Vanessa Hsia, Operations Manager in the Intellectual Property Office, will celebrate her fifth work anniversary at Berkeley Lab in April. She joined the Lab after spending her entire career prior at an airline where she led the sales operations team.
Vanessa shares that, “It was a very different industry, but there are so many parallels to the work I do here at the Lab’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO). I didn’t have any experience in Technology Commercialization or Intellectual Property before I joined the Lab, and it’s been such an exciting and challenging opportunity.” She’s found the work to be exceptionally rewarding, and enjoys being able to apply what she knows about operations and business/change management to the Lab’s mission to bring science solutions to the world.
“Many people don’t know that there is a whole (small but mighty) team focused on commercializing all the incredible innovations that come out of the research done here at Berkeley Lab.”
Could you share your role in the Women’s Support and Empowerment Council, your experience in this position, and how you support WSEC’s mission?
I joined the WSEC a few months after I joined the Lab and it has been an invaluable resource and community for me, especially since I joined at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when we were largely remote. I started out as a member and quickly realized what a real impact the group had – I was blown away by the relationship the WSEC, and other ERGs, had with Lab leadership. It was evident that the Lab was committed to listening and learning from all employees, and it encouraged me to get more involved. I put my hand up to Co-Chair the Policy subcommittee and from there became the Chair. What constantly impresses me most is the dedication of our members – this is a group of folks who are truly committed to making Berkeley Lab a rewarding, safe and fun place to work for everyone.
In Operations, ‘Service’ often means creating the environment where science can thrive. What does providing world-class service to the Lab community mean to you?
To me, world-class service is dependent on trust and communication. Of course you need skills and resources, but what sets apart world-class service is the trust built with the teams you are supporting, and excellent communication.
Leadership: What is one piece of advice you’d give to WSEC members at the Lab looking to grow their leadership footprint in administrative or operational roles?
Raise your hand and get involved! Every project is an opportunity to work with someone new, to learn something, or to gain additional experience. Focus on the areas that you are interested in growing, but if an opportunity comes up, volunteer!
In honor of Women’s History Month, who in your life or career has exemplified the value of service, and how do you continue to carry that legacy forward today?
My parents, my husband’s parents, and all the wonderful parents out there exemplify service to me. I could never say enough about the sacrifice and dedication that parents give in service of their children. Parenting, for me, has been the ultimate exercise in humility, patience, empathy and stewardship. I try to approach everything with this mindset, which means considering the interests of the collective ahead of my own and trying to assume good intent.
