Dr. Kara Renai King is a leadership expert with over 26 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry in both traditional and contract development manufacturing organizations. Her experience ranges from early drug product development to commercial operations. She has held leadership roles in Quality, Tech Ops, and Drug Product Operations (from bulk product manufacturing to packaging and distribution).

Over the last several years, she has demonstrated her ability to be a transformative leader. She has improved product quality performance, operational performance, and financial performance of the organizations she has led through disciplined processes, capability building of her teams, rewards/recognitions, and fostering a culture of joy and inclusion.

In her current role at Zoetis Animal Health Pharmaceutical Company, she is responsible for four manufacturing sites and leads the manufacturing learning and development organization. She has become an expert in crisis management through her experience leading a manufacturing organization during a devastating EF-3 tornado that destroyed facility infrastructure while she and 2,200 of her site colleagues were in the facility in July 2023. Her leadership during the site recovery efforts enabled the organization to return to operations in one month, which was critical for the patients needing acute hospital care medicinal treatments.

Dr. King also uses her platform to invest in and transform the community by sponsoring local STEM programs that promote engineering and life science careers and educational experiences for middle school and high school students. Her strategic recruitment strategies have developed co-op programs with local universities like North Carolina Wesleyan University and expanded internship opportunities with local HBCUs such as North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central University. She has also partnered with local government officials to support public transportation options that improve access within the community and align with environmental sustainability goals.

Dr. King sits on the board of Eastern University and the International Leadership Association (ILA). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Hampton University, a Master’s degree in Cell Biology & Biotechnology from University of the Sciences, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University.

Her favorite mottos:

To whom much is given, much is required

G.R.I.T. – Greatness Requires Intentional Transformation. GRIT is her superpower.