Meet BabyRani: Senior Principal Statistical Programmer (India)

"The personal interaction with colleagues makes me feel connected with our projects. What also means a great deal, is when management show appreciation and support."

BabyRani Namburi, Senior Principal Statistical Programmer, shares with us what it is like to work at Parexel and how the company has supported her throughout her career progression. BabyRani has been with Parexel since July 2019 and she still looks back with great fondness on the wonderful journey she has had at Parexel, from working with like-minded supportive colleagues through to gaining real job satisfaction when leading a COVID-19 Study.

• Please introduce yourself and your role at Parexel.
  Hello, I am BabyRani Namburi, I presently work as a Senior Principal Statistical Programmer, decentralized out of the Hyderabad office. I have been with Parexel for the last 9 years. I originally started my career at Parexel as Statistical Programmer I and have had the opportunity to progress to my current position.
  
  
• Can you tell me what a day as a Senior Principal Statistical Programmer looks like and what are your core responsibilities?
  My typical workday starts with reading and responding to emails, completing any follow-up task, preparing for meetings, mentoring the team, and understanding the issues to help and guide team members. I try to do any creative work mid-morning when I can, whether that’s brainstorming for new campaigns or helping someone on my team come up with new content or new ideas.
  
  I also provide technical support and expert advice to internal and external remote workers across the country and various time zones. Acting as this point of contact is very rewarding.
  
  I work independently to support various programming activities related to the analysis and reporting of clinical study data. I also monitor quality, timelines, resource allocation, and productivity in relation to budgets relating to the projects my team works on.
  
  Depending on what time I’m done with all of the tasks above, I usually spend the remainder of my day on more “focused” work, whether that’s doing analyses of ongoing or completed tasks or putting together presentations.
  
  It is also typical that I lead knowledge-sharing forums and proactively support the development of the wider department. It's very rewarding sharing your experience and knowledge with others in your team.
  
  
• When did you join Parexel, and why did you choose Parexel above our competitors?
  I joined Parexel in July 2013 as Statistical Programmer I. This memorable day is still fresh in my memory, as it has been a long, wonderful journey for me. I chose Parexel for its reputation in the industry. Parexel has an excellent track record and a strong example of leadership in the CRO industry. The culture here is top-notch. The management supports continuing education and advocates learning on the job while rewarding hard work and work-life balance. I believed that I would fit in perfectly with the team here and would be able to make an immediate impact. I am proud that I made the correct decision to work for Parexel.
  
  
• What traits and skills are needed to be successful in your role as a Statistical Programmer?
  To be successful I would recommend that you learn and adapt to challenges and be a continuous learner and deliverer. Be focused on your work and be positive. Be a team player with good proactive communication skills.
  
  
• What would you like people to know about your job or department?
  I work with a varied range of experienced people who are excellent team players and who show dedication to their work. Our team is incredibly versatile, and by that, I mean we are all able to do a variety of different tasks. We have the opportunity within Statistical Programming to be able to work virtually. We also have really forward-thinking management, and work under a supportive organization that realizes employees are their greatest asset.
• How would you describe what it’s like to work at Parexel?
  I love my job with Parexel as everyone shares the same vision and is dedicated to the mission of 'putting patients first' and working 'with heart'. As a standard, our work-life balance is greatly supported in the department and company as a whole. There is a mix of all cultures, and this is an asset for the organization. This helps me engage with a wide variety of people and enables me to always learn new things. Overall working at Parexel provides me with a high level of professional satisfaction, and it’s fun!
  
  
• What excites you most about the work you do?
  The most exciting part is the new challenges that I get to perform, form mentoring new people, discussing new initiatives, and sharing and developing new ideas. The personal interaction with colleagues makes me feel connected with our projects. What also means a great deal, is when management show appreciation and support. We have a really great recognition scheme called BRAVO, where you can be recognized and awarded points for exemplary work.
  
  
• How would you describe what it’s like working with your colleagues?
  I enjoy working with my colleagues. Everyone is so creative and confident, and we have transparent work culture in the team.
  
  
• Can you share with us an example of some of the work that you do, where you have gained a real sense of job satisfaction?
  I gained a real sense of job satisfaction from my contribution to a Covid-19-related clinical trial. I was given the chance to lead the Covid study, which was a “First-in-Human” Covid-19 trial. We worked around the clock with condensed timelines and sometimes even managed to deliver ahead of time. The study team was recognized by the Executive Leadership Team for their tremendous effort and for helping to put patients first! Being part of a successful critical COVID-19 study at the time of the pandemic was very humbling and rewarding. I am grateful that I feel like my work is always recognized. Considering everything, I am satisfied with my job. I am satisfied with the opportunity to grow within the company.
  
  
• How has Parexel supported your career development?
  Parexel encourages its employees and gives great importance to employee career development. Every year my managers help me create a tailored development plan, which has really helped my career grow. My manager encouraged me to improve my soft skills and regularly offered me constructive feedback. Parexel has helped me to understand how clinical trials are conducted, regulations followed, and multi-disciplinary teams involved and also helped me to understand the professional and personal cultures of various regions of the world. Parexel has given me all the opportunities to become a highly skilled end-to-end statistical programmer.
  
  
• Tell me something most people don’t know about you.
  I have a good sense of humor, am creative, and give unconditional love to family and friends. I am courageous and energetic, but I don’t know how to drive a car or ride a bike.
  
  
• What do you enjoy when you’re not at work?
  I enjoy cooking a lot and really love to try traditional recipes with a modern blend.
  
  
• What is your untrainable superpower?
  Persuasion, positivity, and insight.
  
  
• What habit or behavior or belief have you recently acquired? Why is it now in your life?
  I have recently learned to manage money wisely and I have been investing more time on self-care. These habits help me a lot in my health both mentally and physically, and wealth when looking to the future.
  
  
  

Do you want to work with BabyRani and her colleagues? Look for available Statistical Programming opportunities here.

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