By: Amanda Talbott Ilioff, Manufacturing Manager
I remember as a kid, my family would drive past the building on occasion. Even before attending college and studying biology, I would tell my parents, “I am going to work there someday.”
Fast forward a few years and a molecular biology degree later, that dream became a possibility. I’ve always been interested in public health and biological threats as a career path. I finally pursued my passions and excitedly joined Emergent in early 2018.
Culture
Relatively speaking, I considered Emergent on the large side, at least compared to the pint-size biotech company I came from. From day one, the culture was great – a large company with a family feel. Everyone was always collaborating on projects and I never felt siloed. I took pride in our work and our mission. Why in the world would I leave?
It was 2020. Operation Warp Speed was taking place and to put it simply, times were tough. The days felt longer and as an expectant mom, I decided to take a step back and explore another opportunity and slow down a little.
I ended up missing the culture so much that I came back this year. Since my first day back, it felt like home, like I never left. I can’t say that about any other employer. I love it here. I never wanted to leave but some things in life take us in another direction and sometimes life leads you back to where you belong.
Has anything changed? Things are more structured, but that’s expected and necessary as we grow. I’ve reconnected with old colleagues, and forged new strong working relationships. What’s always been the glue with my team is open communication and transparency.
Prioritizing what matters to employees
The work life balance is now nowhere near where it was during Operation Warp Speed. During that difficult time, it was easy to burn out. Now, we’re all in a rebuilding phase, reworking the way we go about our work as a hybrid organization. At the same time, Emergent has made an effort to help support employees find the right balance where between work and family – balancing both priorities the best we can.
Not the third time — the second time is the charm
I’ve always been blessed with opportunities to grow in my career. That’s the other part of what brought me back and why I won’t be leaving. It’s hard enough to be a woman in science, but couple that with being a career-driven working mom. I appreciate the support Emergent has given me along the way.
With the Great Resignation far from over, I am confident that Emergent will continue to retain great talent as we continue to match the needs of our evolving workforce. If we do lose a few good people, I am even more hopeful that they will find their way back home, like I did.
This story was originally published on LinkedIn.