On Becoming Bulletproof

Anavelys Ortiz-Suárez, Head of Intellectual Property and Legal Operations at Sonoma Biotherapeutics on Designing Your Path and Achieving Your Design

Lonnie Brewer Season 1 Episode 5

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“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” — George Bernard Shaw

How do you define "success?"  Jim Rohn said, “success is designing your path and achieving your design.”

In today's episode, Anavelys Ortiz-Suárez shares her path from her humble beginnings in Puerto Rico to the highest levels of education and into the Board Room in  Silicon Valley, where she currently serves as the Head of Intellectual Property and Legal Operations at Sonoma Biotherapeutics, based in San Francisco, California.

She has nearly 20 years of combined experience as a biotech patent attorney.  With a Ph.D. in Immunology.  She has helped clients from start-ups to large companies develop and execute their IP strategies.

Her story begins in Puerto Rico, where she was born as the oldest of 3 girls, who incidentally all graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico.

Anavelys went on to complete her Ph.D. in Cellular Molecular Biology at University of Michigan, before conducting her Post Doc work at Stanford University.

She then went on to complete her Juris Doctorate at Santa Clara University, all while working full-time and raising 2 kids.

In this episode, she takes on tough topics like race, sex and the privileges that one's socioeconomic status creates in life and work.  She also discusses other important topics like:

  • Learning The Unwritten Rules
  • Being a Wife and Working Mom
  • Asking for Help as a Minority 
  • The Role of Family Values
  • "What Would Brad Do?" Persona
  • Career Transition from Academia to Industry
  • Imposter Syndrome
  • Growing up as the oldest of 3 sisters 
  • Affirmative Action debate at the University of Michigan

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“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.  Art is knowing which ones to keep.  You have to let yourself go to be creative.” — Scott Adams

“DAILY PRAYER TO COMBAT IMPOSTOR SYNDROME:  God give me the confidence of a mediocre white dude.” — Sarah Hagi (January 21, 2015, 10:22 AM)