Insider Insight: Oriana Papin-Zoghbi, CEO and co-founder of AOA Dx

AOA Dx was founded in 2020 with the aim of giving women access to the most innovative early detection platform in their fight against cancer. Femtech World caught up with CEO and co-founder Oriana Papin-Zoghbi for our latest Insider Insight piece.

What is your morning routine?

I try to wake up before my toddler to enjoy a quiet morning with a cup of coffee, but most days, she’s an early riser, and we jump straight into breakfast. We have breakfast as a family, and then I take her to school—this quality time with her is one of my favorite parts of the day.

A few days a week, I make an effort to get up extra early to fit in a workout, which is essential for me. Once I’m back and ready to start my workday, I check my Notion dashboard to organize my tasks before diving into emails. This helps set me up for success and helps me prioritize tasks for the day.

Which technology could you not live without?

I couldn’t live without Notion, it’s like my second brain. I’m a strong believer in David Allen’s Getting Things Done method, a personal productivity approach that redefines how you manage both life and work. It emphasizes that when your mind is overloaded, you can’t think as clearly or effectively, so staying organized is key

How do you relax?

I’m still working on getting better at relaxing, but as someone who’s always striving to get things done, it can be a challenge. The best way for me to unwind is by taking walks with my family and our dog. We love strolling around the city and spending time at the park.

Which quote resonates with you?

If you can dream it, you can do it’ – Walt Disney. As an immigrant from a humble background, this quote deeply resonates with me. My family worked incredibly hard, dreamed big, and made it happen. It’s a philosophy I’ve always embraced.

What is the best thing about your job?

The best part of my job is the incredible people I work with and our shared mission to create a better future for ovarian cancer patients. This mission drives me every day. I feel truly fortunate to be on this journey with my co-founders, team, investors, advisors, and everyone helping us make early detection a reality.

What keeps you motivated?

Indignation on the status of women’s health,  especially now that I have a daughter and have experienced my own challenging journey to start a family. 

What is the most important lesson you have learned on your start-up journey?

The most important lesson I’ve learned on my startup journey is that hiring is everything. Bringing on the right people can make or break your company. I heard this advice early on, but it wasn’t until I experienced it firsthand that I truly understood how crucial it is.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Work for people, not just companies. In the early stages of your career, it’s essential to soak up as much knowledge as possible, as traditional education only takes you so far. Seek out companies with strong leaders who can mentor you during these formative years. Instead of chasing the trendiest company, focus on finding the right people, great managers and colleagues, who will support your growth and development.

What is something you wish you could experience again for the first time?

My wedding. Throughout my life, I’ve moved around the world, and my husband has also experienced his share of relocations. Our friends and family are scattered across different corners of the globe, so our wedding was the one occasion when everyone came together in one place. I felt incredibly grateful to have all of them there to celebrate with us. It was one of the most special moments of my life, and I cherished being surrounded by the people I love most.

What is your greatest achievement since establishing AOA?

Building our team has been our greatest achievement and the most significant learning curve. While we’ve had success in raising capital, publishing papers, de-risking our technology,  making progress on our milestones, etc, none of this would have been possible without our team.

My co-founders, Alex, Anna, and I have worked diligently to assemble a phenomenal group of individuals who are truly passionate and committed to AOA.