Meet Laura, a Manager, Project Planning & Support

Can you share a bit about your Parexel journey?

In November 2024, I will celebrate my tenth anniversary at Parexel. It's been quite a journey. I've held several roles during these years. I started as a Clinical Monitoring Associate (later this role was changed into Initiation Clinical Research Associate), then grew through Project Specialist I, II, and Senior levels, to Project Leader, and now I'm a Line Manager for Project Specialists. During this time, I also got married and had two kids. It's been the most important stage of my life, happening alongside my career at Parexel.

You recently moved into line management. How were you supported in this transition?

My transition to Line Management was unusual. I had just been promoted to Project Leader and was already handling studies when a manager position suddenly opened up. It was my dream to be a Line Manager, but I hadn't thought to have that possibility so soon. I called my Project Director and asked if they would support me in applying, despite Project Leader being a highly required position. The Director said, "If this change will make even just one person happier at Parexel, go for it." That reassurance showed me how much Parexel's culture values its people's satisfaction.

What traits do you think someone needs to thrive at Parexel?

Adaptability is absolutely key. Someone needs to know how to adapt quickly to change and be brave enough to ask for help and support. If you want to grow, you need to learn how to change quickly and get out of your comfort zone. If you do, all opportunities will be there for you.

How do you manage work-life balance in such a demanding environment?

It comes down to excellent planning skills, so you can move tasks to another day and prioritize effectively. That's how I've kept going smoothly. You need to adapt when you have a busy day, understanding it won't be forever. There are ups and downs, and you take it naturally. That's how you harmonize your work and personal life.

What should a candidate know before accepting an offer at Parexel?

If you know what you want, Parexel will help you achieve those things. Candidates should be clear about their expectations and share them openly. We always ask about this in-depth during interviews. Before accepting an offer, the managers, the new hire, and everyone involved must be on the same level in terms of expectations and understanding.

Any final thoughts for potential candidates?

Corporate life at Parexel offers a unique kind of freedom. Unlike running your own business, which can consume your thoughts 24/7, Parexel allows you to focus on work during office hours and truly disconnect afterward. This work-life balance enables you to fully enjoy your personal time without constant business concerns. It's a form of liberation that may not be immediately apparent to young professionals, but it's worth experiencing firsthand.

What's something that might surprise people about you?

People who don't know me well might be surprised to learn that I was in military services for seven years, I also worked in the ambulance for many years as a paramedic, and have been a rescuer in the international emergency response team. That life made me who I am today. This background has made it easier for me to be a good manager because I developed empathy and soft skills in high-pressure situations. When you respond to emergency calls, you have to control the situation and be the strongest person in the room. These challenges shaped me. It's also why I'm more relaxed about things that stress others out. When you've seen real life-and-death situations, daily work stresses like delays in documents or scheduling don't seem as significant.

What do you like to do when you're not at work?

I love being with my family, especially my kids. I enjoy sports, particularly road cycling, and I love traveling. One of my favorite activities is going into wild nature for camping. Not the comfortable kind – we take the kids, a tent, make a fire, and go to absolutely wild nature by a lake. We even have places in Lithuania where you meet zero people. You can spend three days alone in the forest by the lake. We love it.