From hands-on pharmacology research to leading strategic projects in advanced manufacturing, this episode explores what it really takes to evolve, adapt, and lead across decades of change in life sciences.

This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Harry Sloan sat down with Alison Clayton, Strategic Projects Director at Symbiosis, with over 40 years of experience spanning pharmacology research, pre-clinical and clinical development, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

In this episode, Alison Clayton covers:

(00:00) Transitioning from academia into industry and navigating major company acquisitions early in a career

(01:40) Moving beyond the lab into strategic, customer-facing roles and discovering a passion for leadership

(03:35) Adapting to constant organisational change while maintaining a patient-first mindset

(07:26) The risks of scaling too quickly in CDMOs and the importance of realistic capacity and strong partnerships

(10:02) Maintaining quality and regulatory standards while growing in a highly competitive pharmaceutical landscape

This conversation offers a grounded perspective on long-term career development, leadership in complex environments, and the evolving demands of pharmaceutical manufacturing. If you are building a career in life sciences or scaling within a CDMO environment, this episode provides practical insights worth applying.

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Alison Clayton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-clayton-78816711/

Harry Sloan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-sloan-605620154/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the episode

00:14 Alison Clayton introduction and career reflection

00:53 Transition from academia to industry

01:15 Experience at Syntex Pharmaceuticals, Roche, and Quintiles

01:40 Moving into strategic and customer-facing roles

02:24 Leadership style shaped by scientific background

02:50 End-to-end experience across drug development

03:13 Navigating challenges and career-defining moments

03:35 Adapting through multiple company transitions

04:24 Balancing commercial goals with patient outcomes

04:56 Experiences in a male-dominated industry

05:51 Advice for women in life sciences leadership

06:09 Career development without a fixed plan

07:00 Balancing career and family life

07:26 Scaling challenges in CDMOs

08:30 Risks of overpromising and underdelivering

09:28 Importance of supply chain and transparency

10:02 Maintaining quality and regulatory compliance

10:27 Overview of Symbiosis

10:57 Market demand for sterile manufacturing

11:20 Scottish identity and company culture

11:39 Differentiation in the CDMO market

12:31 Importance of flexibility and partnerships

13:21 Building long-term client relationships

13:41 Future outlook for Symbiosis

14:05 Evolution of biologics and impact on patients

14:32 Career reflection and delivering medicines to patients

15:17 What excites Alison about the future

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