“Making a difference every day”: Biofidelity’s Head of People discusses the company’s culture and values

When Clare Hammond decided to take on the role of Biofidelity’s new Head of People earlier this year, it was an easy move.?

“I’ve always wanted to work with companies and organizations that have patients at the heart of what they do,” Hammond said. “That’s why I was so captivated by Biofidelity’s mission.”?

Biofidelity is a molecular diagnostics company based in Cambridge, England, with a U.S. laboratory in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The company’s ASPYRE technology is designed to ensure that all patients diagnosed with cancer have rapid and affordable access to comprehensive biomarker testing so they can have the very best therapeutic treatment options.?

While the company plans to launch its breakthrough technology for use in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), this is merely the first application in a pipeline of precision oncology diagnostics.

Since starting at Biofidelity, Hammond has worked to define her role outside the typical “human resources” sphere.

“There’s a perception of human resources as very transactional and cold,” Hammond said. “I feel really passionately that my role is a holistic one—it’s to support people to be at their best. I want to set people up to succeed.”?

Making an Impact?

Hammond said one of the benefits of working at a growing company like Biofidelity is the opportunity to make a difference every day.

“I’ve worked at large companies where it’s really difficult to have any meaningful impact,” Hammond said. “Here, you can see how your work is going to extend and improve the lives of cancer patients—that’s a pretty great way to spend your day.”?

She also said there’s an attitude of gratitude infused throughout the organization.?

“Everyone here has a mindset of appreciation and gratitude,” Hammond said. “It’s the little things—taking the time to say thank you or to recognize a colleague for something they did. We’re all working together toward a shared goal and our attitudes reflect that.”?

Hammond said it’s no accident that Biofidelity’s CEO, Barnaby Balmforth, exudes those same values.

“He sets the tone for the entire organization,” Hammond said. “Barney is a very humble CEO—he’s a great leader and a great role model for the company.”?

A Unique Culture

Biofidelity’s corporate culture comprises three areas: humanity, openness and high expectations.

Hammond said the first area, humanity, is all about care and compassion: “It’s about respecting the fact that we all have personal lives and commitments outside of work. In this remote environment, it can be harder to balance life and work because it feels like there’s no split between the two—but we really encourage people to make that delineation.”??

Hammond said that once again, Biofidelity’s CEO sets the tone.?

“Barney takes regular time off to be with his family, and he makes an effort to put his phone down in the evening and not look at it until the next morning so he can really be present in his home life,” Hammond said. “There’s no expectation that you need to be ‘on’ all the time, and he really models that for everyone.”?

The second area, openness, is about creating a space where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.?

“We have an incredibly talented group of scientists, and their level of collaboration is phenomenal—there’s no secrecy,” Hammond said. “We all know we’re better together, and that getting lots of different views on a problem will lead to a stronger outcome.”??

Additionally, every two weeks the company holds a staff-wide “big-picture” meeting, with a program often crafted by employees themselves.??

“It’s a really lovely place for people to share and connect, and to get to know each other,” Hammond said. “It’s a way to build trust, which is the bedrock of any successful relationship.”?

The final area, high expectations, is about the drive to succeed—and the permission to fail.???

“We foster a growth mindset here,” Hammond said. “When you’re in an environment where you feel comfortable taking risks and opening yourself up to failure, you’re going to be more innovative—and that’s the kind of entrepreneurial drive we want at a company bringing a disruptive game-changing technology to the market.”?

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