Non-linear careers are often talked about in theory, but less often seen in practice. In an industry like biotech — where expertise and specialization are highly valued — stepping off a defined path can feel like a risk.

For Sanne, this is exactly how she has built her career. Rather than following a set path, she has consistently chosen roles that challenge her and expand her scope — from academia to venture capital, entrepreneurship, scale ups, and now global leadership. What connects these moves is curiosity and a focus on work she genuinely enjoys.

“As long as I’m not put into a box,” she reflects, “I feel like I can move around freely, stay challenged, and have an impact.”

From Discovery to Impact

Early on, Sanne knew she wanted to build a career in the medical field. Curious about how things work, she studied biomedical science and went on to complete a PhD in the US and postdoctoral work in oncology research at UMC Utrecht. But working in discovery alone didn’t feel like the right fit. She wanted to see her work applied beyond the lab.

“In academic research, you often work more independently,” she explains, “whereas in industry, you’re part of a bigger team accomplishing things together”.

That insight led to her first major pivot from academia to industry. She worked for eight years at Aglaia BioMedical Ventures, a venture capital firm specialized in oncology. The move into industry was far from comfortable. “I didn’t yet know what my value was,” she admits.

But what began as uncertainty quickly became an excellent learning environment. She started as a Business Analyst, and over the course of eight years, she developed into a Partner, gaining experience across a broad portfolio of biotech companies.

After a while, Sanne felt ready for a new challenge.

Seeking a more hands-on role with the scientists behind these companies, Sanne started her own consultancy to support smaller, mostly oncology-focused companies with business strategy, intellectual property, financing and growth.

Know Your Value

Through that work, Scenic Biotech, one of the companies she advised, asked her to become their Chief Operating Officer. This time, the transition felt different.  “I knew my value and what I would bring to the table,” she says.

Over time, you learn what you do best, and that not every role or company is the right match. Finding the teams and environments that fit is key. And whenever self-doubt creeps in, as it does for all of us, she recalls advice from one of her early career coaches: “Is the world best served by you keeping yourself small, or by stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing what you can do?”

After working for Scenic Biotech for four years, she became VP and Head of Corporate Strategy and EU Operations at Neogene Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the discovery, development, and manufacturing of next-generation engineered T cell receptor (TCR) therapies targeting a broad spectrum of solid cancers.

Today, following Neogene Therapeutics’ acquisition, Sanne is one of the leaders in AstraZeneca’s Cell Therapy Discovery organization — a role that blends long-term strategy with day-to-day execution.

“That’s really the sweet spot for me,” she explains. “Being practical on one hand, but also very goal-oriented on the other.”

Empowered, Inclusive Teams Lead to Stronger Results

What comes through clearly is Sanne’s enthusiasm for building strong teams. Her leadership approach is straightforward: effective leaders set a clear direction, then create the conditions for others to succeed.

“As a great leader, you should bring out the best in people,” she says, “giving them the autonomy to do what they do best.”

And when that leads to the team achieving ambitious goals, she adds, that’s the most rewarding part.

Sanne also sees diversity as essential to strong team performance, especially in biotech where innovation depends on different perspectives.

“Everybody brings something different to the table, and that diversity is what drives the best innovations,” she notes. Being challenged by different viewpoints isn’t always comfortable — but it consistently leads to better decisions and stronger results.

Build the Career You Want

Sanne’s journey reflects a series of thoughtful choices — often made without full certainty but guided by curiosity and a willingness to step beyond her comfort zone. Her advice, particularly to younger women, reflects that experience.

“If you want something, speak up. If you want to go somewhere, you have to let your network know,” she says. Good work alone won’t make people notice.

For Sanne, meaningful careers are built, not given. And they’re rarely built alone. As she puts it:

 “My work is never the result of doing things on my own. It’s always the result of working in a team and that can bring great joy!”