Andrea Faberlle Diaz walked up to the Eli Lilly career fair booth expecting to talk about opportunities down the street from her college. As graduation approached at the University of Puerto Rico, she was exploring what came next. Eli Lilly had a facility on the island, and after spending months in a pharmaceutical manufacturing internship, it seemed like the natural place to start the conversation. Instead, the recruiter pointed her in a direction she hadn’t considered.
Indiana.
“I was interested in the Puerto Rico facility,” Andrea recalled. “But after talking about my experience, they told me I would actually be a much better fit in Indiana because the injectables side was expanding so much.”
That one conversation and that one unexpected suggestion led to a decision that would change the course of her career.
Today, Andrea works in Indiana’s life sciences industry, supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing at Eli Lilly, where she helps produce medicines that reach patients worldwide. Looking back, she realizes that opportunity wasn’t something she could have planned for. It was something she discovered by staying curious enough to explore what was in front of her.
She didn't have her whole plan mapped out - just the next step
Andrea is quick to admit she wasn’t one of those students who always knew exactly what they wanted to do.
She was clear on two things: she loved science, and she likely wouldn’t pursue an engineering path.
“Unfortunately, I’m not good at math,” she said with a laugh. “I wasn’t then, and I’m not now.”
Biology felt like the right fit, so she enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico and focused on what was immediately ahead rather than trying to map out the next decade. Ironically, it was one assignment she hadn’t been looking forward to that would give her the clarity she was searching for.
The internship that changed everything
Like many college programs, Andrea’s degree required students to complete industry experience before graduating – and finding that opportunity was entirely up to her. At the time, it felt intimidating: identifying a company, applying for a role, and immersing herself in the organization. Looking back, she describes that experience as a turning point.
She landed an internship in pharmaceutical manufacturing expecting it to be another step toward graduation. Instead, it became the experience that reshaped her career. What was supposed to be a two-month internship stretched into six.
“The internship was originally supposed to be from June to July, but I stayed until December,” she says. “Each day I found myself challenged by a new problem to solve. I remember how excited I was to be gaining new experiences so early in my career. I already knew I was passionate about working in manufacturing and working with operators; that experience just confirmed it.”
Until then, science had largely existed in textbooks, lectures, and labs. On the manufacturing floor, she saw something different. Every process, every quality check, and every person on the line contributed to something far bigger than a classroom assignment. She wasn’t just studying biology anymore; she was helping manufacture medicines that would one day reach patients around the world.
The resource that helped shape her career
That internship eventually led her back to the career fair and to the conversation that brought her to Indiana. The move meant leaving home, starting over, and joining one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies during a period of rapid expansion. It also meant stepping into an industry that refuses to stand still.
Today, Andrea works as an Operations Associate, supporting manufacturing operations that run around the clock. She helps troubleshoot production challenges, supports operators across the manufacturing floor, and helps teammates continue developing their own careers.
“I spend a lot of time supporting our operators,” she said. “Whether it’s helping someone work through a challenge or preparing them for new opportunities, it’s rewarding to see people grow in their careers.”
It’s a role that demands technical knowledge, collaboration, and a willingness to keep learning. Fortunately, that’s exactly what Andrea enjoys most.
A front-row seat to innovation
For Andrea, one of the biggest draws of the industry is that it never stands still.
“I think what excites me the most is just the rate at which discovery is happening,” she said. “There are so many incredible things happening and so many life-changing medicines being developed.”
That pace extends beyond the manufacturing floor. Advances in artificial intelligence are beginning to reshape how new medicines are discovered, opening possibilities that seemed unimaginable just a few years ago.
“Now, with the application of AI in drug discovery, the potential just keeps growing,” she said. “This is such an exciting industry to be in because the possibilities really feel endless.”
For someone who enjoys learning, it’s exactly the kind of environment she was hoping to find.
Just take the next step
Looking back, Andrea doesn’t think the most important decision she made was choosing the right major or finding the perfect first job. It was staying open to opportunities she hadn’t expected.
“My number one piece of advice is don’t be afraid to try new things,” she said. “Always prepare. Always show up. But don’t be afraid if you’re not the most prepared or the most confident person in the room. Just give anything a try.”
She pauses before sharing the lesson that’s stayed with her throughout college, her internship, and the move to Indiana.
That’s exactly how Andrea’s career unfolded. She couldn’t have predicted where her curiosity would lead. A required internship became a career. A conversation at a recruiting booth became a move to Indiana. And a willingness to keep taking the next step led her to an industry where learning never stops. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
