Berkshire Biopharma Solutions currently has no open positions.

While on the subject of careers, we would like to offer you some thoughts and advice:

  1. You must have specific career goals, or you will risk losing control of your career; realizing that you are being haphazardly tossed around like flotsam and jetsam in late middle age is very sad.

  2. Seek mentors and build networks early on and maintain them; those that are wisely guided and well-connected will be better positioned for a successful career journey.

  3. For those in Information Technology who are so inclined and endowed with the necessary talent (lots of it), stay technical and stay current.  Even if later you decide to enter the ranks of management, your technical knowledge and experience will give you a big edge.

  4. In general terms, the best position to be in by about age 50 is at the executive level, or running your own company.

  5. If deciding on the corporate route, you must manage your own career based on your goals (see above), and need to be continuously implementing strategies that will get you to where you want to be.  At the start of your career, do not stay in the same position more than 2-3 years.  Gain your experience, achieve your accomplishments, and make your impact; then you must grow.  Tell your manager that you need to either gain new cross-functional experience at the same level or be promoted vertically to a higher-level position in the pursuit of your career goals.  If this is not possible in your current company, move on.  Do not stagnate (see above).

  6. Maintain emotional intelligence, focusing on:

    • self-awareness

    • authenticity and realness

    • humility

    • compassion

    • resilience

  7. Some leadership traits that are important to develop:

    • credibility

    • knowledge of the business

    • humility to admit lack of knowledge and failures

    • agility to learn and grow

    • strong relationship building and excellent people skills

    • possessing a vision and strategy

    • operationally detailed

  8. Some pointers from Jack Welch, the legendary CEO of General Motors for twenty years, on essential executive characteristics:

    • keen strategic intellect

    • a cutting-edge technological background

    • strong leadership characteristics

    • unique set of team-building skills

    • ability to conceptualize and communicate strategies

    • operations savvy to deliver on financial goals

    • power to bring urgency to an organization

    • management skills to drive a vision throughout the company

    • possesses authenticity (trust / sincerity)

    • have a vision

    • hire the best people and utilize them effectively

    • have resilience (can bounce back from failures and learn from mistakes)

    • can “see around corners”

    • can successfully execute and deliver

  9. Strive to keep things in perspective within the larger context of your life, staying aligned with ethical values, essential priorities, and your greater purpose.  Based on a recommendation from Pema Chödrön, do everything as if it was the most important thing in the world but at the same time know that many things don't really matter at all.

  10. Finally, remember to:
    Watch your thoughts, they become words.
    Watch your words, they become actions.
    Watch your actions, they become habits.
    Watch your habits, they become your character.
    Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.      (attributed to Lao Tzu)