management. I was initially very apprehensive about my transition into the current role. But today I feel very proud of myself for making this decision, especially when I have worked on studies for treating COVID-19, again I felt that my efforts have made a positive impact on the life of our patients.
  
  
• What do you enjoy when you’re not at work?
  I love traveling and exploring places. I also enjoy doing ‘DIY’ projects when I have spare time. Spending time with my two pet dogs “Murphy” and “Chloe” is the most relaxing and refreshing time.
  
  
• What habit or behavior or belief have you recently acquired? Why is it now in your life?
  Journaling, to be specific, “Gratitude Journaling”. Taking some time in the day, and reflecting on the things that I am grateful for to the creator. It has helped me overcome many difficult situations in life. The hope and the gratitude that I always cherish have made me strong in these unprecedented times of the pandemic.
  
  
• If you wrote a "user manual" for how people should interact with you, what would be the most important point in the manual?
  Respect and treat people in the same way that you want to be treated by them.

Do you want to work with Blessy and her colleagues? Look for available opportunities here.

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