A Career Focused on Patients: Daniela's Journey at ICON

Daniela Gutierrez’s career at ICON has been a journey of transition, determination, and purpose. What began as a role in study start-up has evolved into a position deeply rooted in patient care - a shift that reflects both her personal values and the opportunities available within ICON for those willing to pursue them.

When Daniela joined ICON, she started as a Study Start Up Associate, supporting site activation in the US. “My role was about negotiating contracts and budgets so sites could begin clinical research,” she explains. However, she was drawn to a career where she could make a more direct impact in patient’s lives.

Daniela’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. She applied for multiple roles before being successful. “I didn’t even get the chance to interview for some positions,” she says. “It was difficult; there’s a lot of competition, and I had to keep going.”

Now, as she transitions into Drug Safety, she has the connection she wanted to the patients. “My new role is completely patient focused,” she says. “I assess whether adverse events are related to the investigational product,” she explains. “It is challenging, but it is also rewarding because I am directly involved in protecting participants.”

One of the things Daniela values most about ICON is the collaborative culture. “There’s so much teamwork between departments and geographies,” she says. “You’re never working in isolation.” Even in her early days in study start up, she worked closely with legal, finance, operations and site teams across the US. Now, in her new role, collaboration remains central. “Whether it’s with clinical teams, regulatory experts or external partners, everyone works together toward the same goal.”

Daniela credits much of her success to the people around her. “Having a leader who believed in me made a huge difference,” she says. “My leader looked at my potential rather than my current role. That kind of support is rare, and I’m grateful for it.”

One of Daniela’s greatest passions in life is traveling. She thrives on discovering new places, meeting fascinating people, and immersing herself in diverse cultures. 

Her dream is nothing short of global: she wants to visit every corner of the world. A special goal of hers? To experience every single Disney park. 

So far, she’s crossed three off her list: the parks in Anaheim, Orlando, and Tokyo as seen in the images below. She’s already brimming with excitement for the ones still to come.

Looking back, Daniela’s journey has come full circle. Early in her career, she worked at a clinical research site where the monitors were from ICON. “They were amazing,” she recalls. “Professional, supportive, always focused on the patient.”