Life as a Consultant by Indra Scheen
More Than Eight Years of Growth, Trust, and Connection at Progress – Experts in Life Sciences
From the very beginning, Progress gave me the confidence and freedom to develop professionally while staying true to my own unique identity. I had a diverse background: I started out in the creative sector but, following further study, made the switch to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. They believed in the value I could add, and I proved that I could successfully execute various assignments while simultaneously making a valuable contribution to Progress’s marketing activities through my creative skills.
As a Progress consultant, I am constantly learning and developing my skills through multidisciplinary assignments and training in project management and process improvement methodologies. A recent highlight was obtaining my Lean Agile Black Belt certification after leading a ‘change control’ improvement project at a pharmaceutical company. The client’s satisfaction with the results made the achievement especially rewarding. Delivering tangible solutions and helping organizations improve is what I enjoy most about being a consultant.
For me, the greatest strength of Progress lies in its people. There is a genuine sense of connection and openness, and a willingness to help one another succeed. Whether it involves joint project discussions or monthly team meetings, colleagues freely share their experiences and insights, making every interaction an opportunity to learn and be inspired.
Within Progress, there are various knowledge teams that leverage their expertise to share best practices, develop training materials, or make relevant technical resources (covering areas such as CMC, cleaning validation, and engineering) easily accessible to other consultants. There is also a sustainability team that organizes an annual activity aimed at reducing the human carbon footprint. I really enjoy that, because it is a fun way to get to know one another in a different way while contributing to nature conservation.
Progress invests in maintaining personal connections. Family members are welcome at the annual summer events, and partners can join a weekend getaway around Christmas to experience the company culture firsthand. My partner said early on that Progress would be a good fit for me. Like me, he got the impression that it is a professional company that values its employees. He also noticed how kind and friendly my colleagues are during events.
Another aspect I particularly appreciate is the openness of management. Feedback, constructive criticism, and new ideas are always welcomed, creating an environment where everyone can contribute to further strengthening the organization. In addition, we jointly determine which clients and projects best align with my interests, expertise, and ambitions.
Although Progress has grown steadily since its founding in 1999 and now comprises over 60 professionals, the informal atmosphere, born of the collaboration between friends in the early days, has been preserved. Furthermore, Progress recognizes that a healthy work-life balance is essential for well-being and job satisfaction. I have had the opportunity to travel to various destinations, returning each time with renewed energy and fresh insights for new assignments.
Interested in working for Progress after reading this? Check out our vacancies on the website, or feel free to reach out to Progress consultants you encounter in the biotech field!