Page 119 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

Making a difference in

the lives of people.

Kristina had saved up money to go sailing for six “I am amazed at what has been accomplished by
Dr Kristina Wallengren is the founder and Executive months from Panama across the Pacific Ocean and THINK as a team, and thankful for the part that I
Director of TB and HIV Investigative Network (THINK).
her acceptance to Harvard arrived while she was have played. I find it very difficult to take credit for
in the Galapagos Islands. However, Kristina said, “I myself. I could never have thought about the things
HINK is a registered non-profit organisation
dedicated to making a difference in the lives wasn’t ready at that time to stop the adventure that that we are doing at THINK on my own. There has
Tof people suffering from tuberculosis (TB) I had started.” She postponed taking up the offer at been an organic growth of the organisation and the
and HIV. Consequently, THINK undertakes clinical Harvard, a prospect which was also nerve wrecking, individuals within have made it into what it is.”
research, training and health systems improvement as she was concerned about how she was going Purpose finds you
with impact both locally and globally. to finance her studies. “However, I was able earn
money through sailing a yacht from New Zealand The advice that Kristina would give to people is to
Kristina declares, “As the director of THINK, I often to Alaska, which paid $100 a day that I could mostly follow your interests, and your passion will develop
say that I am the cheerleader. We are a big team of save towards financing my studies. The sailing itself. “When you follow your interest, you develop
people working together to achieve results. My job journey was really important in my career and a flair and move into a space where you are able to
is to support my team’s effective functioning. For became one of the most interesting door-openers thrive and shine. Through that way, purpose finds
example, obtain funding for our work, write grant to give me opportunities that I wouldn’t have had you and you are able to make a difference.”
applications, meet with stakeholders, conduct site otherwise.” In reflecting on the role of women in business, Kristina
visits, as well as establish systems in the organisation Working in Africa says that she does not think that women need to
to make sure we are able to reach the desired impact.” have a different approach to business to men. “I think
One of Kristina’s supervisors at Harvard, Professor
A career change that every individual needs to have an approach to
Megan Murray, really inspired her career further.
THINK’s story starts with Kristina’s desire to make a “She sent me to work in Africa and gave me the business that is reflective of themselves and should
difference in the world and the thought that she was opportunity to set up research at a hospital in be authentic. We need to all strive to learn more. To
doing that too slowly. “My background is as a scientist Pietermaritzburg and to go for it all on my own. The experiment more, to develop ourselves more. There
in molecular biology, and I felt that I was saving the trust and confidence, from her, was amazing and is not one formula that fits all. We are all different. The
world one dust-particle at a time.” The road from something that I try to replicate in my dealings with most important thing to me is being authentic and
these beginnings to establishing THINK was long other people.” true to yourself. When you bring yourself with you
winded with a lot of interludes. “After working for into every space you go, there is hardly any energy
ten years as a basic scientist, I had a career change. THINK started its first clinical trial in 2013 at Durban expense because you don’t have to play different
I wanted to see more impact in the work that I Medical Centre with a small research team providing characters.”
treatment to 12 patients. Since then, THINK has
was doing, so I went back to school and studied created over 300 job opportunities and provided care Continue to do more good
international health – specifically epidemiology and for over 140 000 patients in eThekwini. Three new TB In the future Kristina would love to take her children
public health. This enabled me to move to South drugs, the first since the 1950s, have been developed sailing for an extended period of time to let them
Africa, and eventually to start THINK seven years and THINK is contributing to establishing their best experience the awe of the world, and allow self-
ago,” she explained.
use and bringing them to the market. Furthermore, reflection being removed from the business of
Kristina says that she has been inspired by many THINK has conducted research to improve care for our daily lives. She would also want to see THINK
people along her life journey. After completing her drug resistant TB by reducing treatment duration sustainable and continue to make an impact in
PHD in molecular biology, Kristina’s supervisor, world- from two years to nine months, which has now been people’s lives with the ethos that it was founded on.
renowned Professor Hans Rosling, encouraged her adopted as standard of care in South Africa. THINK “I would like for THINK to be a place where people
to study at Harvard and truly inspired her to make isn’t resting on its laurels but is working on reducing can be their best selves and generate more of the
a difference in the public health field through data. it even further to six months. good stuff that we are already doing,” she concluded.

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