Business Of Biotech An Anthropological Lens On Leadership In Life Sciences With Bunka's Monika Sumra, Ph.D.
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Feb 23, 2026 Monika Sumra, Ph.D., biosocial anthropologist and founder of Bunka, applies ethnography to life sciences leadership. She discusses how environments shape behavior and leadership, using Cultural Performance Indicators and rapid ethnography to make culture measurable. She explains designing systems for safer, faster operations and preparing culture before adopting AI.
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Late Career PhD Sparked A New Lens
- Monika returned to university later in life and completed her master's and PhD by 2019, which shaped a renewed curiosity about human behavior.
- That experience led her to realize many failures are adaptations to environment rather than fixed personal traits.
Investigate Conditions Not Just Performance
- Diagnose performance problems by examining the conditions shaping behavior, not just blaming execution or capability.
- Bunka uses topology and deep analysis to reveal assumptions, motivations, and weak signals behind KPIs.
Use Rapid Ethnography To Link Behavior And KPIs
- Use rapid ethnography: combine KPIs, observations, interviews, and qualitative analysis to link behaviors to outcomes quickly.
- Bunka's teams 'divide and conquer' to surface a current picture and partner with internal staff for sustainable solutions.