At Exyte, the vision to create a better future is a commitment reflected in the work of its people. From designing facilities for revolutionary, lifesaving medications to building environmentally friendly facilities and even mentoring young engineers, Exyte’s people bring their unique expertise to projects and initiatives that leave a lasting and meaningful impact.
Stefan Kappeler, Director of Biopharma and Regulatory-Technology (Switzerland)
The man who translates science into engineering
The world of advanced medicine, where the boundaries between science and engineering blur, is where Stefan Kappeler thrives. As the Director of Biopharma and Regulatory-Technology and Subject Matter Expert for Exyte’s Biopharma and Life Sciences Global Business Unit, Kappeler brings over 20 years of experience to projects and clients. With a strong background in both biochemistry and engineering, he bridges the gap between Exyte’s engineering capabilities and clients’ ambitious projects.
In simple terms, he is the translator between scientists and engineers: “Often, what the client envisions isn’t on paper, it’s in their minds. My job is to understand their needs and translate those into something tangible, something engineers can build,” he explains.
Kappeler’s work is helping to shape the future of medicine. His projects span new and innovative fields like gene therapy and mRNA-based treatments – areas where pharmaceutical companies are opening up whole new possibilities for medicine . “Science now seeks to heal, not just treat,” he says, reflecting on his involvement in facilities designed to produce individualized cancer therapies and revolutionary treatments for autoimmune diseases.
Further projects materializing under his guidance allowed for the development and production of diabetes and obesity treatments, such as so called GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of drugs that not only help in weight management but also reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.
His expertise in biotechnology and molecular biology gives him the unique ability to understand both the intricate science behind these therapies and the operational complexities of facility design and construction.
This work also extends to production facilities for diabetes and obesity treatments, such as the production of GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of drugs that not only help in weight management but also reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. “The facilities we design and realize must meet strict regulatory standards while also scaling to meet rising global demand. Our job is to make that possible,” Kappeler explains.
This work also extends to production facilities for diabetes and obesity treatments, such as the production of GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of drugs that not only help in weight management but also reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. “The facilities we design and realize must meet strict regulatory standards while also scaling to meet rising global demand. Our job is to make that possible,” Kappeler explains.
Breann Koep, Regional Manager for Change Management in the U.S.
Creating a better future for the next generation
Meanwhile at 7.30 am in the United States, Breann Koep, Regional Manager for Change Management, has arrived at the office and is ready to tackle the day head-on. When asked about what it means to create a better future, she says it’s simple: “In my role as a manager, it’s my job to ensure I nurture the talent within my team and do what I can to support the wider community around me.”
Koep’s leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in mentorship, advocacy, and empowerment. “For me, it’s about creating a better future for both Exyte and the next generation of professionals,” she says. Central to Koep’s approach is the distinction she makes between a manager and a leader. “A manager oversees tasks, but a leader builds people,” she explains.
This belief drives her work at Exyte, where she mentors young professionals, ensuring they feel supported and empowered. Recognizing the importance of talent development to Exyte’s long-term success, she has intentionally built a team of early-career individuals, providing them with hands-on training and opportunities to grow.
“If there’s an opportunity for someone to learn or be introduced to something new, my first instinct is to think about how I can involve my team in meetings, workshops, brainstorming, and planning to expose them to topics and challenges.” Koep shares that in one of the change management pilot programs she leads, her team is directly involved in refining processes, collaborating with other departments, and identifying lessons learned to ensure continuous improvement. “This encourages trust within the team and gives individuals the space to learn and grow,” she says.
Alongside her day job at Exyte, Koep is deeply involved in advocacy and volunteer work. She is an active member and volunteer for the US-wide initiative “Girl Day,” where school-aged girls are invited to learn and explore more about STEM careers. This year, Koep was also involved in presenting young girls with the possibilities and opportunities available to them in this field and with Exyte. Through initiatives such as these, Koep helps inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in science and engineering – work she sees as essential for building a more inclusive and innovative industry.
Alongside her day job at Exyte, Koep is deeply involved in advocacy and volunteer work. She is an active member and volunteer for the US-wide initiative “Girl Day,” where school-aged girls are invited to learn and explore more about STEM careers. This year, Koep was also involved in presenting young girls with the possibilities and opportunities available to them in this field and with Exyte. Through initiatives such as these, Koep helps inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in science and engineering – work she sees as essential for building a more inclusive and innovative industry.
Senior Mechanical Engineer Nikolay Goleshov on-site in Singapore
Engineering a sustainable tomorrow
In Southeast Asia, on the compact island city-state of Singapore, is Senior Mechanical Engineer Nikolay Goleshov. He’s standing at the entrance of a large-scale semiconductor fab, but unlike the dozens of other fabs on the island, this one is truly unique.
