Executive Perspective: Cultivating Scientific Excellence at Lundbeck

Mary Jo Phoenix is Vice President, Analytical Development and Quality Control at Lundbeck Seattle BioPharmaceuticals in Bothell, Washington. She reflects on her career in Washington’s life sciences industry and the importance of mentorship, collaboration and curiosity in advancing innovation.

Q: Tell us about your role at Lundbeck and what brought you to the company.

Phoenix: My journey with Lundbeck began in 2019 through its acquisition of Alder BioPharmaceuticals, where I had worked since 2010. Today, I lead the Quality Control and Analytical Development team. We use a variety of analytical techniques to assess the critical quality attributes of the molecule that may be predictive of the safety and efficacy of biologics products in our pipeline, from pre-clinical trial through commercialization. We’re responsible for testing and characterization to understand different molecules’ attributes, making sure our therapies are safe for patients when they proceed to clinical trials.

Q: What drew you to Washington’s life sciences industry?

Phoenix: I moved here in 2005 from California because Washington was a growing hub for biotech. There were a lot of companies, a lot of jobs and a lot of excitement. I think what keeps me here, from a work perspective, is how collaborative everybody is. It truly feels welcoming and not competitive, both within Lundbeck and the local biotech industry. I feel that everybody is here to support each other and work for the common good.

Outside of work, Seattle is great because not only do we have easy access to the outdoors, but we have great sports teams. I’m really into soccer, so it was fun to watch the World Cup right in our backyard this summer.

Q: Has there been a moment that reinforced why this work matters?

Phoenix: I don’t know that it’s a single moment, but more so a collection of different moments. In addition to producing innovative medicine, Lundbeck is committed to our patients and building relationships with the patient advocacy organizations in the communities we serve.

It’s incredibly powerful when patients or their caregivers share their experiences with us. Hearing firsthand how brain disorders affect their lives reinforces why our work matters—especially when those insights help shape how Lundbeck supports the community. Ultimately, we’re working to bring medicines to people who may have few or no other options.

Q: What scientific advances are creating the greatest opportunities for patients?

Phoenix: One thing that’s exciting to me is expanding our medicines into different modalities. Lundbeck has been very focused on monoclonal antibodies but is also exploring new modalities as they may work better or be even more targeted for patients as treatments.

For my team, that means bringing in new analytical techniques to characterize these different molecules. It gives us a chance to grow our scientific skills, experiment with new technologies and collaborate with industry and academia to advance our understanding.

Q: What has most shaped your leadership approach?

Phoenix: Throughout my career, I’ve worked at both small biotechs and global companies such as Lundbeck. I’ve found that regardless of size, the most important thing to develop within a team is good collaboration. Good collaboration starts with bringing together different perspectives, communicating openly and working toward a shared goal. It also means trusting teammates to contribute their expertise and make decisions, while being available to support one another when needed.

Effective cross-functional collaboration is also crucial. It doesn’t matter how strong the science is if you can’t communicate effectively, incorporate others’ perspectives and work together to move it forward.

Q: What skills are most important for early-career professionals who aspire to lead R&D organizations?

Phoenix: One important thing is staying curious. Continue to learn in your role by staying on top of industry trends and regulatory updates, and be curious about others and what they’re doing. This makes a great leader because you can appreciate and understand how other teams operate.

Another important skill is being able to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Taking on projects that maybe you don’t think you can do, but jumping in and trying anyway. That’s where you’ll see a lot of growth and develop skills that can help you as a leader.

Q: What legacy do you hope to leave?

Phoenix: I’d love for people to think of me as a coach and mentor who helped them succeed and created an environment where they felt comfortable, had the freedom to take risks, and knew they were supported. If I developed a team of people that became future leaders, either as scientists or as people managers, that would be a great legacy.

Interested in joining Mary Jo Phoenix in advancing brain health innovation at Lundbeck BioPharmaceuticals? Visit Lundbeck’s careers page to learn more about current opportunities.

Sponsored by Life Science Washington and Lundbeck BioPharmaceuticals.