Anne-Sofie left a secure job and salary behind – and found her place in Life Science

A steady salary, great colleagues and a career with good prospects.

Anne-Sofie Strands had it all, yet she still had a feeling that she wanted something more. Something different.

She had worked in freight forwarding for several years, and although the job suited her well, the same thought kept returning: Am I still on the right career path?

Eventually, the answer was “no”, and Anne-Sofie decided to press pause.

She quit her job, went back to studying and said yes to three years on a student grant.

“At first, I was so happy that I had made the change – that I had actually done it. Everything was so exciting,” Anne-Sofie says, continuing:

“But then it suddenly hit me: Shit, this is three years. It is not going to be over tomorrow. What on earth am I doing? But I told myself that I just had to take one course at a time and see how things developed.”

Engineering degree at DTU

Today, 32-year-old Anne-Sofie is delighted that she took the leap.

In December 2025, she graduated from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) with a Bachelor of Engineering in Manufacturing and Management. She then got a job as a solution engineer at a company that develops software solutions for manufacturing in Life Science companies.

In fact, it was a growing interest in pharma that prompted Anne-Sofie to change direction.

About a year after qualifying in freight forwarding in 2018, she joined a transport company, where she worked with air freight for medicines – critical shipments with strict requirements for temperature, delivery times, handling and documentation.

“I liked the regulated environment and the high standards. The consequences were greater if something went wrong, but the successes also felt greater when things went well. I found it incredibly exciting,” she says.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the work became even more intense.

Flights were cancelled and supply chains broke down – but the medicines still had to reach patients.

“I became curious about what happened before the products were ready to be shipped to patients around the world.”

“It was a real lesson in being adaptable. Every part of our customers’ value chains was affected, and we constantly had to find new solutions. I learnt an incredible amount about collaboration, problem-solving and making quick decisions based on incomplete information,” Anne-Sofie says.

The job had given her a glimpse into the Life Science industry – but a glimpse was not enough.

She knew how the products were transported around the world. Now she wanted to know how they were developed and manufactured.

“I became curious about what happened before the products were ready to be shipped to patients around the world. How do you ensure quality? Who designs the processes? I wanted to get closer to the heart of it.”

Can I go back to studying?

Anne-Sofie decided to enrol at DTU – an option she had ruled out several years earlier.

After taking three gap years, she had been convinced that university was not for her. A two-year vocational programme in freight forwarding seemed like a much better fit.

But after almost seven years working in freight forwarding, university no longer seemed quite so daunting.

“The older I got, the more confident I felt about studying,” Anne-Sofie says.

Although she was eager to take the step, it was still a huge decision. Quitting her job and starting a degree also meant saying goodbye to a good salary and hello to several years on a student grant.

“The financial side was a big concern. I had built my life around having a steady salary, so it took some calculations and a few conversations with my bank,” Anne-Sofie says.

Combining practical experience with theory

Anne-Sofie decided to enrol at DTU – an option she had ruled out several years earlier.

After taking three gap years, she had been convinced that university was not for her. A two-year vocational programme in freight forwarding seemed like a much better fit.

But after almost seven years working in freight forwarding, university no longer seemed quite so daunting.

“The older I got, the more confident I felt about studying,” Anne-Sofie says.

Although she was eager to take the step, it was still a huge decision. Quitting her job and starting a degree also meant saying goodbye to a good salary and hello to several years on a student grant.

“The financial side was a big concern. I had built my life around having a steady salary, so it took some calculations and a few conversations with my bank,” Anne-Sofie says.

Combining practical experience with theory

Her new student life came with some compromises. There was no longer room in the budget for spontaneous restaurant visits or big trips, so Anne-Sofie talked to her family and friends about not being able to afford the same things as before.

Her family and friends were very understanding and supportive – and it quickly became clear that studying at DTU was the right choice for her.

“It was great to gain so much theoretical knowledge,” Anne-Sofie says, continuing:

“I had seen so many real-life examples during my time in freight forwarding, which meant I could connect all the theory to something concrete. That made everything much easier to understand and relate to.”

“I had not wasted the years I had spent working. On the contrary, my experience was a strength.”

Most students only encounter working life after graduating, but Anne-Sofie already had several years of experience with value chains, quality control and documentation.

“I realised that I had actually learnt an incredible amount. I had not wasted the years I had spent working. On the contrary, my experience was a strength.”

Completing a university degree that she had previously thought was not for her was also a personal achievement.

“Personally, it felt amazing to finish. At first, I thought it was incredibly difficult and a huge undertaking. But I made it through, and I honestly did not expect that at the beginning, so I am proud of how far I have come.”

High standards and a meaningful goal

Anne-Sofie was in no rush to find a job after completing her degree.

Working life would catch up with her soon enough, so she gave herself time to find the right place.

She eventually started a role where she gained a great deal of valuable experience in digitalisation within Life Science. Unfortunately, the job did not turn out to be quite the right match, and she is now looking for her next workplace.

Anne-Sofie still feels that she has found the right career path, not least because she remains fascinated by the Life Science industry.

“Everyone really takes pride in delivering high quality, and I like that,” Anne-Sofie says, continuing:

“I also like that things are not always straightforward. There are obstacles to navigate when you work with medicines, and that makes it exciting.”

Another benefit is that Anne-Sofie is now looking for work in an industry that helps provide better treatment options for many patients.

“It is a very meaningful end goal. It is nice to know that you are contributing to that.”

What is holding you back?

Looking back, Anne-Sofie has no doubt that changing careers was the right decision, even though returning to student life came at a cost.

Anne-Sofie knows first-hand that changing direction can feel both daunting and overwhelming. Even so, she encourages others considering the same move to take the leap.

But what do you do if you want to make a change but are not quite brave enough?

“Try to identify what is blocking you and holding you back. Is it the finances? Is it the fear of failure? If you know exactly what it is, it is easier to find solutions and think through the different scenarios,” Anne-Sofie says, before offering one final piece of advice:

“Do not only think about the worst that could happen. Instead, ask yourself: What is the best that could happen?”