Hana Sheikh
Walnut Creek,CA
Summary
With 8+ years of experience and a deep passion for creating impactful products, I bring a well-rounded perspective to every stage of the product lifecycle. From ensuring regulatory and quality compliance to crafting innovative formulations and designing sustainable packaging, I integrate strategic thinking with close attention to detail. My approach combines operational efficiency, creative problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver products that are not only effective but also tell a compelling story.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Product Development
Innersense Organic Beauty
Concord, CA
10.2023 - Current
- Defined and executed a 3-year product strategy, encompassing category targets, customer growth, and innovation initiatives.
- Headed product and packaging development focusing on sustainability, ingredient transparency, and cost efficiency.
- Led end-to-end product lifecycle management, from concept to end-of-life, including launch calendar creation, cross-functional collaboration, and supplier management.
- Conducted market and sales analyses to identify white spaces and develop innovative products with sustainable packaging.
- Owned product positioning, messaging, and ingredient transparency initiatives, working closely with Brand and Education teams.
- Managed R&D budget, contract negotiations, and compliance documentation to ensure quality and regulatory adherence.
- Presented product concepts to leadership, drove revenue forecasts, and maintained COGs and margin goals.
- Represented the brand at trade shows, sourcing new suppliers and promoting products.
Senior Product Development Manager
Amyris Inc.
02.2021 - 10.2023
- I manage the development, testing, compliance, and sustainability of all products under the JVN and 4U by Tia lines.
- Managed the supplier portfolio and relationships to coordinating cross-functionally from product concept to the first delivery, all with a highly organized, business-minded, and collaborative spirit
- Developed multiple products over a 1-year pipeline, ensuring on-time delivery of critical project milestones through launch and finding the key balance between quality and speed of delivery
- Worked with cross-functional teams to ensure novel and innovative products are aligned on with an aggressive product launch timeline
- Evaluated incoming lab samples and provided feedback to external partners, later creating and managing master formulas and lab briefs to submit to manufacturing partners
- Defined, maintained, and communicated formulation costs for COGS to upper management
- Oversaw safety, stability and efficacy testing to set product quality requirements
- Liaised with regulatory, compliance and artwork teams to substantiate product claims and ingredient compliance
- Managed and effectively communicated critical path schedules and any risks to budget, launch timing, and packaging compatibility
- Organized chemicals screened by Amyris Clean Beauty and built a data repository of raw materials and safety testing, including EWG pre-submission review
- Stayed abreast of market innovations and trends and provide recommendations of product launch feasibility in pipeline
Senior Formulation, R&D Chemist
Prima Fleur Botanicals
09.2016 - 02.2021
- As one of the only formulation chemists, I led all our product formulations from start to finish, moving diligently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
- I worked directly with our customers to create products that accomplished their needs
- Established new and innovative formulas to create laboratory batches of skin and hair care products at scale
- Tested for conformity and stability over time with accurate reporting
- Researched innovations in raw materials and components
- QCed raw materials and performing microbiology testing
- Created certificates of analysis for all products and establishing acceptable ranges for variation
- Created protocols and SOPs for QC
- Adopted and enforced regulatory requirements including GMP and ECOCERT/COSMOS in production
Manufacturing Technician
Genentech Inc.
05.2015 - 08.2016
Education
B.S. - Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology
University of California Davis
12.2014
Skills
- GMP compliance
- Benchmarking process
- Product team leadership
- Cross functional leadership
- Product lifecycle management
- Go-to-market strategies
- Product roadmapping
- Product positioning
- Competitive analysis
- Product education
- Strategic product planning
- Supply chain management
- Automation/program scaling
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Industry best practices
Timeline
Director of Product Development
Innersense Organic Beauty
10.2023 - Current
Senior Product Development Manager
Amyris Inc.
02.2021 - 10.2023
Senior Formulation, R&D Chemist
Prima Fleur Botanicals
09.2016 - 02.2021
Manufacturing Technician
Genentech Inc.
05.2015 - 08.2016
B.S. - Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology
University of California Davis
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