Leading with Curiosity: Dr. Brandi Davis-Dusenbery on Career Growth and Leadership

BWIB October 2026 | Interview by Dedeepya Mullapudi

For our October Women+ Leader Spotlight, Boston Women in Bioinformatics (BWIB) had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Brandi Davis-Dusenbery, whose career has taken her from academic research to executive leadership at the intersection of life sciences, technology, and data analytics.

From Academic Research to Bioinformatics

Dr. Davis-Dusenbery’s journey began with a lifelong curiosity about science. After earning her PhD in biochemistry, she pursued research at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, studying microRNAs and their role in neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS.

During her research, she began working with increasingly large and complex biological datasets and experienced firsthand the challenges of analyzing them. While sequencing technologies were advancing rapidly, processing and analyzing the resulting data remained time-consuming, even with access to advanced computational resources. These challenges led her to consider how she could make a broader impact by developing solutions that would enable other scientists to conduct their research more efficiently.

Although she enjoyed conducting her own research, the opportunity to help other scientists overcome similar challenges motivated her to transition from academia to Seven Bridges, an early-stage bioinformatics company. There, she contributed to major biomedical data initiatives and went on to serve as both Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Executive Officer.

Today, at ZS, she leads multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, and strategists helping life sciences organizations translate data into meaningful decisions.

Leading with Curiosity and Collaboration

Throughout our conversation, Dr. Davis-Dusenbery emphasized that effective leadership is rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and the ability to ask thoughtful questions. She finds fulfillment in mentoring others and bringing together people with different perspectives to solve challenging problems.

She also spoke about the importance of embracing discomfort as an opportunity for growth. Her own transitions across research, entrepreneurship, and consulting have reinforced her belief that careers rarely follow a single predetermined path.

For students and early-career professionals, her advice was to take initiative, remain open to new experiences, and recognize that many career decisions are more flexible than they initially appear.

Navigating Leadership and Life’s Milestones

Reflecting on her experiences as a woman in leadership, Dr. Davis-Dusenbery shared that she was asked to become CEO of Seven Bridges while seven months pregnant. That experience taught her that major personal and professional milestones rarely happen at a perfectly convenient time, and that learning to navigate uncertainty is an important part of growth.

Lessons from Mentors

Reflecting on her mentors, Dr. Davis-Dusenbery recalled two lessons that shaped her approach to leadership.

Her PhD advisor, Dr. Akiko Hata, taught her that not every task requires an A+ and that knowing where to prioritize effort is equally important.

Another influential colleague showed her the value of confidently asking questions and challenging ideas, even in a room full of highly accomplished scientists.

These lessons highlight the importance of thoughtful prioritization, intellectual curiosity, and the confidence to contribute one’s perspective.

Advice for Aspiring Women Leaders

For aspiring women leaders, Dr. Davis-Dusenbery emphasized the importance of finding fulfillment in their work. While not every responsibility will be enjoyable, she encouraged women to identify what motivates and energizes them and seek out more opportunities to pursue it.

Her journey offers several valuable reminders for anyone building a career in science and technology:

• Stay curious. Ask thoughtful questions and remain open to learning from others.
• Embrace uncertainty. Career transitions and unfamiliar challenges can create opportunities for growth.
• Take initiative. Seek out new experiences rather than assuming there is only one path forward.
• Prioritize intentionally. Recognize that not every task requires the same level of effort.
• Learn from others. Mentorship and diverse perspectives can help shape stronger leadership.
• Find what energizes you. Pursue work that aligns with your interests and gives you a sense of fulfillment.

A Career Without a Predetermined Path

Dr. Davis-Dusenbery’s story reminds us that a career in science can evolve in many unexpected directions. By staying curious, embracing challenges, and remaining open to new opportunities, we can discover paths that are both personally fulfilling and impactful.

BWIB extends its sincere thanks to Dr. Brandi Davis-Dusenbery for sharing her journey, experiences, and advice with our community as the inaugural feature of our Women+ Leader Spotlight series.