446. A Career in Problem Solving

Kim Lim

Her parents wanted the best for Kim. They were sure that meant becoming a doctor. Kim chose another path that uses her talent for science, and also saves lives.

Kim Lim holds a degree in Bio-Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and is the creator and owner of Ultimate Labs Inc., a quality control laboratory that “helps save lives through testing.” She founded her company in San Diego, California, to ensure that excellent medicines, medical devices, therapeutics and other medical products would get on the market. Kim is the best-selling author of ”Inoculate Your Biotech: Protecting and Boosting Your Product-to-Market Process.” She also helps parents create a successful work-life balance based on her own experience of running a company while raising two children.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

As the granddaughter of immigrants from China, Kim says there were clear expectations about her career. “Since I had a propensity for science, my parents really pushed me to be a doctor. Within my family, we still joke that my father was actually disappointed when I became an engineer instead of a doctor. My career choice was about solving problems. It wasn’t enough for me to understand science, I wanted to apply the science and come up with new concepts, solutions and applications. My degree in bio-engineering encompasses many of the same subjects as in pre-med. This is just a more fun way for me to apply the knowledge and the talent that I have. At my company, we save lives every day through testing and quality control.”

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

“After college, I decided to do some consulting work. I got to travel all over the United States, doing things that I love: solving problems for companies; and developing processes for medical devices and the products they were making to help people and improve medicine.”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

“Putting together teams and solving problems as a team is perhaps my greatest talent. I don’t think anyone can work well isolated in a silo. I truly believe that I’m only as good as the team members I have around me. Making them successful makes me and the projects we do together successful.”