Laura Imperiale

What's your typical day?

I do a bit of everything. My role has grown with me and, after different experiences, I specialised in the inhalation field, which is the Pharmaceutical Section that I'm currently responsible of. In just a few years we transformed a one laboratory, with a few instruments, in an entire dedicated building with 20 technicians.

As soon as I sit in my office I check the emails to see what Customers are asking for and I start planning the workload. I also have to consider that the phone will almost always ring, either because my team could face some issues and ask for advice, or because the Client wants to know what stage the analyses are at, or to commit a new order.

I organize the Department also from a documentary point of view. This means I manage not only the samples to be analysed, but also stability protocols or analysis plans for future programming. Finally, I supervise the review phase, checking the final analysis data. I monthly support the invoicing job of all our orders and, in the end, I manage the mail delivering of the final documentation to the Clients.

What are the values that qualify a Manager?

In my opinion, a Manager is the person who has more experience than others and it allows to achieve the target. Outside my professional life I practice kendo, a martial art. I was Captain of the Italian Women's Natioanl Team. In my opinion, work is like a martial art to me: you must work as a team and the captain is the one who has to lead and to put his expertise to others use.

When there is a problem, the Manager should give the input for its control and resolution, but should leave the employees the freedom to take care by themselves. It doesn't matter which path they have decided to take - it might be different from mine -  but the important thing is that the end result is the same. Checking the final outcome is mandatory.

What aspects can't a VQC miss?

With no doubt you need a flexibile mindset, because you are in direct contact with the Customer. You have to accept that the Customer can change his mind overnight and you must ensure an immediate reaction from the laboratory in order to meet his needs.

Dedication to work is another important aspect. I graduated in 2002 and I immediately started working for LabAnalysis. I always did it with passion! Of course you can make mistakes due to lack of experience, but curiosity and knowledge seeking help you to improve yourself.

Lastly, you must want to meet the Customer's needs and try your best to have a good relationship with your team, based on trust and respect.

What do you like most at LabAnalysis?

When I started, in 2002, we were only about fifty people. This allowed me to create a good and direct relationship with the Management. They have given me the confidence I need to cover the role I now have. They always supported me in my choices and my requests.

I really like the relationship I have with my colleagues.

Finally, I love the growth possibilities, here in LabAnalysis. If you feel like doing something, to discover more, to face problems... you have the opportunity to do it and never get a "no".

Which attributes must not be missing to be part of your team?

You have to want to learn. After a while, I always ask people who starts work with me: "are you interested in what you are doing?". If the answer is yes, you'll put critical sense into your job and you'll grow. If not, there's no value in your results.

I like people to be ambitious. I'm very happy when someone propose a different solution that could lead to a process improvement. Of course some mistakes could be made - by me or by part of the team -, but it's important to understand where the fault was committed and how to solve it, in order to avoid recurrence. In this way you truly learn and improve yourself.

What is the most important lesson you've learned here?

If you dedicate yourself with passion to what you do, you'll get satisfaction. Both with regard to colleagues and customers, because it leads to a relationship based on trust, therefore very sincere and truly honest.

Your work could be appreciated only through your sacrifice, and this leads to personal satisfaction.

I really love my job!

Stay tuned with Laura's progress in LabAnalysis!
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Laura as winner of the European Gold Medal in Kendo - Women's Team, Clermont Ferrand, France, 2014