Arizona Through Their Eyes: A STEM Girl in a Non-STEM World with Allie Bakovic

Greater Phoenix A to Z

In this special episode of Arizona Through Their Eyes, we’re shaking things up! GPEC’s VP of Bioscience Business Development, Allie Bakovic, hands over the mic to her mentee and episode host, Kenzy Moustafa—a neuroscience undergraduate at ASU. Together, they explore Allie’s remarkable career journey, from conducting groundbreaking lab research to driving innovation in Greater Phoenix’s bioscience ecosystem.

Listen in as they discuss pivotal career transitions, the bridge between biosciences and economic development, and the exciting opportunities emerging within the sector across Greater Phoenix. Whether you're a student, researcher or simply curious about where science meets business, this episode offers valuable insights on career growth, mentorship and making an impact beyond the lab.

About Allison (Allie) Bakovic, Ph.D. — Allie has been with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council since December of 2023 and serves as the Vice President of Bioscience Business Development. Allie earned her Ph.D. from George Mason University, where she conducted mutagenesis studies in biosafety level-3 laboratories. She holds a BioMolecular Engineering degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and is passionate about translating complex scientific principles for broad audiences.

Connect with Allie Bakovic

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakovica/

About Kenzy Moustafa — Kenzy is a Neuroscience student in her senior year at ASU. Kenzy has been interested in the study of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, and hopes to build her career to aid in the development of cures for these diseases. Kenzy is currently an undergraduate research assistant in a Visual Cognition Laboratory, assisting in data collection and analysis, and identifying relevant research literature to contextualize findings.

Connect with Kenzy Moustafa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenzy-moustafa-224029318/

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Chapters

1. Arizona Through Their Eyes: A STEM Girl in a Non-STEM World with Allie Bakovic (00:00:00)

2. Meet Your Host: Kenzy Moustafa (00:00:59)

3. Allie Bakovic’s First Steps in Biosciences (00:01:36)

4. Her Research, Discovery & Impact (00:06:27)

5. From Lab Work to Economic Impact (00:09:25)

6. Leading Bioscience Growth at GPEC (00:12:49)

7. The Future of Biosciences in Greater Phoenix (00:15:48)

8. Beyond the Lab: Charting a New Career (00:17:01)

9. What Students Should Know (00:18:28)

10. Insights Gained Along the Way (00:20:44)

11. Final Thoughts & Takeaways (00:21:38)