In many startups and corporate environments, technical roles, such as those occupied by chemical engineers, are often isolated from business operations, creating a divide between specialized technical expertise and broader business functions. Since completing my PhD at Pennsylvania State University, I have actively worked to dismantle these boundaries, continuously seeking new roles and opportunities within Geno and often pioneering positions that had never existed before - all driven by a desire to create impact.
I joined Geno nearly 20 years ago, when it was a computational software company. Since then, the company has transformed to lead the transition to sustainable materials using the power of biotechnology. This vision has led to scalable solutions for making multiple fermentation-based products used in textiles, packaging, and numerous home and personal care applications, thus replacing fossil-based feedstocks. More than 150,000 tons of its flagship product are either under production or committed to production every year. Other products are expected to come online in the next few years- the most notable ones are large-volume sustainable alternatives to ingredients typically produced from palm oil and fossil-based feedstocks.
I will share insights and lessons learned from my career path that has traversed technical roles and leadership positions in strategy and business, closely interwoven with Geno’s journey. I will also outline how bridging the gap between science and business can drive impactful change, both for the organization and for the individual.
Bio:
Dr Priti Pharkya serves in a dual role currently: as Senior Vice President of Ventures and Corporate Development at Geno, and as Senior VP of Business Operations at Future Origins, a Joint Venture between Genomatica, Unilever, Kao and L’Oreal that she helped form. She serves on the board of this JV and is currently focused on activities that would help Future Origins start and operate its first plant to make sustainable alternatives to large-volume ingredients typically produced from palm oil and fossil-based feedstocks.
Priti has led the Strategy and Corporate Development function in various capacities since November 2018. In 2016, she helped form the Bioengineering Solutions business and was named its director in 2017. Within this role, Priti developed multiple product opportunities and helped build commercial partnerships. Priti joined Geno in 2006 as a Research scientist and eventually led the Innovation and new product development team. Her work has earned several patents related to feedstock utilization, pathways for biosynthesis of chemicals and metabolic engineering of microbes for achieving high product yields. Priti earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.
This seminar is supported by the Endowment for the Chemical Engineering Department.