Kim Warner leads BioMarin’s Early Talent Program, which is preparing to welcome more than 130 interns globally, including approximately 50 in the United States. As aspiring professionals pursue opportunities around the world, this time of year is a moment of reflection for Kim, who has come full circle in her own professional journey.

A long-distance move 12 years ago brought Kim to the San Francisco Bay Area and to a temporary role with BioMarin’s People team. What began as a short-term opportunity in Talent Acquisition became a long-term commitment to creating pathways for others. Along the way, she has helped strengthen community and a sense of belonging across the company as co-chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Employee Resource Group (ERG), which she co-founded in 2021. She also supports BioMarin’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs, helping to identify promising early-career research and development professionals, and build a strong talent pipeline to advance the company’s science.

We spoke with Kim for our employee profile series highlighting “The DNA of BioMarin” – our people. Inspired by the four bases of DNA – A (adenine), T (thymine), C (cytosine) and G (guanine) – we ask employees to reflect on the role that Aspiration, Translation, Connection and Gratitude play in their everyday work.

Learn more about how Kim’s personal journey, passion for inclusion and dedication to creating opportunities continue to influence her work at BioMarin.

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 came to the Bay Area after my partner and I decided to move closer to one another after a long-distance relationship and start building our life together. At the same time, I learned about a temporary opportunity at BioMarin. In the span of three months, I got engaged, left a full-time job, moved and started a new role as a Senior Talent Acquisition Coordinator. What began as a practical next step quickly became a defining moment in my career and in my life.

The role allowed me to continue building my human resources skills while joining an organization deeply rooted in its purpose. Seeing the care BioMarin teams bring to patients, their families, caregivers and communities made it clear this was where I wanted to grow.

My path has also been influenced by my experience as the child of Filipino immigrant parents and a first-generation college graduate. My parents’ experiences and sacrifices continue to shape how I approach my work, share my culture and raise my family. I grew up with a strong emphasis on family, stability and service.

My mom wanted me to consider nursing, an honorable profession, but I knew it was not the right fit. Without a clear roadmap or professional network, exploring other paths was challenging. Over time, I learned that career journeys are rarely linear and that building community and access matters.

In Talent Acquisition, I focus on expanding access, visibility and belonging for students and early-career professionals, especially those who may not see themselves reflected in traditional career narratives. I am passionate about helping people understand there are many ways to make an impact in biopharma and that clarity often comes from taking the next step. My goal is to help build pathways that allow people from all backgrounds to thrive at BioMarin and beyond.

CONNECTION
What role does connection play at BioMarin?

Connection is at the heart of BioMarin. I see every day how meaningful relationships help early-career professionals build confidence, find community and envision a future here. Through my involvement with APIC, I have seen how representation and belonging can amplify voices and strengthen our shared commitment to patients. In human resources, I have also learned that when employees feel supported and connected, they are better able to do their best work.

The connections I’ve made at BioMarin have expanded my perspective, opened doors and helped me grow as a leader. Just as importantly, they have grounded me in a sense of purpose and made this work feel like more than a job.

In 2021, I helped launch BioMarin’s APIC Employee Resource Group as its events team lead, and in 2024, I became co-chair. This work has strengthened my ability to connect talent strategy with employee experience and reinforced how representation and community can support both culture and business goals.

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

I am grateful for the opportunity to work across functions and alongside people who value connection, inclusion and impact.

Collaborating across the business has deepened my understanding of how interconnected our work is. Every role contributes to improving outcomes for patient communities. That perspective makes my work more meaningful.

I am especially thankful for the People team and the ERG community. Working with colleagues who support one another personally and professionally has shown me what is possible when people come together around a shared purpose.

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

In our Early Talent Program, I help build inclusive pathways into BioMarin by connecting students and early-career professionals across functions to opportunities where they can grow and contribute.

Over the past 12 years, BioMarin’s early-talent efforts have grown significantly. The U.S. internship program expanded from about 30 students to 50 in 2025. We accomplished this with broader university outreach, partnerships with platforms like Handshake, and collaboration with the business to expand early-talent opportunities. We also conducted targeted outreach, including job fairs, conferences, increased marketing and partnership with the ERG community.

BioMarin has also broadened its early talent pipeline through postdoctoral fellowship programs in Research and Early Development and Regulatory Affairs, a two-year Finance rotational program, an apprenticeship program in Europe, and regional internship programs globally.

Some of the people who joined us through these programs as early-career professionals are now full-time employees managing their own interns or employees, which is especially rewarding to see. Many others have found full-time careers at other companies, pursuing their passions.

These partnerships have reinforced my belief that creating access and belonging is a shared responsibility across the organization.