Some of Devesh Radhakrishnan’s earliest instincts were rooted in questioning ideas and pushing back on conventional paths. Growing up in India, he was known for being argumentative and curious – traits that led his family to joke that he might one day become a lawyer. 

Devesh says he actually did consider law before settling on chemistry, but it wasn’t until he took a course in bioprocess engineering that his path started to become more clear. 

“I was fascinated by how biological systems follow fundamental principles of chemistry, from enzyme kinetics to cellular metabolism,” he says. “That curiosity led me to pursue further studies and eventually into biopharma.” 

Devesh shared his story in our employee profile series, “The DNA of BioMarin,” which draws inspiration from the four bases that constitute DNA: A  (adenine),  T (thymine),  C (cytosine) and G (guanine) – by asking employees to reflect on the role that Aspiration, Translation, Connection and Gratitude play in their everyday work. 

Learn more about Devesh and how a series of unexpected pivots, from law to engineering to biopharma, ultimately led him to BioMarin, where he now helps drive reliable manufacturing processes and build inclusive teams dedicated to delivering medicines for patients. 

ASPIRATION: How did you get your start in the biopharma industry? What do you aspire to accomplish through your work at BioMarin and in your career?

I’ve had a career full of twists and turns and never expected to end up in biopharma. Originally, I tried to avoid healthcare. I watched my brother pursue medicine and knew that wasn’t the path for me, so I chose economics over biology in high school.

At one point, I was convinced I would become a lawyer — I even gained admission to a top law school in India. But without strong role models in the field, I pivoted to chemical engineering, which felt like a better fit given my interest in chemistry and my father’s background.

Then, during my final semester of college, I took a course in bioprocess engineering, and something clicked. I knew I had found my calling.

In my first role in the industry, I worked on oral insulin formulations and insulin analogs. That experience was transformative. It gave me a deep appreciation for the complexity of translating scientific ideas into commercial processes — and made the impact feel real. Family members living with diabetes would ask when the treatments we were developing might become available, grounding my work in a very personal way.

That realization motivated me to deepen my expertise, leading me to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering in the United States, where I focused on controlling the glycosylation profile — the attachment of sugar molecules to the protein backbone inside a cell. At the time, I thought I would pursue academia. But after a chance encounter at a conference led to an interview with BioMarin, my path shifted once again.

Nearly 10 years later, I’m grateful for that decision. My aspiration now is to help ensure patients receive reliable, high-quality therapies while fostering teams where people feel empowered to bring their full selves, take risks and solve complex problems together.

CONNECTION: What role does connection play at BioMarin?

Connection plays a fundamental role in how we work and why we do what we do. There’s a perspective I often think about: The connections we make in life are fleeting, which makes them even more meaningful. It’s a reminder to be present and value the relationships we build.

At BioMarin, I’ve experienced that through collaboration and unexpected moments. I once found myself in conversation with someone at a vendor presentation who had lost her son to a rare disease. Hearing her story brought a renewed sense of purpose to my work and reinforced the importance of what we do for patients and families.

That connection stayed with me. It’s a reminder that behind every process and every improvement are real people whose lives are impacted by our work.

Connection has also shaped my experience through community-building efforts. In 2017, I helped start the PRIDE Employee Resource Group (ERG) at BioMarin. It was created to foster an inclusive environment and to ensure that LGBTQ+ employees had a space where they felt supported and connected.

This work is personal to me. Growing up, as a closeted queer kid, I didn’t always feel that sense of belonging or understanding. Creating a space where people can be their authentic selves – and know they are not alone – continues to be incredibly important to me.

Through our PRIDE ERG, and other connections across the company, I’ve built relationships that go beyond day-to-day work. These connections have deepened my sense of belonging and provided opportunities to learn from others’ experiences, perspectives and resilience.

Together, these moments – whether they happen in a meeting, through an ERG or in a chance conversation – reinforce the importance of connection in shaping both our culture and our impact.

TRANSLATION: How do you hope your work will translate into impact for the patient communities BioMarin is working to support?

At its core, my work is about helping teams operate at their best. When people feel a strong sense of belonging and can show up authentically, collaborate openly and take creative risks, we unlock better solutions to the challenges we face.

On our team, we work to understand and resolve complex manufacturing challenges. These issues rarely have straightforward answers, so bringing together diverse perspectives is critical. When people feel safe sharing ideas and learning from failure, we can innovate more effectively.

Translation also means bridging gaps across teams, functions and ways of thinking. By understanding each other’s perspectives and connecting our work to broader strategy, we can align more effectively and improve our processes.

Ultimately, this all ties back to patients. Improving process understanding, reducing variability and ensuring consistent manufacturing outcomes help us deliver therapies reliably and support uninterrupted access to the medicines patients depend on.

GRATITUDE: Tell us about something you’re grateful for in your career and why.

I’m incredibly grateful for the people I work with — colleagues who are highly skilled, deeply committed and supportive of one another. There’s a shared sense of purpose and care that shows up even in challenging moments.

What stands out most is the trust within our teams. Whether facing tight deadlines or complex problems, I know I can rely on my colleagues to be honest, supportive and willing to help. They celebrate successes and step in when things don’t go as planned, creating an environment where growth feels continuous.

I’m also grateful for the variety of opportunities I’ve had at BioMarin. It feels like I’ve had multiple roles — building teams, contributing to new modalities and working on broader business challenges. Each experience has expanded my perspective and helped me grow personally and professionally.

One memorable experience was working on a complex, multi-year technology transfer program. The project required sustained effort across teams, and everyone contributed something meaningful. I’ll never forget when, after months of planning and testing, we finally executed the project in manufacturing, and met a key milestone on time and in full when we saw the first output from that process.

That moment was filled with relief, excitement, pride and gratitude — a reminder of what’s possible when a team comes together with shared commitment and sees a challenge through.