2021 GMiS Luminary Honorees

As Global Strategic Marketing Manager for Pharma Solutions at International Flavors & Fragrances, Paula Garcia Todd manages the largest excipient portfolio comprised of over $500 million in sales to the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, 1 out of every 3 oral solid drugs globally contains a product in her portfolio.

Born in Brazil to Chilean parents, Ms. Garcia Todd grew up in a family of engineers, but all of them were men.  After moving to the United States at age nine, she decided to become the first female engineer in the family and went on to earn both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering with honors from Pennsylvania State University.

After graduation she worked in engineering positions at Dow Chemical and DuPont, before joining IFF last year. During her career, Ms. Garcia Todd worked as a process engineer in chemical plants, manufacturing pharmaceutical products under strict regulatory conditions and created new polymer solutions for drug delivery challenges in Research & Development labs.  She has three patents for her innovations.

Her community involvement ranges from her role on IFF’s diversity committee to her position on Penn State’s College of Engineering Outreach and Inclusion Board, focused on the recruitment and retention of underrepresented engineering students.

Ms. Garcia Todd is one of 123 ambassadors selected by the American Association for Advancement in Science to serve indefinitely as national STEM role models.