This fab addresses one of the semiconductor industry’s biggest environmental challenges – greenhouse gas emissions. Goleshov has been working on the project since 2022. He has played a role in designing and implementing a centralized abatement system to tackle perfluorocarbons, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming impact.
Unlike traditional systems, which use individual abatement systems attached to each manufacturing tool and are energy-intensive, this project integrates a centralized solution designed to handle emissions across the entire facility. This involves employing an innovative regenerative catalyst system (RCS) – a technology that captures and processes harmful emissions more efficiently and uses significantly less energy. By heating gases to just 650-700 degrees Celsius – half the 1,300 degrees required with traditional methods – the RCS reduces energy consumption and minimizes the environmental impact.
The system also recycles heat energy through its regenerative process, making it one of the most energy-efficient solutions currently available for semiconductor fabs. “The RCS also employs heat sinks, which are devices that help remove heat and prevent overheating. These heat sinks capture and reuse thermal energy, lowering the system’s overall energy consumption and increasing the efficiency of emissions abatement by up to 95 percent,” Goleshov says.
The system also recycles heat energy through its regenerative process, making it one of the most energy-efficient solutions currently available for semiconductor fabs. “The RCS also employs heat sinks, which are devices that help remove heat and prevent overheating. These heat sinks capture and reuse thermal energy, lowering the system’s overall energy consumption and increasing the efficiency of emissions abatement by up to 95 percent,” Goleshov says.
“This is the first fully automated system of its kind, not just for Exyte and our client, but in Singapore,” Goleshov explains. “By automating the control of the temperatures and gas flow, we can optimize efficiency and cut emissions at the same time.” His work supports Singapore’s vision of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the government’s goals. Goleshov adds that the methods from this project are now being applied to similar Exyte projects in countries such as the United States.
“To me, the definition of sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the possibilities of future generations ,” Goleshov says. “This project reflects this definition, as well as my own commitment to leave behind a greener Earth. It helps ensure that this industry can continue to grow to meet the needs while fostering sustainable innovation and solutions without sacrificing the health of the planet.”
“To me, the definition of sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the possibilities of future generations ,” Goleshov says. “This project reflects this definition, as well as my own commitment to leave behind a greener Earth. It helps ensure that this industry can continue to grow to meet the needs while fostering sustainable innovation and solutions without sacrificing the health of the planet.”
Lisa Yang in her element: Leading project controls across Northeast Asia.
From a university graduate to an Exyte leader
Further east lies a similar story. In an Exyte office in Shanghai sits Project Controls Manager Lisa Yang. Tucked away behind dominating skyscrapers and the loud hum of traffic, Yang’s typical day involves managing the regional project control team for cost estimation, cost control, schedule, planning and document control for all Exyte projects across Northeast Asia. If that sounds impressive, that’s because it is. After joining Exyte initially in 2010 and then returning in 2014, Yang has spent more than a decade developing her knowledge base and skillset through the company. She is now a trusted leader and manager across the region, crediting her success to the mentorship she faced in her career.
“Encouragement,” begins Yang, “This was the single biggest thing I was given and with this I was truly able to seek new opportunities within the business.” She explains that after joining Exyte she was encouraged to explore different career paths within the company. Initially working in sales, she soon realized her passion for numbers and problem-solving. “I worked on many proposal preparations and became interested in the work of the cost-controlling department,” she recalls. With the support of her mentors, she pursued training and hands-on experience, ultimately securing a role in cost control.
Now leading a team of almost 50, Yang is committed to paying it forward. “I was shown great leadership and given opportunities to grow. Now, I want to do the same for my team,” she explains. She fosters an environment where curiosity and ambition are encouraged, ensuring her team members have access to the same career-defining opportunities she once had. “I tell my team that all they need to do is ask, and I will support their development and potential.” Through a culture of collaboration, feedback, and open communication Yang helps her team navigate challenges and pushes them to show their true potential. “By investing in people, we don’t only create successful outcomes and future for Exyte’s business, we also create successful, motivated, teams and individuals who will go on to lead in the future.”
Now leading a team of almost 50, Yang is committed to paying it forward. “I was shown great leadership and given opportunities to grow. Now, I want to do the same for my team,” she explains. She fosters an environment where curiosity and ambition are encouraged, ensuring her team members have access to the same career-defining opportunities she once had. “I tell my team that all they need to do is ask, and I will support their development and potential.” Through a culture of collaboration, feedback, and open communication Yang helps her team navigate challenges and pushes them to show their true potential. “By investing in people, we don’t only create successful outcomes and future for Exyte’s business, we also create successful, motivated, teams and individuals who will go on to lead in the future.”