Supporting the Next Generation of Life Sciences Talent: Leon Larkou’s Perspective on Mentorship with Alan Boyd
At Boyds, we believe that supporting the next generation of life sciences professionals is essential to the future of healthcare innovation. Through the University of Birmingham’s Alumni Mentorship Program, our founder, Alan Boyd, continues to share his knowledge and experience with aspiring scientists and industry professionals.
One student benefiting from this mentorship is Leon Larkou, who is currently studying for a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Birmingham.
Leon first connected with Alan through the University’s alumni mentoring initiative, where Alan volunteers his time to support students as they explore potential career paths within life sciences.
Reflecting on his first impressions, Leon described Alan as “very well spoken and knowledgeable,” adding that he was fascinated by the breadth of stories and experiences Alan shared from both his time as a doctor and his extensive career in industry.
Through their conversations, Leon has gained valuable insight into the realities of drug development and the wider pharmaceutical industry.
“The main thing that I have learned is to be mindful of the tangible outcome of scientific experiments and research,” Leon explained. “I learned that discoveries have to pass through industry before they can ultimately benefit patients. Alan helped me understand the full drug development pipeline, from academic research through to medicine development.”
One lesson that particularly resonated with Leon came from a story Alan shared from his time in clinical practice.
“It taught me the importance of working as a team and never dismissing other people’s knowledge or experience,” said Leon. “Alan shared a story from his time as a hospital doctor where a nurse’s concerns were initially overlooked by another doctor, but it later became clear that her observations were correct. It reinforced the idea that the best outcomes often come from listening carefully to those around you and valuing everyone’s contribution.”
The mentorship has also helped Leon better understand the range of opportunities available within life sciences.
“Alan’s support has given me insight into the pharmaceutical industry and helped me realise what is possible for medical and scientific graduates,” he said.
While Leon is still considering his long-term career path, he hopes to continue developing his scientific knowledge and pursue a career within life sciences. Through his discussions with Alan and other members of the Boyds team, he has also discovered an interest in regulatory affairs.
“I would encourage other students to explore the wide variety of careers available within life sciences, not just academic research careers,” Leon said. “There are many different paths, and it’s important to find one that suits your personality and interests.”
Leon also highlighted how valuable it was to learn about the many disciplines involved in bringing a medicine to patients.
“I enjoyed learning from different professionals and seeing how they work. It was interesting to see how all the different departments at Boyds work together to take a drug from the beginning of development through to making it available to patients.”
We would like to thank Leon for sharing his experiences and wish him every success in his future career. At Boyds, we remain committed to supporting students and early-career professionals as they take their first steps into the life sciences industry.