Soft Skills Aren’t Soft… and Teamwork is Work!

On the 9th of May, 2025, the UCT Pharmacometrics Group had the pleasure of hosting a special seminar by Dr. Stacey Tannenbaum.

In her engaging session, titled “Soft Skills Aren’t Soft… and Teamwork is Work!”, Stacey walked us through the essential yet often overlooked human elements of scientific communication and collaboration. Drawing from real-world experiences in model-informed drug development, Stacey illustrated why soft skills matter— and yes— ESPECIALLY in the context of pharmacometrics. 

It’s easy to become consumed by code and numbers, but Stacey reminded us that the ultimate goal is impact— impact that is achieved through effective communication and teamwork, i.e. softskills. Whether engaging with cross-disciplinary teams or explaining complex outputs to non-technical stakeholders, a model’s value lies not just in its construction but in its comprehension and application.

We highly recommend Stacey’s seminar to both early-career and seasoned scientists looking to sharpen their communication skills and make their science more accessible, actionable, and influential.

Soft skills aren’t soft. They’re essential.