Rashell Featherstone (she/her)

About me

I was born/grew up in: I grew up in Whistler, B.C. In grade 8, my family moved to White Rock, B.C.

I now live in: North Vancouver, B.C.

I completed my training/education at: I attended the University of British Columbia in Kelowna where I completed a BSc in Biochemistry. Since university, I have completed a Product Management Course from BrainStation in Vancouver.

What I do at work

I coordinate projects for new products at STEMCELL. I work closely with scientists and product managers. My work happens from the concept design of new products until launch. I work in partnership with departments across STEMCELL. We identify potential roadblocks. All this helps get our research products into the hands of scientists all over the world.

On a normal day, I review the progress of active projects. I make sure they are on track to meet deadlines. I check in with the people involved in the project. This way, we can discuss any risks and or delays and report on their progress. I also schedule and lead meetings to make sure everyone is aware of new product designs. We problem solve any issues that come up at any stage of the project.

I also work on continuous improvement initiatives. Here, I look at ways to improve how we do our work. I then plan and implement these improvements. This allows me to be creative at work. I can think outside the box about how we can make things better. These could include future product launches or the systems we use.

My science background has helped me so much with this job. A big part of my work is communicating with a variety of people. Because I have technical knowledge, I can better understand the scientists’ work. This also helps with simple things. Like, knowing who to speak to about a particular problem in a project. In addition to technical knowledge, my degree has helped me become more resourceful and improve my critical thinking. These are skills I use at work every single day.

My career path is

I’ve always loved science. But I wanted to use my degree outside of a lab setting. After university, I volunteered at AIDS Vancouver. There, I was a hotline worker. I provided education and resources about HIV and AIDS. This position was very fulfilling. It made me so happy to help others and make a difference in the community.

After this, I joined STEMCELL as a customer service representative. I learned so much about the business through this job. I always took the opportunity to talk to folks in different departments. That way I could learn what they were doing, and what they enjoyed about their roles. My genuine interest in my colleagues, and STEMCELL as a whole, led me to where I am today!

I was very lucky to have a supportive manager. They listened to my career goals and supported me moving into my current role. I wanted a role that was more relevant to my degree. I also wanted to focus on problem-solving and connecting with others.

I am motivated by

I love connecting with people. In university, I always took the opportunity to make new friends in every class. Or meet new people in the library. I’m so grateful that I get to work with so many amazing people. I enjoy that we get to meet a common goal of launching new products.

Every product is unique. So, each project comes with a unique set of challenges. Each day is different. I’m always able to collaborate with others. There is nothing more rewarding than finding a solution to a complex problem. So, anytime I can work with others to overcome a roadblock, I am very happy

How I affect peoples’ lives

It’s very fulfilling to see new products being launched! These new products will support other scientists with their research. It’s amazing to feel I have a part in helping scientists across the globe. It takes countless hours of work to get a product launched and out to customers. This is done by scientists in research and development and so many others across STEMCELL. So, seeing products become available is the most fulfilling part of my job.

Outside of work I

If I’m not walking my dog on the trails in North Vancouver, I’m probably reading! I read 83 books in 2023. I also enjoy expressing myself through art. Most recently, I started pottery classes. And I love cooking and trying new recipes for friends and family.

My advice to others

1. Lean into what you enjoy doing! Your enthusiasm for what you love will shine through. It will be clear to those around you.
2. Find a workplace where people want to see you grow and reach your career goals. I’m lucky that I’ve had incredible managers here. They listened to my interests and goals.