In honour of International Women’s Day, 9 March, 2025, we’re celebrating the incredible women in leadership at GMR.
International Women’s Day 2025 theme is ‘March Forward’ and we’re highlighting their inspiring journeys and the ways they continue to #MarchForward in their careers.
Dr Laura Carrascosa,
Director of Health Translation and Strategic Partnerships
First, we spoke with GMR’s Director of Health Translation and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Laura Carrascosa about her career journey as a woman in STEM worldwide.
Do you have an example of a time in your career where you have made a decisive, bold step and how that courageous action benefitted you?
Throughout my career, I have taken bold steps that have shaped my ability to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact. The first pivotal moment was my transition from academia into an engagement role, driven by a vision to support academics in ways I wish I’d been supported. I saw firsthand the challenges researchers face in translating their work into broader influence, and I wanted to build the ecosystem, partnerships, and structures that would make research more successful and impactful. This shift allowed me to develop deep networks, strategic collaborations, and a strong foundation in research engagement and development.
The second defining step came when I moved from a long-standing career in engagement, development, and partnerships back into research—but from a different vantage point. Taking on the Director of Health Translation role a bit less than a year ago, I am now embracing a more hands-on approach to research itself, not just supporting its success but actively shaping it. This move is bringing me back into the creative process of developing tools from research and driving real-world implementation, ensuring that innovations don’t just stay on paper but are put into practice. This transition is thus allowing me to return to research with a practical, impact-driven focus, merging my background in engagement with a science-to-implementation lens.
Both of these steps required courage, adaptability, and a clear vision, and each has reinforced my belief that progress happens when we step outside of comfort zones to shape the spaces where research and impact truly meet.
How do you know when you’re ready to make the next move?
For me, the right time to take the next step is when I start seeing a gap between where I am and where I know I can create more impact. I pay attention to when I feel intellectually under-challenged or when my ability to drive change is limited by my current role. At those moments, I reflect on whether staying put aligns with my long-term vision or if stepping into something bigger is the right move. It’s not always about certainty—it’s about being comfortable with discomfort and trusting my ability to figure it out.
How have you built personal and professional networks in new cities/countries?
Building networks in new places starts with curiosity and contribution. I seek out like-minded professionals in research, health innovation, and now in the space of veterans’ well-being, whether through conferences, LinkedIn connections, or industry collaborations. But it’s not just about collecting contacts—it’s about adding value to conversations and communities. I approach networking as an exchange: I learn from others, but I also offer insights, connections, and support. This mindset has helped me develop strong, authentic professional relationships across sectors and countries, creating a network that is both strategic and personally meaningful.
Stay tuned for more profiles celebrating GMRs incredible women in leadership, as we draw closer to International Women’s Day.