Angela Fernandez Iglesias is a bilingual science communicator, strategist, and ecosystem builder based in Philadelphia.
For most of her career she was a bench scientist. She respected the rigor and the problem-solving, and will always respect the people who do that work. But over time she realized something really important: the best science in the world can still fail if it can’t find its voice, its audience, or its community.
So now, instead of running experiments, she focuses on helping technical teams and mission-driven organizations communicate clearly, build trust, and grow. She works at the intersection of science, storytelling, and community.
She’s the founder of Ciencia con Acento, a platform for Spanish-speaking scientists and STEM professionals, and a BioBuzz Ambassador amplifying the people and companies shaping the Philly life sciences ecosystem.
1) What did you want to be when you grow up? How’d you get from there to here?
When I was young, I wanted to be a scientist, but more than that, I wanted to understand how things worked. I was always curious, always asking questions, always reading. That curiosity turned into a real career: I trained in Spain, earned my PhD, and worked in discovery research in both Spain and the U.S., including rare disease and gene therapy. And I’m proud of that work.
But here’s the plot twist: as much as I loved science, I started realizing the part that energized me most wasn’t just generating data. It was translating it. Explaining it. Building stories around it. Helping people understand why it mattered.
And then I started noticing something else: so many talented scientists struggle not because they aren’t smart, but because the system isn’t built to support them, especially if you’re an immigrant, or bilingual, or new to the U.S., or you didn’t grow up with the “right” network.
That’s what brought me here. I’m still science-first, but now I focus on impact, visibility, and building bridges between research, industry, and community.
2) How are you helping to build a more connected community?
I care a lot about community. Like… a lot. Because I’ve lived what it feels like to move countries, rebuild your network, and feel like you’re constantly proving yourself, even when you have the skills.
So I built Ciencia con Acento because I wanted Spanish-speaking scientists and STEM professionals in Philly to have a home. A place where people can connect, be seen, share opportunities, and grow into leadership without feeling like they have to “translate” themselves all the time. We do this through community-building, events, storytelling, and partnerships. But the real goal is bigger: I want to create a pipeline of diverse scientific leadership that strengthens the Philly life sciences ecosystem.
Through BioBuzz, I also get to amplify the broader life sciences ecosystem, highlighting emerging talent, spotlighting companies, and connecting people who might not otherwise meet.
What I’ve learned is that community isn’t just networking. It’s infrastructure. It’s visibility. It’s belonging. And it’s opportunity.
3) What are currently buzzing about? Anything and everything…
A few things are really energizing me right now:
First, I’m really energized by the future of life sciences platforms, especially the tools that remove friction from lab operations. After spending years in the lab, I can tell you: science doesn’t slow down because people aren’t brilliant. It slows down because the systems around the work aren’t built for speed.
Ordering. Invoices. Procurement. Missing reagents. Approvals. Inventory chaos.
It’s not glamorous, but it’s real.
That’s why I’m focused right now on Product Marketing and Market Development in life sciences, especially for platforms that improve lab operations and procurement-facing workflows.
I’m also buzzing about Philadelphia. I genuinely believe it’s one of the most underrated life sciences hubs in the country, and I love being part of building community here through BioBuzz, Ciencia con Acento and Pint of Science.
4) If you could travel back in time – what early career advice would you give yourself?
I would tell myself: Don’t confuse being valuable with being exhausted.
For a long time, I thought success meant doing more, proving more, working harder.
Now I believe success is about alignment, finding the work where your strengths create momentum instead of burnout.
I’d also tell myself to start building relationships and visibility earlier. Your work matters, but people can’t support what they don’t know exists.
5) The fun (and rotating) one… If you could have any superpower what would it be?
If I could have any superpower, it would be the ability to instantly understand what motivates people, what they truly care about, what they fear, what they need, and what makes them feel seen.
Because honestly… that’s the core of everything I love: storytelling, community, leadership, and even product marketing. It’s all about understanding people, and building something that actually serves them.
