Diana I. Shea
“Remember you don’t have to have it all figured out right now. The right path is in front of you and what is meant for you will never pass you by.”
I enjoy designing digital marketing and artwork. I grew up in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood and didn’t learn English until middle school. In high school, I didn’t believe I would ever get a college degree. I am a fashion model and have acted in a few Hollywood movies. I work at a pharmaceutical company, it’s my job to make sure the company produces medicine and treatments that are safe. I am a Director of Quality.
Oftentimes, patients come to X4 to bravely share their stories of battling diseases that are currently incurable or untreatable. I’m really motivated by playing a part in potentially changing that. Many of the diseases that have extremely high survival rates today were considered incurable just a few decades ago. And it’s up to people with jobs like mine to make sure that those treatments are as safe as they are effective. So when I see patients who are fighting diseases we can’t yet cure, I tell them, "Hold on just a little bit longer, we're almost there!". That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.
My parents immigrated to Boston from Puerto Rico, and I grew up in a predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhood. Childhood wasn't easy for me. I grew up in an unsafe household and had to assume the role of caretaker for my siblings and grandmother at an early age. Since my home life was challenging, school became an escape for me. I enjoyed all of my craft-making and writing classes where I was free to explore my creativity. And as I entered middle and high school, I finally learned enough English to explore new possibilities. During high school, college felt out of reach for me. It was expensive and daunting. After graduating, I went straight into the workforce where I got my start in Administration and Customer Service. It wasn’t until I became a mother that I started questioning my own misconceptions about attending college. I imagined all of the possibilities I wanted my child to feel, and realized that those could apply to me too. I found programs where I could earn my Associates and Bachelor's degrees part-time while I continued to work. It was a lot to juggle, but I graduated with my son cheering me on in the audience. It was a very proud moment for us both. From then on, I had a series of wonderful mentors and worked hard to get into the biotech industry. Although I didn't have a science degree, I was curious, asked questions, and used my network to work my way through a few positions in the field, which eventually led me to Quality. It was a great fit for my love of details and working with people, and I’ve been able to continue to grow my power and responsibilities through the role. That said, I really enjoy variety in life, and have continued to pursue a career in modeling and acting to feed my artistic side and step out of my comfort zone. Now, I am the Director of Quality at X4 Pharmaceuticals Inc., and earned a Master's degree in Science Management along the way.
I consider myself to have ‘heart eyes’ meaning I often spot heart shapes everywhere that I look. Whenever I see a heart, I take it as a message from my family members who have passed away. I also love digital marketing, exploring my creativity through photography (especially of all of the hearts that I see), and helping my son with his podcast. Believe it or not, I love ALL types of music but my favorite is the salsa king Marc Anthony. I also enjoy modeling and acting… some would call it my alter ego. Most importantly, I love spending time with my family, they have always been my foundation.
I’ve been in a lot of movies! I was in The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Central Intelligence with The Rock and Kevin Hart.
Shield yourself from the stereotypes and negativity by finding what brings you joy. Focusing on doing the work you enjoy in ways that feel good to you. And don’t pressure yourself to find your passion – or to limit yourself to just one passion – it might just find you along the way!
