Oxitec People: Adriana Capella, R&D Director, Brazil

Oxitec People: Adriana Capella, R&D Director, Brazil

Can you tell us about your role at Oxitec and what it entails?

I lead Aedes do Bem™ (Friendly™ Aedes aegypti) production and R&D projects in Brazil. I am responsible for planning production resources in alignment with product sales volumes, pursue increased productivity and cost reduction of our products, and work with the engineering teams in Brazil and the UK to bring automation into our processes. In R&D, we focus on testing and validating new and improved methods and products, always aiming to increase efficiencies and expand our product performance.

What motivated you to join Oxitec’s mission?

After many years working developing biotechnology products in agriculture biotechnology companies, I was enthusiastic about the sustainable aspect of biological products. Oxitec’s technology is effective and sustainable, an amazing solution to address challenges with agriculture pests and disease vectors. I am passionate about innovation, and the opportunity to make a difference in the control of important crop pests and support food security was the main reason to join Oxitec. By joining Oxitec, I can also play an important role in the control of vector-borne diseases that especially threaten developing countries.

What do you enjoy about your role?

My role gives me the opportunity to work with great people in Brazil and the UK. I believe we can achieve amazing results working through collaboration. Learning from brilliant minds and being able to build solutions with my teammates gives me a lot of joy. Leading the production of our solution brings me closer to commercial, quality, supply, logistics, and engineering teams, and gives me more understanding of a product life cycle, which enhances my skills and expertise. The continuous challenge of meeting higher sales demands is an exciting task, which I embrace with energy and commitment to Oxitec’s mission. Communication between teams is constant and open, something that I truly value in a workplace. We always have the opportunity to share the status and challenges of our projects with the senior leadership team, easing our difficulties and bringing the resources we need to be successful.

What advice would you give to others wanting to pursue your area of work?

My area of work is a combination of science and management. A scientific background is important as a training to ask the important questions that will drive development of an efficient solution to the problems we face. The management skills, for both people and projects, can be learned through formal education but need to be tested and improved at work. I encourage others pursuing a management role to accept the opportunities that come in your journey. Many times, those will be lateral moves that strengthen your ability to deal with people and teams, and different problems that require that you develop a new set of technical skills. Learn from your mistakes to become better equipped to greater challenges and achievements. Support your colleagues and build trustful relationships. They will be there to support you through hard times.

As one of my dearest colleagues used to say: “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”