A multi-part series looking at colleagues who have benefited from our ability to offer global mobility, featuring Mackenzie Hartman, EMEA Events & Marketing Lead. Mackenzie has been a SOPHiAN since July 2025.
What's your background, Mackenzie?
My career has always centred around storytelling and communications. It started off in Taipei, Taiwan, doing live news and PR, then it continued to grow into marketing within the tech sector. I’ve always gravitated toward doing things where communication isn’t just noise and I want to touch people's lives (hearts and souls) in some way. And I’m always up for a challenge. That led me to PacBio, in London, where my journey in the life science space began. SOPHiA GENETICS was very exciting progression after that.
What attracted you to SOPHiA?
During the interviews, I could feel how much the team cared, not only about the work but also getting the right people around them. The whole process was also genuinely transparent and that meant a lot. I knew SOPHiA GENETICS was growing in North America and bringing my experience and EMEA & APAC perspective to support that felt like the right next step. Joining as a contractor covering a 6 month mat leave, knowing I had to quickly show my value, fill big shoes with the high expectations, and move AGAIN across the world, made it a whole new level of challenge. It was honestly one of the boldest moves I’ve made but I decided to do the scary thing!
What can you tell us about your journey so far?
After moving to London for my last role, SOPHiA gave me the ability to relocate to the US, as the Field Marketing Lead in Boston.
Since I was on a 6 month contract, I had to move fast to prove myself. I had to get to know the team quickly, look through past events, and find my footing quickly. It wasn’t the easiest, but I enjoyed the challenge.
I knew there was an opening in Switzerland, but I wasn't sure if it would even be a possibility for me. Getting a visa sponsorship is a big deal, and I didn't want to get ahead of myself. I kind of just focused on my role in Boston. But then my manager asked the question! I said yes!
Then they really pushed it for me, and it happened! The whole thing felt surreal in the best possible way.
When it became a reality, I felt a lot of mixed emotions. I was excited, nervous, grateful, a little overwhelmed. Moving within a few weeks and saying goodbye again. But SOPHiA gave me an opportunity I genuinely wouldn't have had otherwise and supported me every step of the way. Next thing I knew, I was packing again!
What comes next for you with SOPHiA?
I want to keep growing strategically and bring more creative ideas to the table. I’ll continue to support sales and events in a way that can move people. Being based in Switzerland has also opened up EMEA further for me. The diversity, the different markets, cultures and conversations, is somewhere I feel I belong. There's still a lot I want to build here and I feel like I'm just getting started!
What advice would you give to someone considering a role here?
Come in collaborative and curious. This is a place where you'll have real room to shape things. It’s exciting but also it means you need to be quick on your feet and up for a challenge. If you resonate with this, I promise it will shape your career in ways you won't expect!
- Boston
- People
- Relocation
- Switzerland
