Letticia Valderrama Atkins

What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

People First. Business decisions can be complicated and sometimes hard. Keeping people at the forefront of your mind and leading with honesty is the only way to lead.

What do you consider to be your most important career achievement or milestone?

When my children were 2, 4, and 6 years old, I decided to leave the workforce for five years in the middle of my career. I had returned to work and gotten promoted after each maternity leave, so I trusted I would be able to return to the work force based on my reputation and experience. I was correct. Putting my family first was the best decision I ever made.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

When I was an International Business major at San Diego State and then pursuing an MBA from Pepperdine, I never knew how much I would love biotech science. I didn’t have any scientists or even medical professionals as role models when I was growing up in a blue-collar household. After 8 years in pharmaceutical sales, I became a National Sales Trainer. This is my sweet spot. I understand how to break down complex medical information into easy to tell stories and analogies for the sales teams. I am viewed as an expert by doctors and nurses at the top of the field. This was a challenge I had no idea I would embrace in my lifetime.

What is your favorite word? (only one word)

Freedom!

How do you define it?

To work where you want, love who you want, live how and where you want, be able to leave and go where you want.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

Being a salesperson / educator allows for travel and meeting many people from all over the world. The freedom to travel and explore the world around me is a gift!

How does AWIS impact your career journey?

I am the founder of LatinX at BioMarin. I also belong to our BioMarin Women’s Alliance and PRIDE Employee Resource Groups. I think joining groups of people with similar struggles and goals is important. We help each other learn how to navigate the challenges and work together to move our agenda forward. Each of us is responsible for change in the world.

What are you currently reading or listening to?

Lead it like Lasso by Stockman, given to me by my boss. She is the best! Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams. (I just visited with my family of five.)

What do you consider the best professional or personal advice you’ve ever received?

Everything is in the delivery. I am direct and have strong opinions. It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Knowing the right timing and right delivery is key to any message. 

Letticia Valderrama Atkins has been in the pharmaceutical industry since 1994. She started her career as a sales representative for J&J, and then moved into sales leadership at smaller start-up companies; Dura, Elan and Cadence Pharmaceuticals. She has held positions in Sales Training and Managed Markets and Contracting. Today, she works for BioMarin in ultra rare diseases. She considers herself very fortunate to have landed at such an incredible company helping families and patients.