From Rejection Emails to Regulatory Writing — My Journey Into Pharma (And Why It Matters to You)
Dorothy Ogwuru
Founder, Mentor & Veteran Industry Insider
I remember it like it was yesterday — sitting in the university library during my final year, applying for job after job, watching the rejections pile up. It wasn’t for lack of trying. I had a life sciences degree, ambition, and the drive to make something of myself in the pharmaceutical industry. But every “No” felt like a door slamming shut.
How to Actually Break Into Pharma
What no one tells you is that breaking into Pharma isn’t just about having the degree — it’s about knowing how to position yourself, how to translate your academic skills into industry language, and most importantly, knowing where to even begin.
After a year of frustration and silence, something clicked. I changed my approach. I stopped leaning so heavily on theory and started showcasing how my university experience had given me transferable skills. That simple shift got me my first foot in the door — a contract role in a CRO (Contract Research Organization). That was 2008, and it changed everything.
Since then, I’ve spent 17 years navigating the pharmaceutical landscape — from Clinical Data Management to Pharmacovigilance, and into Regulatory Writing. Each step taught me lessons, some the hard way. I’ve seen the gaps. I’ve made the mistakes. I’ve also mentored countless aspiring professionals who just needed someone to guide them through the fog.
And that’s why I created Pharmalink.
Pharmalink isn’t just a training academy. It’s the bridge I wish I had — built by someone who truly gets it. I know what it’s like to feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of how to start. And I also know that with the right support, guidance, and industry-savvy insight, you can get in, and thrive.
This academy was born out of a desire to help science grads and professionals with a life sciences background finally break into Pharma — not by guessing, but by using proven strategies, real-world training, and insider knowledge I’ve gathered over nearly two decades in the industry.
If you’ve been trying to land that first role, if you feel like your degree isn’t opening doors the way it should, or if you’re tired of going in circles — you’re not alone. I’ve been there. I made it through. And now, I’m here to help you do the same.
Welcome to Pharmalink — where your science background meets real-world pharma careers.