Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues From Zumutor Biologics Believes In Team Work

As the CEO of Zumutor Biologics, Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues has an expertise in core Biologics development and operations. With end to end experience in a successful start-up, she exited the start-up via a strategic buy out from a Bangalore-based, listed pharmaceuticals company. She has technical experience ranging from Enzymes, Method Development combined with Process and Product development knowledge in Biologics.

Initially called Theramyt, Zumutor Biologics shifted its base to Boston in 2015, though Kavitha had found considerable success with respect to funding and operations with Theramyt as well. With a MS in clinical microbiology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, and an executive MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Kavitha has previously had roles at prestigious biotech houses, such as Biocon and Millipore, including key posts in R&D, quality control and process development. An inspirational icon in the bio-pharmaceutical industry, Kavitha has made strides to not only excel professionally, but also keep a balance in her personal life through fitness regimes and a healthy lifestyle. She had been owner/director-chief of operations in Inbiopro, her first start-up, which was a global biotechnology enterprise which has built partnerships based on its core strength of bio similar development and process development services.

After that, she was owner/director-chief of operations in Theramyt Novobiologics, which was a niche Biosimilar to Biobetter development enterprise focused on an innovation driven strategy aiming to combine drug designing with platform technologies to generate unique product lines in oncology, rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases. With her current venture, Zumutor Biologics, she is aiming to make significant strides in the biopharma industry globally and make big splashes. "My journey to continued success has not been a bed of roses. I believe I have worked hard with a team that's exemplary. You make your own success and your own luck. Ask for what you deserve." She also adds, "I never approached any task that, 'Oh, I'm a woman.' My gender doesn't really factor into my thinking as I come into my work space. As Sheryl Sandberg says, 'In the future there will be no female leaders, there will just be leaders'."

Anurit Kanti

BW Reporters The author is correspondent at BW Businessworld, he has a keen interest in sustainability and environmental economics