Meet Amrita Maitra: Senior Manager in Statistical Programmer (India)

Amrita Maitra joined Parexel in 2019 as a Principal Programmer. In January 2024, she transitioned to the Clinical Data Engineering team as Senior Manager. In her current role, she leads initiatives focused on innovation, compliance, and employee engagement.

How would you describe what it is like to work at Parexel?

Parexel India is now officially certified and recognized as a “Great Place to Work-Certified™” organization. Need I say more! An organization is made up of its people and I am glad to say I have been fortunate enough to come across many such inspirational, fun, talented people in Parexel. My senior colleagues have paved the way for my learning and led me to success through continuous encouragement and guidance. I have been given several opportunities throughout to contribute and grow in different forums. The study teams I work with, my line reports have always been ever so supportive.

Parexel has several initiatives centered around employee growth, involving both professional development and personal well-being – basically a lot to choose from if you want to grow!. So far, it really has been a great place to work.

What traits and/or skills are needed to be a successful Statistical Programmer?

Attention to detail, passion for quality and analytical thinking. The role of a statistical programmer in the clinical industry is pivotal. We deal with a large amount of data collected from people who might be healthy volunteers or patients but at all times it is important to keep in mind that what we do with the data impacts the health and safety of many others. Thus, in addition to good programming skills and analytical thinking, it is important we do it with heart!

What excites you most about the work you do?

I am able to make a difference in people’s lives every day. Our work can be hectic, but at the end of the day I can say with passion that I did some meaningful work during the day by contributing in my own small way back to the community. A single data discrepancy demands hours of discussion, which at the time might seem tedious but it makes so much sense when we remember that the data is pertaining to an actual person’s health condition. Our decisions will have an impact, however much small it may seem.

What would you like people to know about your job or department?

Quality is paramount in my role; meeting timelines is also significant to ensure the drugs reach the market as soon as possible. My job is to provide support to the studies through close oversight, liaising with clients and making successful deliveries with the help of a group of experienced, dedicated programmers and statisticians.

What would you like people to know about your job or department?

Quality is paramount in my role; meeting timelines is also significant to ensure the drugs reach the market as soon as possible. My job is to provide support to the studies through close oversight, liaising with clients and making successful deliveries with the help of a group of experienced, dedicated programmers and statisticians.

How has Parexel supported your career?

Parexel has helped me grow within my career. This was my first job in India, coming back to a permanent job role after contracting for 9 years. I have received enough flexibility and opportunities to learn, contribute and grow. Being a decentralized employee, I have never felt the distance come in the way, the teams have always been very inclusive. Being a rather large organization spread across the globe helps in this way as we become more open to inclusion amidst diversity. From leading studies to overseeing projects, it has been a great experience so far. Every day still I learn something new, I constantly feel the growth and look forward to moving from strength to strength within the organization!

What key moments shaped your career as you advanced from Principal Programmer to Senior Manager?

My senior colleagues at Parexel have invested in my growth from the start. A couple of years ago, I transitioned from Stats & Programming to the Clinical Data Engineering team - a move that brought significant growth. I took on a larger team, expanded account responsibilities, and faced new challenges that required innovative solutions and high-impact leadership. Most importantly, this transition gave me a more holistic, hands-on understanding of the end-to-end clinical trial process. The change injected fresh energy and motivation while allowing me to remain grounded in Parexel's culture and values.

This career evolution was only possible because of the opportunities created for me and the responsibilities I was entrusted with. Each one taught me resilience, the importance of learning from mistakes, keeping commitments, and perhaps most importantly, that my team and seniors truly drive my success and achievements as a manager. I'm now committed to creating the same opportunities for my team that were created for me.

What principles guide your decisions as a manager? How do they reflect the Parexel values?

Patients and People – my leadership is grounded in Parexel's "We Care" philosophy, guided by three principles:

• Keeping Patients First by delivering quality data as fast as possible
• Empowerment with Accountability by trusting my team while providing adequate support, training, and an environment conducive to grow
• Respect and Collaboration by finding patient-focused solutions together through meaningful discussions and leveraging strengths across functions

How do you help your team members develop and grow in their roles while maintaining quality and timelines?

I delegate strategically, engage early in timeline and quality discussions with study teams, assign challenging tasks with appropriate support, and create personalized development plans with timely opportunities. I embrace a culture where mistakes are learning opportunities and innovative thinking drives efficiency. By building the right skillset, maintaining strong communication, and planning realistically, we deliver quality while people naturally grow.

I have recently started to understand more holistically that we tend to judge those who are dissimilar to us in terms of their values, appearance and beliefs. It is natural but therefore also important to deliberately avoid such judgment so that we can treat everyone equally.

How does your philosophy of treating everyone equally translate into supporting your team's success and well-being?

Work-life balance is an investment in people so they can take on challenges head-on, work hard, but avoid burnout. I actively promote work-life balance in my team by understanding my team’s aspirations and circumstances so I can create the right growth opportunities without work taking over their lives. When we care for the whole person, they bring their best selves to work.

I am an active member of the India Inclusion group, where I focus on acceptance and inclusion for the Pride community, with a vision of creating an environment where everyone can bring their whole selves and diverse strengths.

How do you intentionally develop that culture of empowerment and trust?

I believe trust is built on consistency through behaviors that demonstrate understanding and reliability from both sides and supporting one another through challenges. I intentionally develop this culture of trust and empowerment by recognizing diverse strengths, working collaboratively, giving timely credit, and providing real-time feedback for growth. This maximizes our collective strengths and builds a confident team that takes ownership and accountability for everything they do.