Questions & Answers with Ander Tallett
We caught up with our colleague Ander Tallett, who recently returned from parental leave after the birth of his second son.
Ander talks about life as a former serial entrepreneur—going from tech startup to biotech—and finding a balance between family and work.
Name: Ander Tallett
Role: Senior Director of Finance Transformation
Years at Moderna: 4 years
Hometown: Lincoln, MA
What exactly does your role entail?
Working with business teams and leadership to solve problems and improve operations.
How did you end up in this role and what do you love about your career choice?
I have had a few different roles at Moderna across Finance and Digital; in all cases, the objective has been to tackle an immediate and challenging issue, which is what I love.
What drew you to Moderna originally? And how has Moderna changed since?
Originally, I was drawn to the science, the opportunity to make an impact and the startup culture. Moderna has since evolved as we work to blend the best aspects of large enterprise with the energy, agility and productivity of the early years.
What’s been your favorite part of working at Moderna?
Variety. Six roles in four years have given me the chance to support every part of the business, even if it was just for a short while.
Where do you find inspiration?
Potential patient stories and Moderna’s mission to deliver on the promise of mRNA science for patients.
What are your three favorite things to do on the weekend?
Typically, I am hiking, sailing or skiing. I own a small ski company for which I am the product designer—that has always been a passion.
How does your role at Moderna affect your life outside the office, and how does your life outside the office impact your job?
I came from running my own company and since joining Moderna, I have found an effective balance between life and work. Most recently, I was able to take an extended paternity leave (thanks to a new policy), which gave me great bonding time with my family, including the new little guy and my older son, who just turned two.
What are your office must-haves for a successful workday?
I am not a fan of downtime, so I prefer to have a packed schedule. That generally means I spend most of my time in meetings and away from my desk. When I am there, my favorite productivity tool is my $5 coffee warmer.
Which Moderna core value do you most embody—bold, collaborative, curious, relentless?
Bold, though relentless would be close behind. I do not have a direct background in any of the work I have done at Moderna—going after new challenges makes it fun.
If you didn’t have this job, what would you be doing?
Digital Transformation consulting and investing.
What are your hopes for our industry?
Success.
In addition to career growth and the opportunity to deliver on an important mission to advance the field of mRNA science and improve treatment options for patients, Moderna offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid parental and caregiver leave, sabbaticals, company-sponsored time off for volunteering and much more.
We are proud to be recognized by Science Careers as a top employer (2015-2019) and we’re always looking for smart, talented and passionate people like Ander. Want to join the team? See all open positions and find out more about why it’s good to be at Moderna.