Carmin always had a natural affinity for biology, her younger self believed this would lead to a career in the medical field. She initially explored medical sciences but soon felt overwhelmed and misaligned - both personally and academically. After a few months, and taking time to pause, trusting her intuition, Carmin shifted her focus to BioMedical Technology and went on to complete her degree at Tshwane University of Technology.
While the landscape of large, national pathology laboratories in South Africa is dominated by a few key players like Lancet, Ampath, and the public sector's NHLS, Carmin later in her journey would realise that the broader field of specialised genetic testing and diagnostics offers a more diverse, though still competitive, array of providers from which she could carve out her professional path. After her internship at Ampath Laboratories, where she specialised in cytogenetics, she moved on to one of the more specialised private businesses in the field, Next Biosciences. Now a Junior Cytogenetics Technologist, she embraced the transition from the larger corporate environment she was accustomed to, gaining exposure not only to the lab but also to the broader business and its many moving parts.
Close to the two year mark, Carmin's curiosity got the better of her and, intrigued to try something new, she made the move into Geneway, where she gained exposure to new areas of genetic testing she hadn't encountered before, enabling her to expand both her expertise and viewpoint. With this alternative experience under her wing, a Medical Technologist opening at Next Biosciences beckoned her return, and she found immense growth within the Next Biosciences business, where today she fulfills the role of Senior Lab Scientist.
“I felt like I was meant to do more than execute in my job, I knew I needed to be a leader, and I put myself forward. Very much involved in the lab, I also support and oversee operations and quality for the genetics team. No matter what position you find yourself in, there are always challenges and at the same time, always opportunities to grow.”
Carmin displays incredible endurance, a testament to her hardworking and diligent nature. These qualities are both inherent and continuously honed by the inspirational colleagues she continues to learn from. In turn, she firmly believes we each leave a unique legacy for our peers: individual approaches and behaviours that others can adopt to enhance their own work experience. Carmin encourages professionals to stay true to their roots and remain humble as they navigate their careers, while also emphasising that leadership requires self-advocacy and recognising one’s own worth.
Despite the constant troubleshooting her role entails, Carmin remains unperturbed. She views science as a fundamentally reliable field, with a set of governing principles that ground its practitioners, enabling them to build upon its foundations regardless of their specific role within the discipline. Her advice to those stepping into the field:
“Always approach the lab with humility, ready to learn; there are so many rules and regulations that govern its processes and the way technologists think about and approach their work. Be open to learning new things, but also be open to forgetting what you have learnt: learning the same concept but in a different way, unique to the new environment you’re stepping into.”
For Carmin, inspiration stems from staying true to herself: showing up every day with diligence, calmness, and focus, and a consistent dedication to supporting her colleagues. This commitment is what drives her to perform at her best.
How did she get here? Her key lesson is the balance between planning, dreaming, and aspiring toward a goal, while also learning to go with the flow - accepting that we cannot control every step of the path. Instead, she emphasises staying open to unexpected opportunities and trusting in our ability to adapt along the way.
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