Meet Kina Mapa

Meet Kina Mapa

“Phenomenex is creative and vibrant, and we have a young, energetic culture,” said Kina. “But what really sets us apart are two values: our commitment to philanthropy and our love of science.”

Kina Mapa originally envisioned herself going into the medical field as a doctor, but halfway through her pre-med courses, she came to a stark realization: Kina does not have an affinity for blood. So getting that MD was out. Kina does, however, love chemistry, which drove her decision to finish her pre-med track and try her hand in a few research positions.

“I did research for awhile before realizing, ‘I don’t quite have the personality for only doing research,’” said Kina. “I started looking for something a bit more commercial, and I found Phenomenex—a place where I could apply both my interests in business and my knowledge in chemistry.”

As a senior sales manager based in Singapore, Kina oversees Phenomenex’s sales footprint across the local region, which includes Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Many of the markets she manages are developing countries that have issues with water safety. Government labs in those areas leverage Phenomenex products to ensure that tens of thousands of people have access to clean drinking water. “The work we do benefits such a wide breadth of society,” said Kina. “The moment I realized that is when it hit me that we make a big impact each and everyday.”

Several other factors contribute to Kina’s career fulfillment at Phenomenex, where she’s worked for more than a decade. At Phenomenex, it’s not only the scientists who love science, but that deep interest and fascination with understanding and solving the world’s largest problems runs steady through all departments. Take Kina’s track, which married her love of chemistry and interest in business, as a prime example.

“Most of the sales team—actually, most of the company—has an interest in and love of science,” said Kina. “Especially during this time of COVID-19, my team talks a lot about vaccines (e.g., how they’re made, how they can be improved) and that’s what really interests us.”

The creative and vibrant energy of Kina’s team shines through in one of her favorite work memories: a friendly competition with her sales team. If they reached their KPIs, Kina committed to eating durian, which is considered one of the stinkiest fruits on the planet. Unsurprisingly, her team crushed their goals. However, in a twist of events, their sales director made the decision to join Kina, meaning she didn’t have to eat durian alone. As the whole team watched with enjoyment and laughter, Kina recalls a special sense of camaraderie, togetherness, and competitive spirit that helped inspire and drive her team forward.

Whether through company-wide projects, charitable donations, or offering employees paid-time-off to volunteer, Phenomenex has always championed philanthropy. This resonates deeply with Kina, who dedicates significant time outside of work to helping others.

“The mission of Phenomenex is to serve and inspire the greater community,” said Kina. “I try to live that myself whether by serving the local community, or inspiring younger generations throughout the globe.”

_“My hope is to inspire and pave the way for the next generation of female scientists,” said Kina. “Young talent is already sprouting up and can make a monumental difference. Girls shouldn’t be scared to do science. Through my experience, I want young women to see that Phenomenex can and will support them, elevate their voices, and help them successfully achieve their dreams._”

When living in Australia, Kina’s home country, she founded The D.R.E.A.M. Project, an NGO dedicated to supporting students and families from refugee backgrounds through mentorship and resources that help them integrate with the Australian community. While launching the organization, which is still active and successful today, Kina recalls the support Phenomenex gave her through both monetary funding and approved time off to focus on growing the organization.

Today, Kina dedicates her weekends to Hillcrest Girls Club, an offshoot of the Social Enterprise for Education and Development (SEED), which serves young girls through mentorship programs, helping them forge strong characters and learn life skills beyond what’s traditionally taught in the classroom. Kina mentors girls ages 9-10 in the Sparklers Club and teaches them about art, culture, culinary skills, and the importance of giving back to their communities.

As a leader at Phenomenex and within her community, Kina is committed to prioritizing her physical and mental health not only for the personal benefits but also to set an example for those around her.

“Keeping healthy is the key to your mental health,” said Kina. “I think it's important to shut off and recharge, and exercise is how I do that.”

When not at work or volunteering her time, Kina can often be found practicing yoga, participating in musical theater, or challenging her husband to a friendly cooking competition, which she is typically the winner of.