Emily Temple’s professional journey to becoming a manager in the Trial Capabilities Center at Eli Lilly is a testament to the power of family tradition, adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning. Raised near Delphi, Indiana, Temple grew up with Purdue University in her blood.
“I made the very silly decision of only applying to Purdue,” she says. “My mother and uncle went to Purdue, and another uncle worked there. It was a family affair and I never dreamed that I would go anywhere else.”
Temple’s academic path was shaped by her early ambition to become a lawyer, but she wanted flexibility. “Law school was always what I wanted to do,” she says, “but I decided that just in case I didn’t, I really wanted a business background, something more stable than a liberal arts degree.” Economics offered the analytical rigor she craved and the versatility she needed. She also added a minor in political science to broaden her horizons.
At Purdue, Temple found inspiration in the classroom, especially from Professor Cliff Fisher, who taught business law. Fisher’s small, supportive classes left a lasting impression. “He was fantastic,” she says. “I took several classes with him. He gave me lots of advice and was very influential in my decision to go forward with law school. He even ended up writing a recommendation letter for me when I applied.”
After graduating from Purdue in 2011, Temple attended Indiana University’s McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, drawn by the city’s opportunities in politics and internships. “I always knew that I did not want to do courtroom law,” she says. “The adversarial process was not something that interested me, so I focused more on the contract side.” She later pursued a master’s in international law from the University of Miami, a move that proved valuable.
Prior to joining Lilly in 2018, Temple worked at Discovery Park’s Purdue Policy Research Institute, where she gained invaluable experience in contract negotiation and networking. It was a connection from her business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, that led her to Eli Lilly.
“One of the people I had met through the fraternity messaged me and said, ‘Hey, we’re building a new department at Eli Lilly. You have economics experience as well as law school. We’d be really interested in having you apply.’” She’s now spent seven years at the pharmaceutical giant.
Temple’s work at Lilly is both international and complex. She negotiates budgets and contracts for clinical trials across North America, including Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. “It’s really a global job,” she says. “I can use all of my educational background, which is great. Not everybody gets to do that.”
"A lot of my job is about building relationships and trust, both internally and with our partners. You have to be able to explain the ‘why’ behind every contract term and every budget line.”
She describes the role as a blend of negotiation, legal knowledge and cross-cultural communication. “Every country is different, every site is different, and you have to be able to adapt,” Temple says. “The international law background really helps when you’re dealing with regulations and expectations that aren’t always the same as the U.S.”
Temple’s day-to-day involves collaborating with clinical teams, legal departments and external partners to ensure that trials run smoothly and efficiently. “A lot of my job is about building relationships and trust, both internally and with our partners,” she says. “You have to be able to explain the ‘why’ behind every contract term and every budget line.”
She also emphasizes the importance of flexibility and problem-solving: “No two days are the same. Sometimes you’re dealing with regulatory hurdles, sometimes it’s budget constraints, sometimes it’s just finding common ground between very different stakeholders.”
Looking back, Temple is grateful for her choices and encourages current students to embrace uncertainty. “Purdue is a fantastic place to spread your wings and find like-minded people,” she says. “Economics in particular can really lead you anywhere; it will teach you logical thinking and how to use analytical skills. Even though law school was very helpful in my career, economics is the foundation of what I do now.”
