Life sciences companies continually push the boundaries of innovation. With massive technological leaps happening in fields as diverse as tissue engineering to mental health counseling, these Central Florida companies needed an experienced and dedicated resource committed to their growth; enter Life Sciences Senior Cluster Manager Carol Nasseh.
Orange County alone is home to 200 life sciences companies who are responsible for over $600 million in revenue and over 7,000 jobs. Nasseh, who previously worked in Orange County Government, has a wealth of experience supporting these high-achieving entrepreneurs. In her previous role, she guided local companies through international trade and strategic relationships. Her work aligned the potential of Central Florida companies with resources from down the street and around the world.
As a Senior Cluster Manager, Nasseh sees her role as getting the most out of the Life Sciences cluster members she serves; she hopes to maximize their potential. Her commitment to growth and her eight years of economic development experience will help Cenfluence inspire the continued expansion of medical innovation in Central Florida.
Learn more about Nasseh and her perspective on the regional innovation ecosystem and how to capitalize on its resources:
How would you explain your job to someone who’s never heard of “ecosystem building” before?
My job is to bridge and align organizations to collaborate so they can enhance their growth potential and execute their missions effectively.
What advice would you give to people who are new to ecosystem building?
Personal connections are invaluable. After the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a notable shift toward virtual meet-and-greets, which undoubtedly offered efficiencies in time management. However, there comes a point where nothing quite replaces meeting face-to-face, whether over a cup of coffee, tea, or lunch. These in-person interactions allow for genuine human connections and the ability to pick up on cues that might be missed in virtual settings like Zoom or Teams.
What has been the most surprising thing you’ve learned about our regional innovation ecosystem?
The amount of entrepreneurial resources in our community and how interconnected we are.
What has been your proudest professional moment since joining The Corridor team?
During my time at Orange County Government, I dedicated significant efforts to supporting Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) at the National Entrepreneur Center.
Fast forward to our first in-person gathering with the entire Corridor team, which took place at the National Entrepreneur Center. Being back there was both nostalgic and exhilarating. This time, however, I wasn’t representing a government entity but rather one of the entrepreneurial resource support organizations. It was empowering to witness the impact we can have on companies and entrepreneurs, particularly those operating with limited resources and time.
Seeing the collective effort of our team talking about wins and brainstorming on upcoming projects to drive Cenfluence forward within our community was truly inspiring.
What resource or resource organization do you wish more entrepreneurs knew about?
The Small Business Development Center, the U.S. Commercial Service and the Orange County Public Library System. They offer a wealth of resources businesses are unaware of such as business planning, research, meeting/co-working and makerspaces, remote access live webinars for entrepreneurs, and Book a Pro librarian business assistance.
What company in our ecosystem should more people be talking about
We have a lot of great companies and it’s hard to choose one. However, I would like to highlight two because of personal ties to the solutions they provide.
The first one would be EarlyBryd. I have a personal connection with cancer; thanks to early detection, my mother is a breast cancer survivor. I fully support companies that provide technologies for early detection. EarlyByrd has developed a non-invasive solution for early detection and preliminary diagnosis of breast cancer.
The other company is called Unbound Disability Claims. Their platform aims to increase social security approvals and reduce wait time from years to months. Amanda, the Co-founder has an amazing story about using her journey to help find solutions for individuals facing Social Security Disability claim challenges.
What is your favorite event to attend in our ecosystem?
I am only two months in. So far, the Cenfluence quarterly meetup has been my favorite.
When you aren’t working, where are we most likely to find you? What are you doing?
With my kids (3 and 7 years old) exploring local and state parks. Playing outdoors or finding extracurricular activities for my two very active boys.
Are you a Life Sciences cluster member? Connect with Carol on LinkedIn.
The post Meet Carol Nasseh: Empowering Life Sciences Cluster Members to Meet their Potential appeared first on Florida High Tech Corridor.