Valentyna Starodub is founder and CEO of Starodub. This company is based in the Netherlands and has an international portfolio in helping (bio)pharmaceutical and medical companies ensure that regulatory requirements are met, and business goals, such as quick market access and compliance, are achieved. As a female expert in biotechnology and a leader of a team of regulatory experts, she shares her insights and experiences with girls and women pursuing a career in biotechnology. We spoke with her at BIO KOREA 2025, where she explored business opportunities in South-Korea.

Can you tell us more about your educational background?

Since I’m from Ukraine, I started my education in Ukrainian schools. My secondary school was about mathematics & physics. Even though I was pretty good at math, I only saw the theoretical side of it and not the applied side of it. Since I’m always eager to learn more, I looked at different options and decided to do a Biology degree with a specialism in cell biology. In that way I was able to combine my talent for math with some theoretical skills. Continuing a PhD in biosensors, which was totally new about 20 years ago, I needed to have a new mindset in studying, by exploring all possibilities. This eagerness to find out more and to learn more, has always stuck with me. 

After falling in love with a Dutch guy, she decided to move to the Netherlands and look for her first job in the industry. She came across a position at a pharmaceutical multinational in the regulatory affairs department, where she was able to further strengthen her skills on different areas. 

I was able to combine my technical knowledge with my educational background and was also able to apply soft skills. I had to learn a lot while doing the job, but I liked it a lot. The everyday learning principle is basically in me, I still do that everywhere I go. It might not always be the easiest way, but I just love learning new things.  

After 15 years of working for that company, which was later purchased by one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world, a re-organisation made her switch to becoming an entrepreneur…

I didn’t know anything about starting a company, but it made me able to continue on some of the projects I was working on. I took a leap of faith and kept going. Exactly that, I think, is really important for the younger generation: believe in yourself and keep going. I have a good resumé and good knowledge, that made me able to start Starodub and have a team of Regulatory Advisors.
 

What is Regulatory affairs about exactly?

Regulatory affairs can’t be studied at a university. If you want to become a regulatory affairs advisor, it’s important to have a degree in life science – so biology, chemistry or pharmacy. Having a PhD to work within this general area is required, because during your PhD, you’ve encountered problems that needed to be solved. How you approach an unknown situation and how you solve that situation is something you’ll use on a daily basis as a Regulatory affairs advisor. An example of what we do exactly: pharmaceutical companies that create medicines submit their data with the government before the drugs can be produced. We help to submit their data in level of detail and formulate questions to governmental institutions so answers are given in proceeding development. Researchers know everything about their project or product, but are sometimes not able to write it down in a way that a third person can understand it too. That’s what we do.

Have you seen more women entering the biotech industry the last few years?

Yes, when I started 25 years ago, it was unheard of for a woman to be leading the company or a department in the biotech industry. Regulatory affairs was one of the first departments where there were more women entering the industry. I think the majority of the Regulatory affairs companies are led by women nowadays. Especially in the Netherlands, it is very normal that men and women are equal and that everybody gets a chance. It matters what you know, not which gender you have. When I worked and lived in Ireland, it was the same as in Holland. I hope this will be the case in Korea soon too.

What are, according to you, the biggest challenges for women working in the tech industry and how do you think we can conquer those together?

Society should accept that everybody has a chance. Not only gender related, but when it comes to physical appearance as well. It will still take some time for society and government to support this fully, but in the Netherlands, it’s going a good direction. If you get support from the government, you can make proper steps to the future.

What would you like to say or advise to girls that consider studying a technical degree?

I would say: just go for your dreams. Do what you like and stay passionate about it. That will bring you to your next step. It might not be the easiest way, but you’ll be able to do what you love the rest of your life. And my final addition to that would be to think like Pippi Longstocking. She said: ‘I’ve never done it, so I think I can’.