Connecting Science and People

Manja, Account Manager at PROGEN, helps researchers worldwide find the right tools for their work. When she first joined PROGEN as a working student during her master’s studies in biology and neuroscience, she wasn’t sure what to expect from an “industry job.” The industry jobs were generally portrayed as tedious office work, dull and detached compared to the excitement of academia. Still, she wanted to experience it for herself and form her own opinion beyond the usual portrayal. What she found at PROGEN was a company where biology, people, and purpose came together.

What first drew her to PROGEN’s sales team was the atmosphere and the people. Having already worked with Isabelle during her internship, she knew the team culture would be a good fit. Equally important was the mix of biology and numbers, reflecting her educational background, as well as the opportunity to continue working in an international environment. Having lived in the US and Scotland, she valued opportunities to speak English and connect with people around the world.

Today, what Manja enjoys most about sales is building connections with scientists, especially in person at conferences. “It’s fun to form a connection with customers,” she says. “To see the real people behind the analysis, the product names, and the numbers.” That balance between conversations, biological topics, and analytical work is what makes the role so rewarding.

Some of the most memorable moments are when a customer describes a problem and she knows instantly: yes, we have exactly the solution you’re looking for! There are also high-pressure situations, like when a customer urgently needed information during an audit. She had an answer within the hour and the official report ready the next morning. “In general, I believe our response rate is quite fast. I always try to respond within 24 hours.”

Her commitment often goes beyond email. From supporting customers with troubleshooting (she even coordinated for client videos to be analysed by QC) to sending handwritten Christmas cards with small drawings inside, she finds ways to show scientists that PROGEN cares. Those personal touches have been met with genuine gratitude.

Behind the scenes, she coordinates with the sales team, customer service, product management, scientific support, quality control, and R&D to make sure key accounts have a single point of contact. “Basically, I try to coordinate everything internally so the customer only has to write to one person — me — and gets all the information and support they need.” She enjoys this interdepartmental collaboration and strives to get the best answers for her clients.

For her, the proudest moments are when she sees her knowledge and relationships grow, whether it’s running her first customer visit in Spain, receiving positive feedback from colleagues at a conference, or reading the responses to her customer survey. Each experience reinforces how her role contributes to advancing gene therapy by helping researchers find tools that make their work easier, faster, or of higher quality, and by creating connections that lead to new collaborations.

Outside of work, she loves volleyball, which she actively plays in her local club team. She also enjoys yoga and baking when she finds the time. “Although I didn’t become a teacher like I initially planned during my Bachelor's, I still get to explain exciting things and inform customers about our products and offers instead.” she says.

For her, her role at PROGEN is about building trust, creating solutions, and connecting scientists with each other to move the field forward. Or, in her own words: