The terrific quality of life in Greater Philadelphia is a recurring theme of a new video series called “Discovery Starts With Me.” Created by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia’s CEO Council for Growth in collaboration with its partners in the Cell & Gene Therapy and Connected Health Initiative, and the hub’s cell and gene therapy R&D companies, each 90-second story gives a glimpse into what it’s like to live and work in the region.

The videos are shared on social media and as part of a paid campaign on LinkedIn. The intent is to build awareness of the opportunities for talent in the region through these shared stories.

Kobby Essien, the director of new product planning at Adaptimmune, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel cancer immunotherapy products for people with cancer, is the subject of the latest video story.

“I have been working within the life sciences industry for many years, but I was drawn to the cell and gene therapy industry and Adaptimmune because I wanted to be a part of a team that was developing products to directly transform the lives of patients,” Essien shared with the CEO Council for Growth.

On weekends and during free time, Essien said he immerses himself in the different cultures in the region, whether that means eating at his favorite Ethiopian restaurant in West Philadelphia, or spending a Saturday afternoon at Clark Park to watch local performers. “Some of my favorite days spent in the region have been at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with my friends, during their evening events with live music, food and of course, the art exhibits.”

He added, “I love that I live in a walkable suburb. I’m only ever a few steps away from enjoying restaurants, commuting into the city at my local train station, or enjoying a beautiful day on the Schuylkill River Trail.” The short video includes Essien’s photos of some of these favorite activities.

To learn more about Adaptimmune, read this article from the July 2021 issue of this newsletter.

The CEO Council is debuting a new video each month. To nominate one of your employees as a talent ambassador to share their own story, contact Grace Hanlon at [email protected].