5 Questions With Desmond Grimes, Business Development and Account Manager, InfoPathways, and BioHealth Capital Region Board of Buzz
December 28, 2023
| This article is part of our 5 Questions With series, one of our ongoing People & Places Features. We love it because despite the consistent questioning, the answers are all unique. Be sure to FOLLOW us on LinkedIn to tell us what you think. |
Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Desmond has roots in the BioHealth Capital Region. Prior to joining InfoPathways, he accumulated experience working with several prominent life science organizations, including Bioqual and Pharmaron.
A key passion for Desmond lies in facilitating the career growth of emerging talent. With a background in talent acquisition, he possesses a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entry-level professionals and recent graduates in finding their career paths. His primary goal is to empower and guide emerging talents in their quest to discover their true passions within the workforce.
1. What did you want to be when you grew up? How’d you get from there to here?
Growing up I wanted to be a chef; I love cooking and bringing people together around a dinner table. I always loved how food brought people together and oftentimes made people happy. While I loved cooking, I also played baseball throughout my life. It was a passion that led me to getting an offer to play baseball at Hood College. Unfortunately, Hood did not have a culinary arts degree that I could pursue. So, I decided to major in Sociology and Business (completely unrelated I know) and focus most of my time playing baseball and studying.
After I graduated, I decided to work in talent acquisition and bounced around a few different roles before changing my career path to Business Development and finally finding my place in life sciences. While I have no science background, the industry really resonated with me. I have now been within the life sciences for 4 years and have found my place.
2. How are you helping to build a more connected community?
BioBuzz’s mission is simple: to be more connected. Our regionally-focused storytelling, programs, events and experiences create, connect and amplify impact across the life science workforce in growing biohubs. We vibe with people who value community and connection like us. We’d love for you to share how you’re building a more connected community… and any support that you need from our community to continue to accomplish this mission.
Recently I moved to North Carolina for my position with InfoPathways. I found that down here, while there is an extensive biotech industry, the community is not as connected as it could be. As with most folks that work in this industry, they are focused on science and creating a better world rather than attending networking events/conferences.
My goal while I have been here has been connecting with as many people in the life science industry as possible in order to develop a larger professional network, but I have also found myself connecting others together as well 9so BioBuzz-y). Oftentimes, I attend networking events and conferences and actually end up connecting a new graduate with a recruiter or hiring manager. Because of this I have been working with multiple organizations to create a space for entry-level talent to meet with recruiters and hiring managers to improve the overall workforce here in North Carolina and in Maryland.
3. What are currently buzzing about? Anything and everything…
I am typically buzzing about a lot of things but recently, since moving to North Carolina, here is what I have been interested in:
- Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter Phase II build-out and addition of two million square feet in lab space
- RTP Hub groundbreaking for the new “downtown” area in Research Triangle Park
- Work trip to San Francisco and for BIO Partnering @JPM Week
4. If you could travel back in time – what early career advice would you give yourself?
Take value in every experience no matter good or bad. You are always right where you need to be. Information can be obtained from everyone- younger or older.
5. FUN question. What have sports taught you about success?
One thing I learned from sports was the value of working in a team. I am very much an introvert at heart, I really do enjoy limited social interaction. Since I started playing baseball and specifically since I started my time at Hood, I began to open up more and more because I was required to be around my teammates all the time. I eventually learned how to work in a team and understood what it took to be successful as a team. This growth has helped me beyond the baseball field, it has given me more confidence in the people that I work with and trust that I can rely on them to get the job done.
