Independent advisory for biotech and innovation leaders
I help organizations make better R&D decisions by linking science, strategy, and execution to turn complex technologies into scalable, commercially viable solutions.
Former R&D and strategy leader in industrial biotechnology
Experience across IFF and DuPont
Led global cross-functional teams spanning R&D, regulatory, commercial, and operations
Secured $8M+ in internal investment for innovation programs
Positioning statement
A translator between science and business decisions in complex R&D environments.
Services
The work is designed for organizations that need more than technical analysis alone: they need a way to connect scientific complexity to clear strategic choices.
Evaluate platforms, opportunities, and technical directions to identify where to invest, where to pause, and how to connect science to a credible business case.
Bring structure to complex portfolios through prioritization, governance, stage-gate design, and resource allocation aligned to business priorities.
Support product and process development for enzymatic, microbial, and industrial biotech programs with an eye toward robustness, scalability, and strategic relevance.
Identify, shape, and translate collaborations across startups, academia, and industry so technical teams and business stakeholders move with shared intent.
How I work
01
Define the real strategic question behind the technology, portfolio tension, or partnership opportunity.
02
Connect technical detail to value proposition, execution realities, and leadership-level trade-offs.
03
Shape decisions, governance, and next steps so teams can move with better alignment and confidence.
Selected experience
Organization
Director, strategy and biotechnology · Group leader, PMO
Led biotechnology strategy for IFF's Scent business, coordinated a 30+ FTE global matrix team, and shaped product, partnership, and commercialization programs across R&D, regulatory, legal, commercial, and operations.
Organization
Project leader and portfolio manager
Directed multidisciplinary R&D programs from concept through commercialization, delivered six commercial products, and designed portfolio integration and prioritization strategy following the IFF–DuPont merger.
Organization
Commercialization and ecosystem development
Led NSF I-Corps customer discovery for next-generation enzymatic cascade technologies and developed strategic perspectives on AI-enabled biotechnology, partnerships, and innovation ecosystems.
Organization
Postdoctoral researcher, Genome Sciences
Built deep technical expertise in synthetic biology, yeast evolution, and functional genomics while leading cross-disciplinary research and mentoring emerging scientists.
Example engagements
Portfolio optimization
Problem
An innovation organization was carrying fragmented initiatives without a clear prioritization model or shared governance language.
Approach
Built a structured evaluation and decision framework, aligned stakeholders across functions, and created a governance rhythm that connected portfolio choices to business priorities.
Outcome
Improved decision quality, accelerated alignment, and helped the organization focus resources on the most credible opportunities.
Technology assessment
Problem
Leadership needed to evaluate emerging technologies and partnership opportunities beyond scientific promise alone.
Approach
Assessed technical readiness, strategic fit, differentiation, and commercialization potential to translate complex science into a practical investment narrative.
Outcome
Enabled sharper investment choices and clearer alignment between technical teams and business decision-makers.
Biotech development support
Problem
A biotechnology program faced technical bottlenecks affecting robustness, scalability, and downstream confidence in the development path.
Approach
Provided targeted guidance across microbial and enzymatic development with emphasis on experimental direction, operational realism, and strategic relevance.
Outcome
Strengthened development confidence, improved program focus, and clarified the path from technical work to commercial value.
Technical expertise
For buyers who want to understand the technical depth behind the advisory work, this section outlines the core capabilities, applied domains, and operating methods that inform Celia's perspective.
Core technical capabilities
Applied domains
Methods and tools
Keywords and strategic expertise
Thought leadership
Insight
A perspective on why technically strong organizations still struggle to prioritize, align stakeholders, and move decisively.
Insight
A practical lens for assessing scientific promise together with strategic fit, commercialization path, and execution risk.
Insight
A grounded view of where AI can actually improve decision-making, insight generation, and innovation workflows in life sciences.
Connected ecosystem
This consultancy work also connects to Lab2Industry, your STEM career platform focused on helping students and scientists move from academia into industry with greater clarity, confidence, and strategy.
Contact
For consulting inquiries, strategic discussions, or collaboration opportunities, the fastest path is direct outreach.
