Listening to our customers is a big focus for Evaluate. To ensure our solutions are continually evolving to meet market challenges, we find all sorts of ways to understand what our clients want from us. And coordinating all that activity is the delightful Magda Lis-Podjaska, our Global Voice of the Customer Lead. She took time out from running advisory boards and reviewing customer feedback to talk to me about her background in chemistry, enthusiasm for analytical thinking, and finding peace while bobbing about on a plank in the ocean.

What do you think is going to have the biggest impact on the pharma industry in the next five years?
AI is set to shake up the pharma industry over the next five years. It’s speeding up drug discovery, making clinical trials smarter, and helping create personalised treatments tailored to each person. On top of that, it’s streamlining operations and even helping companies stay ahead of trends. While there are still hurdles like data quality, change management and ethical concerns, AI has the potential to make medicines faster, and more affordable, changing the game for everyone.

What’s the biggest challenge facing pharma and biotech companies at the moment?
AI implementation in drug discovery and development presents opportunities and challenges. A few months ago, we hosted an AI-focused Advisory Board with pharma industry experts. Everyone agreed that while AI can expedite processes and reduce costs, issues such as data bias, regulatory acceptance, and the need for specialised expertise complicate its implementation.

What’s the one piece of advice you would give a biotech CEO?
Something I’ve learned from our experts through Advisory Board meetings is “the sooner, the better”. Focus on building strategic partnerships early. Whether it’s with larger pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, or technology firms, collaboration can accelerate your innovation, expand your resources, and help navigate the complex regulatory and market landscape. No matter how groundbreaking your science is, success in biotech often depends on leveraging the right networks to scale effectively, securing funding, and bringing products to market faster.

Which areas of the industry are you most fascinated by? Why?
I’d have to say the CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation) space. While its presence in the industry is relatively new, the rapid growth in demand for their services and their increasing visibility is truly fascinating. Through roundtables and advisory boards at industry events focused on CDMOs, we’ve had the opportunity to gain firsthand insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping this sector. These discussions have been incredibly enlightening, highlighting the pivotal role CDMOs are playing in reshaping industry dynamics. It’s a space I’ll be keeping a close eye on in the coming years to see how it continues to evolve.

Other than working for Evaluate (of course!), what’s your career highlight to-date?
One of my biggest career highlights has been making the transition from a data analyst to a customer-facing role. It’s something I’m really proud of, not only because it required a completely different set of skills but also because it allowed me to expand my horizons into voice of the customer while still leveraging my analytical mindset.

How did you end up working in this industry?
Entirely by chance, I have a degree in chemistry. In my final year at university, I spent a lot of time in a lab while working on my dissertation project. I quickly learned the lab coat wasn’t going to be my work uniform so I started looking for alternatives. I found Evaluate where I could combine my analytical skills in my Data Analyst role and the passion for Natural Sciences.

What’s the best thing about your role?
For me, it’s all about the people. I’ve been incredibly fortunate during my time at Evaluate to work with some truly brilliant colleagues across multiple teams. It’s something that genuinely makes me look forward to starting my day, whether I’m heading into the office or logging in from home.

It’s also the people we collaborate with externally. In my current voice of the customer role, I get to engage directly with our customers, amplifying their voices and bringing their insights back to our teams to help shape our internal strategies. What ties it all together is our shared mission: making a difference for patients. Being part of that journey alongside our customers and colleagues is something I’m incredibly proud of.

What really irritates you?
I find it challenging when people are resistant to change, especially in environments where adaptability is key to success. I understand that change can be uncomfortable, but I believe it also brings growth and opportunity. I try to approach these situations with empathy and open communication, helping others see the benefits of the change and how it aligns with our shared goals. It’s rewarding when I can help shift perspectives and turn resistance into collaboration.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself
I love windsurfing and used to compete as a teenager. Back in Poland I lived by the sea. Despite the competitiveness of the races, I found it calming with just waves and water around me. Last summer I took my kids to try it the first time and they both loved it. So I’m looking forward to the warmer weather when we can go again and perhaps make it a part of our summer routine.