About Rachel Kindt, Ph.D.

Scientific Leadership Coach & Speaker

I believe that scientists and other technically trained professionals can grow and thrive at any type of job…
with a little help.

Why do I believe this?

Because I did it myself, AND because I have mentored and coached many others to successfully grow their careers.

My story

With two scientist parent and interesting scientist friends around the dinner table every week, I always imagined I’d grow up to be a scientist but had no idea where that path would take me.

After a PhD and postdoctoral fellowship, I decided to take the plunge into the biotech world. I’d always wanted to make the world a healthier place, and was curious (and a little nervous) about work and life beyond an academic lab. There was so much that was new in my first biotech job (at Exelixis), I kept thinking:

“Graduate school did not prepare me for this!”

From that point on, I resolved to grow beyond my scientific training to successfully navigate this new work environment.

As I moved to a larger company (Genentech) and into positions of greater responsibility in drug development, I eventually filled the gaps in my academic science training. And, as a manager and mentor, I saw firsthand the opportunities and challenges for scientists, particularly science PhDs, in a real-world work environment.

Along the way, I realized that my superpower was helping people and organizations find their potential and grow, and that I was fascinated not only by science but by learning how people tick.

When my last company (MyoKardia) was acquired in a record-breaking deal in 2021, I took the opportunity to leave full time corporate work.

Since then, I’ve reinvented my career to focus on what I love to do - helping scientists and scientific organizations thrive through leadership coaching. I've supplemented my scientist / biotech / executive experience with amazing coaching training (New Ventures West), and am now an ICF certified coach (ACC).

For more about me, including my complete bio, see my LinkedIn profile.

What I’m doing now:

Scientific leadership coaching

I work 1x1 with individual clients or through their employers, using a combination of my deep business experience and integral coaching methods.
Organizational coaching and consulting

I partner with biotech companies to coach and advise their senior leaders and/or high potential scientists.
Writing

I write about scientific leadership, career growth and self-awareness. I am currently co-authoring a book of career advice for scientists.

Like you, I am a whole person, not just a working professional. Here are some of my other identities in the world:

I’ve been married 25 years and am a mother of two college aged-daughters. My family has taught - and is still teaching me! - patience and how to manage my own emotions.

Early mornings, you may find me out on the San Francisco Bay in a rowing scull or shell. I have been an avid Masters rower for 7 years. Rowing and competing have taught me strength and perseverance, and the deep benefits of teamwork.

Rachel embodies a lot of the qualities I aspire to - highly empathic, EQ, thoughtful/mindful, and present in the subtleties of the situation. This allowed her to open up a different viewpoint to my experiences and one that I could gradually bring on board, which was very helpful and felt like growth.

- Drew Titmarsh, Ph.D.
CEO, Dynomics Inc.

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