Organizational Development and Culture

Credibility is essential for leaders in any industry, but in the high-stakes world of pharma and biotech, it is even more critical.

Three notable transitions worthy of reflection at this point in time.

Rare Disease Day unites this wide range of conditions under one shared umbrella, fostering a global community that amplifies the collective voice.

Reflecting on the basics of gratitude can help us find perspective and appreciate the good in our lives.

Reflecting on my career and the significant societal and technological shifts during those years, I see it as split between two generations, each half so different from the other.

This past December, the FDA finalized its guidance on rare diseases with the publication Rare Diseases: Considerations for the Development of Drugs and Biological Products. This FDA guidance has been in draft form since 2019.

I grew up in the Midwest — the middle child in a large family. We were each tagged with certain labels and expectations: the smart ones, the overachievers, and the ones still trying to find themselves (and that was before it was fashionable).

In this post-COVID era, our clients have experienced a culture shift — driven by remote work, digital transformation, accelerated innovation, and a focus on employee well-being. Changes in supply chain, clinical trials, and regulatory dynamics have accentuated all of this.

There are many ways we introduce ourselves to make an impact and grab the attention of our audience. In our line of work, that might be what your path was into biopharma (I was headed toward academic medicine with my MD/PhD but diverted for the reasons described below), or it could be the diverse companies where you’ve applied your skills (in my case, rare disease and oncology). It can even be the cities where you have lived (I transplanted to Boston from the Midwest over two decades ago; at some point, I expect to master driving here).