Andrea McGonigle: I really believe in the company I work for and their mission. I love knowing the things that I do are making an impact to improve health & life sciences. I also love that this role allows me to excel at a national level but gives me the flexibility to be a good parent at the same time.

Andrea McGonigle: Pharma layoffs have become a common occurrence in the past few years. 11 years at a company and to come in one day and find out it's your last day is a tough situation and it was one that I encountered. It's what you do in that moment that makes your stronger or leaves you behind to wither. It gave me time to focus on me and determine what I want to do with my life. Instead of jumping at the first opportunity, I made a short list of companies I would work for. I then put every effort into landing a role where I could share my passion, feel like I was making an impact and still have a work-life balance. What seemed at the time to be dark moment or challenge in my career, became a pivot point that helped me skyrocket to the next level. I have never looked back and realized it was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Andrea McGonigle: I am most excited about the world of personalized medicine and diagnostic testing. When I think of the implications that technologies such as analytics and the cloud can have in this space, it brings us light years ahead in how we could treat patients, cure illness and lower costs in our healthcare system.

Andrea McGonigle: I was born in Belfast, North Ireland but grew up in Upper Darby, PA

Andrea McGonigle: My favorite teacher was Sister Dr. Shawn Margaret Fagan. She was young and energetic. She knew how to make learning fun.

Andrea McGonigle: My approach is always stick to the facts and remove emotions. There are many situations where I read an email or a decision is made and I want to blast a comment back or yell out, "you have got to be kidding me!" but I don't. I try to let those emails sit, wait to the next day and then take a very factual approach to my response. That helps to make a very high quality discussion where things are driven to results rather than on emotion.

Andrea McGonigle: Calligraphy. Not many people do it, I taught myself but it is a dying art.

Andrea McGonigle: I love to pick a color each season and revolve my outfits around a specific bag. Coral nails are my trademark nail color.

Andrea McGonigle: Lean In . I love it and created a book club with a group of women on it.

Andrea McGonigle: Guilty pleasure: General Hospital After a stressful day at work, I love to decompress after the kids go to bed and watch General.

Andrea McGonigle: My mom and dad. They are immigrants from Northern Ireland. They left the family and life they knew to give their kids a better life. They have defined the word sacrifice.

Andrea McGonigle: I am very involved today in education at the grade school and college level. I love seeing the kids react to technology and I get inspired thinking I can make a difference in the lives of girls and boys and open their minds to a career in science or technology. I see myself doing something more formally in this space when I retire.