Kristin Casper
VP, Quality, Regulatory and Clinical Affairs | BioFire Defense LLC
What unique strengths do you bring to your professional and other roles?
As I get older, one lesson that is reinforced daily is how much I do not know. This is not a limitation — this is an opportunity. Remain teachable. Set yourself free from the expectation that you have to know it all. It’s too much pressure and frankly, impossible to achieve. Surround yourself with smart people. Seek out opportunities to learn and spend more time listening than talking. This will make you better. I work with brilliant scientists, engineers, data analysts, research associates, specialists, executives, program managers, software architects, technicians and material handlers. I learn from them all constantly.
In line with this, celebrate others. Don’t be intimidated by their successes or their knowledge. Jealousy is ugly and weak. There are many roles to play. If you can, try to help or at least understand. Acknowledge the good you see around you, and this momentum will carry forward.
Finally, an appropriate apology is a sign of strength, grace and empathy. Compassion is often a female superpower. If you have hurt someone, acknowledge it. You may also not be to blame but can still acknowledge suffering and create shared understanding. This is not a weakness and often can serve as a bridge to progress. Equally as important, especially for women: do NOT offer apologies for doing your job, offering your opinion, sharing your emotions or advocating for others. We often assume blame too easily and need to protect ourselves and respect our actions to ensure others do the same.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your path?
When I interviewed at BioFire Defense, I was immediately struck by the number of female vice presidents and directors I met and by the candor and confidence with which they spoke. After years of working under predominantly male leadership, where I had seen highly qualified women passed over for promotion because they were labeled “bossy” or “emotional,” I knew this could be the growth opportunity I had been seeking. My mother, an elementary school teacher who raised our family as the head of our household, had always been my role model for hard work, commitment and quiet strength. Watching her navigate those challenges made me determined to earn my seat at the decision-making table and to strengthen both my expertise and my voice. Now, 10 years later, I couldn’t be more grateful for that choice. BioFire Defense has continually challenged me to learn, trusted my perspective and proven that my voice truly drives positive impact.
At BioFire, I have had trailblazing examples of women who were celebrated for their passion and not condemned as hysterical. My empathy was not perceived as weakness; rather, I was recognized for advocating for my organization and my team. I was encouraged to preserve my quality of life and forced to take my PTO when previously that had been observed as a detriment. My former VP, Cynthia Phillips, taught me to look for and develop natural superpowers on our team. She was the first to show me that working mothers represented a tremendous underutilization of talent. By creating flexible schedules, we offered practical solutions for women looking to become mothers while keeping their careers. I was also fortunate to receive incredible support from both CEOs I have worked with, Robert Lollini and John Harris, to advocate for myself while overseeing the processes and infrastructure to allow the women in our organization to thrive.
As I approach twenty years in this profession and reflect back on earlier times, I remember sitting quietly at the table, without feeling like I was permitted to talk, regardless of whether I had an answer or not, and my heart celebrates the difference a decade has made. It is now my greatest joy to sit back and listen, to other team members who I have mentored, particularly the female team members, and the confidence and knowledge with which they speak and the support they show one another and the team. Organizations are better when they promote equity in conversations, decision-making, roles, and leadership. I am grateful to be part of a leadership team who reflects this.
What key advice would you offer to other aspiring leaders?
Again, seek out every opportunity to learn from every individual and every experience on your journey. Give yourself the grace you give others. Mistakes will happen — do your best to at least make different ones. Acknowledge them, then realize time trudges on relentlessly. Dwelling on failures is incapacitating. Allow team members to grow and reveal their superpowers. Give them space, but support them in refining their voices. Their victories are shared victories for teams, for leaders, for organizations. All successful relationships are reciprocal. You had time to teach — now, enjoy your opportunity to remain quiet and learn from this next generation of knowledgeable, loyal and passionate leaders.