An initiative of CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County (CLAOC)
An initiative of CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County (CLAOC)
Sr. Quality Engineer, BD
Starting your career far from family and friends can be a challenge. Bianca Aleman’s experience with the OC Fellows program helped her develop strong local connections while growing her career.
A Central Coast native, growing up Bianca played sports and swam competitively, danced, and took piano. She excelled academically and was sure she wanted to be a doctor. Bianca’s first job was working in the strawberry fields. This gave her huge appreciation for school and the opportunities it offered.
Bianca attended California Polytechnic State University, where she studied biomedical engineering and was pre-med. Her plan to go on to medical school shifted when summer work experiences introduced her to engineering paths that would still give her the chance to help patients.
Bianca’s first introduction to OC was coming to Irvine for a BioDesign R&D Co-op at Edwards Lifesciences. Internships with Medtronic and Edwards followed, and after her masters graduation, she secured a quality engineering role at Edwards Lifesciences.
A colleague introduced Bianca to the OC Fellows program, which helped her build a local network and friendships. “Being an OC Fellow made me more likely to stay in Orange County,” Bianca says.
Through her OC Fellows experience, Bianca:
Bianca currently works in quality engineering for BD. ( Bianca formerly worked for Edwards Lifesciences Critical Care, acquired by BD in 2024) She helps ensure the consistency and high quality manufacturing of the commercial products. She has the opportunity to travel and use her Spanish while working with plants in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. She’s also enjoyed the chance to support pediatric products.
Following her two years as an OC Fellow, Bianca has continued to be involved as an alum and an Advisory Board member.
“We are so lucky to have Bianca as an up-and-coming leader in OC,” says Peggy Wolff, who is the CLAOC lead for the OC Fellows program. “She brings enthusiasm and thoughtfulness and is a valued advisor for our professional development programming.”
“OC Fellows is amazing! I always encourage people to apply and fully participate,” adds Bianca. “There is so much value in the program, and you get out of it what you put into it.”
