CEO Update: Lumos Pharma Celebrates International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day - Blog
Today, we join the world in celebrating International Women's Day and look at ways in which we can Inspire Inclusion. Here at Lumos, I am proud that women make-up over 55% of our team. This day is not just about acknowledging the struggles women have faced throughout history, but also recognizing their invaluable contributions to every aspect of our lives, communities, and our organization.
Here at Lumos, we are fortunate to have an extraordinary team of women who inspire us with their dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to excellence. From leadership roles to every corner of our company, women play a pivotal role in shaping our vision, driving innovation, and fostering inclusivity. We have 9 very strong and influential women among our leadership ranks and I would like to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable achievements of some of these women and reaffirm our commitment to gender equality and diversity.
Lori Lawley, our Chief Financial Officer, started with the company on April 20, 2015, as Manager, Accounting and SEC Reporting. Over the last 9 years at Lumos and our predecessor company, Lori has demonstrated her distinction in not only her financial expertise but also her ability to lead and mentor colleagues on both her team and throughout the organization. Lori has advanced through senior roles throughout her tenure with Lumos toward her current role as CFO and has become instrumental in leading Lumos into our future.
Alpa Parikh originally joined our predecessor public company, NewLink Genetics, in 2018. She left the company briefly during the NewLink-Lumos merger, but in 2020, Alpa agreed to rejoin the Lumos team as Director, Drug Product Development and has proven to be a force to be reckoned with as an army of one in CMC. Her expertise has proven critical in the advancement of our clinical program through Phase 2 and now, toward our pivotal Phase 3 trial expected to commence in 4Q24. Her own advancement to Senior Vice President, Product Development, is greatly deserved.
Aleksandra Bruchey, PhD started with Lumos back in 2015 as Senior Project Manager, arriving at the company with over 20 years of experience in both academia and at contract research organizations with leadership roles in all aspects of drug development. Recently, Alex was appointed Vice President, Clinical Operations at Lumos, providing oversight to the management of all sites involved in our clinical trials. Alex has become an amazing team leader and role model for others in the organization.
I could continue to share story after story about our other 14 female employees, several joining the team right out of college, forging inspiring paths in their careers here.
As a company, Lumos Pharma is committed to creating a workplace where all individuals, regardless of gender, feel empowered, respected, and valued for their unique perspectives and contributions.
Today, let us take a moment to celebrate the women among us – our colleagues, mentors, friends, and family members – who continue to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and inspire positive change. Their achievements pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future for generations to come.
Happy International Women's Day!
Rick