Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
With over a decade of experience in research and project management, I am a product development and scientific affairs expert who leads innovation and R&D initiatives across various industries, such as hospitality and wellness, medical device, beverage, dietary supplement, and cannabis. I have a PhD in molecular biology, and I carry various certifications from reputable organizations as a way to increase my knowledge base. As a research scientist at Sensei, a hospitality and wellness company, I apply my scientific knowledge and skills to create and optimize products and services that enhance the health and well-being of customers. I collaborate with cross-functional teams to maximize product functionality and communication, ensuring quality, compliance, and impact. I also explore new opportunities for innovation and sustainability that align with Sensei's mission and vision.
Head of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs. Collaborate with the Product team to research new categories, ingredients, inform formulation, develop claims, review packaging, and lead stability studies to create breakthrough, science-driven innovation. Evaluate ingredients and products to develop new innovations and compelling, compliant, and evidence-based claims that elevate our brand and differentiate our portfolio. Serve as the internal expert on scientific and regulatory affairs, supporting internal team with informed and compliant guidance. Review and approve external-facing content across teams to ensure FDA/FTC compliance, reducing risk while strengthening consumer trust. Lead design and execution of clinical trials for new innovations, helping substantiate efficacy and support best-in-class claims. Foster a culture of creativity and calculated risk-taking to enhance business credibility.
Head of Innovation and R&D Department. Corporate Leadership team member. Led a portfolio of 20+ service and product-based innovation projects tied to company strategic wellness initiatives, including the integration of technologies, methodologies, and data into a luxury hospitality environment.
As a Product Manager, Innovation and member of the North American Marketing team at Herbalife, I leveraged my scientific background and credentials to develop and optimize the product portfolio for sports nutrition and daily health supplements across multiple markets. Focus included sports nutrition and Daily Health vitamin/dietary supplement products in formats new to Herbalife, reformulations with innovative/cutting edge science-backed ingredients, new packaging and sustainability opportunities, developing creative pricing scenarios and the analysis of sales data, market research, and consumer data for innovation purposes. Assessed and grew the current product line, by identifying gaps relative to the competitive marketplace and recommending long-term portfolio optimization strategy across US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.
*Impacted by organizational mass layoff* Cross-functional leader, ensuring science and innovation work streams are integrated across the global business through strategic communication and project management. Provided scientific leadership for all Therabody products throughout the product lifecycle, working closely with global legal, regulatory, marketing, education, and sales teams. Developed key scientific knowledge, product claims, and safety warnings to inform product specifications and regulatory compliance of class 1 and class 2 medical devices. Managed the external collaboration of academic and commercial research projects directly tied to elevating business goals, including clinical studies and patent support. Led the scientific development of a digital sound therapy product, TheraMind, and named as an inventor on a patent that was submitted in 2022.
Led Therabody's first 3rd party clinical study, focused on the efficacy of the Theraface PRO facial health device. Managed project from study design through data analysis and translation through marketing, sales, and educational assets. Developed a company-wide scientific communication strategy. Led the integration of global science and regulatory work streams into product development across the entire Therabody product portfolio, including medtech wellness devices and CBD products. Managed the external collaboration of research and regulatory projects (clinical studies, 510K submissions, patent support, etc.), with individual agreements valued over $100K, directly tied to elevating business goals. Supported new product development for medtech wellness devices through internal and external research and innovation, as well as ingestible and topical goods with ingredient strategy. Led the creation of new scientific and marketing messaging for CBD that was used on marketing and sales assets, company website, and product packaging. Led the creation of scientific messaging and video assets for high level education on a pneumatic compression device called RecoveryAir.
Supported national and regional sales managers with key insights and scientific knowledge on category. Managed external relationships with stakeholders in retail, health, science, and professional and collegiate sports, with a focus on education, communication strategy, and shared experience. Led new employee and athlete education, including creating digital and print materials.
Managed internal and external product communication. Developed and managed network of external key stakeholders. Supported sales team by overcoming barriers to listings utilizing scientific knowledge, high pressure negotiation tactics and marketing communications.