Life & Work with Tavia Caudillo of San Gabriel Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tavia Caudillo

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi, I’m Tavia Caudillo, an LA based mom, wife, and pharmaceutical professional with
nearly 20 years’ experience in the industry. I currently work at Pfizer, where I’m
responsible for overseeing large research teams in Early Phase Oncology with a
mission to develop cancer therapies for patients with solid tumors. The work I’m
currently doing is my most rewarding yet. A scientist by training, I hold both a Bachelors
and Masters in Biology and am still fascinated by the endless opportunities my
educational background has afforded me. Prior to oncology research, I worked for
another prominent pharmaceutical company where I focused on facial aesthetics
(injectables, fillers, Botox, and the like). Apart from some of the plastic surgery
nightmares you might see on the TV show Botched, improvements to a patient’s facial
features do in fact correlate to an improved overall self-image in many cases. I’ve
dipped my toe in many therapeutic areas over the course of my career, including
Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disease, Cardiology and Rare Disease. As you can see,
the possibilities a career in science can offer are endless! Science is challenging,
complex, and simply put, hard.
A science geek by nature, I grew up in the 1980’s at a time when girls with an interest in
science had not yet heard the word ‘STEM’. Really, it wasn’t a ‘thing’ deserving of such
a fancy acronym. We simply enjoyed AND excelled at it, period. My initial passion for
science was fueled by winning the 6th grade science fair. My presentation on
Temporomandibular Jaw (TMJ) demonstrated a model jaw crafted in Styrofoam and
took the winning prize. Years later, a comment from my high school physics teacher:
‘Oh, I assumed you would go into fashion in college’ further propelled me to declare a
Biology major in college and later continue research at the graduate level. The rest is history.

I’ve lived in California for 10 years (LA for 8), having relocated from New York alone in
2014. Today, I find myself in a completely different space, juggling a demanding career,
raising a young family and caring for aging yet active parents. I’m proof that taking a
simple risk (or better said, betting on yourself) can completely change your life. In
retrospect, I can laugh at it now, but relocating cross country was undoubtedly the
craziest, riskiest thing I’ve ever done. I’d been to California only twice prior on business
and truly knew very little about the state. I knew not a single person and left my entire
family and network of friends of over 30 years behind for a 1-way ticket to Silicon Valley.
No glitz, no glam. No, I did not leave home for fame, bright lights, or the allure of
Hollywood. I followed my passion and in September 2014, my suitcase and I journeyed
some 2,500 miles away to what would eventually prove to be a world of endless
opportunity. Ten years later, I’ve found myself married for 7 years, with a 2-year-old
son, a homeowner in the San Gabriel Valley with a career that has soared exponentially
since moving to the great state of California. Many know California for the indelible mark
it has made in TV and entertainment. But much can (and should) be said about the impact
California has had in the science and technology field. Several of the great
biotechnology companies are here in California, making it a hub for research technology and
of course, innovation!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Over the course of my career, the lack of diversity and gender representation within the industry has become more apparent, even more so as I embarked on a position in leadership. As an African American, a Latina and a female, I am still often the only woman of color in the room. With a keen eye on the C-Suite, I know it is within reach and my mom (#1 cheerleader) would affirm: ‘It absolutely is! Still, I’d be remiss not to reference Marian
Edelman’s quote that sits closely with me: ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’. Nowadays,
as a new mom this has much more profound meaning. So, I choose to be part of the
solution. Though multi-faceted, I believe much of the heavy lifting starts with educating
our youth, the next generation of leaders. And while convincing Gen Z and Gen Alpha
to immerse and invest in Science over TikTok may seem like an uphill battle, this risk
taker is up for the challenge.
I’ve spent the last several years mentoring professionals and students, providing a
wealth of expertise from career coaching, interviewing and business skills to navigating
entry into the workforce as Afghan refugees. My niche is developing partnerships with
women. Through experience, I’ve found that by empowering women, we strengthen
families and ultimately fuel their inner and peripheral circles. Together, my husband
(also, a leader in the R&D space and UCLA alum) and I mentor students pursuing
careers in the healthcare or STEM fields. The impact we’ve had on the future
generation thus far drives us to further extend our reach to others seeking guidance on
a pathway into what is a highly competitive field.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In 2023, when I decided to embark on my entrepreneurial journey, naturally I knew the
primary focus would be health and wellness.

Tavi Health is an emerging healthcare network providing valuable content via social
media on all things health, wellness and motherhood from the lens of a professional
California mom, ME! I don’t hold back and am very open with the many learnings I’ve
acquired as a healthcare industry professional. Some hot topics gracing our Instagram
include: Birthing a baby during COVID/Omicron and living in Huntington Hospital for 1 month (food was 5-star!), work travel and impact to family, raising a multicultural family, preeclampsia and the
black maternal health crisis, oral health and investing in your smile, the importance of
delegating a health manager within your family, my experience working in Connecticut during the Sandy Hook school shooting and the impact on my decision to send my child to preschool, mentorship opportunities and so much more!

As an evolving new business, we are optimistic about the quality content we’re providing
and look forward to future partnerships. Visit us on IG: @tavi.health.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Hot on the scene today: AI and the impact it has had on the industry in a relatively short time. There’s so much more to come, which is why I’m passionate about knowledge sharing and mentoring the next generation of leaders and innovators in the wonderful world of science and technology.

Pricing:

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Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tavi.health