Ask Acumen

Katie Rink

Senior Director, Human Resources

How long have you been at Acumen?

I became part of the Acumen ‘One Team’ in February of 2021. I joined as employee #17 and now we have over 60 employees.

What initially drew you to Acumen and our company’s mission?

When I was on my job search, there were a few must-haves on my checklist:

A smaller, early-stage company with plans to grow
A meaningful mission
A fun work environment

It might seem unusual to include “fun” as a must-have, but I genuinely believe that work should be fun. Of course, fun looks different for everyone. For me, it means spending most of my day doing work I care about, with people I enjoy collaborating with, all in pursuit of a mission that matters. I have two daughters, and it’s important to me that they grow up seeing that work can—and should—be fun.

Not long after joining Acumen – and still, more than three years later, I can confidently say it’s the kind of work environment I hoped for. My colleagues are not only passionate about their work—they approach it in a way that aligns with our company values of People, Integrity, Innovation, and Perseverance. And when my girls catch me working at times, they know I am having fun.

What is a significant accomplishment or project you have been involved in that made a difference in advancing Acumen’s vision?

Our growth! In a role like mine, it might not always feel like I’m involved in the day-to-day work of advancing our mission of developing targeted Alzheimer’s disease treatments, but I absolutely contribute in meaningful ways. Since joining Acumen, we’ve hired over 40 employees, many of whom I was the first Acumen person that they spoke with. I love getting to know people during the recruitment and onboarding process, being a resource for them once they’re here, and watching what they accomplish as part of the Acumen One Team.

Which of Acumen’s four values (People, Integrity, Innovation, and Perseverance) resonates most with your work and role?

Each of our values resonate with my work and role, but the one value that doesn’t always come naturally in my role is Innovation.

I’ll sneak in a quote here that has stuck with me since my high school volleyball days. “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.”

I love the challenge of finding ways to be innovative in my role, particularly when it comes to processes, policies, and just general ways we typically do things. Exploring new and innovative ideas can help us work more efficiently and effectively and can lead to better outcomes.

What advice would you give someone who wants to join our company and contribute to our mission in Alzheimer’s research?

Keep your eye on us, and don’t be shy! I’m incredibly grateful that I landed in this industry, and I’m thankful to all the people I’ve met along the way who’ve generously shared their time and expertise with me. I’d be lying if I said I was never nervous to strike up a conversation with someone along my own career journey, but sometimes you have to go out on that skinny branch, outside your comfort zone, and take the 1^st step. No matter where you’re at in your career journey, always look to authentically make connections and learn more about others.

Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your free time?

I like to stay pretty active and try go out for a run every day. Most of my hobbies revolve around my two girls, Maddie and Emmie. This summer, we enjoyed playing volleyball and tennis – and cuddling cats any chance we had!

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance while being deeply committed to your work and the mission of the company?

I circle back to what is important to me – making sure my girls grow up seeing that work can—and should—be fun.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a key ingredient in enjoying my work. I value clarity around what I’m accountable for and make it a priority to set realistic expectations about due dates and deliverables. Also, I try to be fully present in whatever moment I’m in – whether I’m working or “clocked out” for the day. My manager and other leaders at Acumen have been incredibly supportive in encouraging and helping maintain that balance, which is super helpful, too.