SpreadLove In Organizations - Healthcare Leadership

In this episode in partnership with “A Dose of Inspiration Book from Jill Donahue”, I interviewed Angela Giannantonio, Senior Vice President Human Resources at Travere Therapeutics. Inspired by her mother's compassion, Angela found her purpose in HR, driven by a desire to help others. She emphasized the evolving role of HR, particularly during crises, highlighting the shift from a reactive to a pivotal, proactive function in supporting employees. Leadership transparency and the creation of a speak-up culture were key themes in Angela's approach. She viewed love as a powerful force, contributing to a positive and welcoming work environment. Her advice to healthcare leaders emphasized authenticity, recognizing quiet voices, and creating spaces for diverse perspectives, all essential elements for fostering a thriving organizational culture. "Create a speak-up culture where people feel safe to share what they're feeling and how they’re feeling" MEET OUR GUEST Angela Giannantonio Senior Vice President Human Resources at Travere Therapeutics. Angela Giannantonio is a senior vice president and member of the executive team at Travere Therapeutics. Ms. Giannantonio has more than 15 years of experience in human resources management, with a strong track record of delivering a best-in-class employee experience and keeping patients at the center, while also driving successful growth and innovation across complex and global organizations. Known for her relentless focus on employee experience and engagement, Ms. Giannantonio most recently was the head of human resources for Alexion Rare Disease where she led the company through its integration with AstraZeneca. She previously served as head of human resources for global commercial operations and corporate functions, leading the organization through hyper-growth and a complex pandemic while ensuring high employee engagement and performance worldwide. Earlier in her career, Ms. Giannantonio served in roles of increasing responsibility across the business, including director of human resources. Ms. Giannantonio holds an MBA from Clark University. This episode is in partnership with Jill Donahue. Jill published her third book recently A Dose of Inspiration: 100 Purpose Stories From Pharma Leaders and we partnered together to bring to light those incredible stories. You can find here or wherever you podcast more episodes with some of those executives. Download the ebook now for a free dose of inspiration here: excellerate.ca/freebook/

In this episode, I sat with Rob Perez, Operating Partner at General Atlantic, Founder and Chairman of Life Science Cares, and Co-Founder of BLOC: Biopharma Leaders of Color, and discussed his views of our industry, his key leadership learning, and the latest news from JP Morgan. Rob reflected on the pivotal role of culture in the success of companies and provided us with valuable insights on building authentic cultures that align with competitive strategies. We also talked about Life Science Cares, an organization and a collective effort of life science companies to eliminate the impacts of poverty. LSC leverages the extraordinary talent and passion of our biopharma industry to affect change and has had a tremendous impact on the communities it serves. We also delved into Rob's optimism about the biotech industry's rapid pace of innovation, increased capital availability, and potential groundbreaking advancements in the coming decade. "Let's harness the passion, enthusiasm, and compassion of our industry for a collective impact that transforms lives in our communities" MEET OUR GUEST Rob Perez Operating Partner, General Atlantic, Founder and Chairman, Life Science Cares, Co-Founder, BLOC: Biopharma Leaders of Color. Rob Perez is a biopharmaceutical operating executive with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. He is currently serving as an Operating Partner at General Atlantic, a global growth equity firm, providing strategic support and advice to the firm’s life sciences investment team and portfolio companies. Rob is also a member of the Board of Directors at Vir Bio, PathAI, Immunocore, Panther Rx and Third Harmonic Bio.    Rob is the Founder and Chairman of Life Science Cares, an organization that provides human and financial capital from the life sciences industry to the best non-profits working to alleviate the impact of poverty in the US. Life Science Cares now operates in Boston, San Diego, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay Area.  Additionally, Rob is the co-founder of Biopharma Leaders of Color (BLOC), a community of leaders united to advance the success and access of under-represented people of color throughout the life sciences industry.     Rob also serves on the Board of Trustees of The Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In 2022, Rob was selected by STAT News as one of 46 inaugural members of its’ STATUS List, which was described as “the most definitive and consequential accounting of leaders in health, medicine and science”.  Previously, Rob was the Chief Executive Officer of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public pharmaceutical development company, when the company was acquired by Merck in January 2015. He joined Cubist in August 2003 as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, and led the launch of Cubicin® (daptomycin for injection). He also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and President prior to becoming CEO.  Before joining Cubist, he served as Vice President of Biogen, Inc.’s US CNS business unit, where he was responsible for commercial leadership of an $800 million business. He joined Biogen in 1995, and was one of the architects of the commercial model that launched the company’s first commercial product, AVONEX®.  Rob earned a B.S. in business from California State University, Los Angeles and an MBA from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles. Consider donating and helping Life Science Cares noble purpose: https://lifesciencecares.org/donate/

In this episode in partnership with "A Dose of Inspiration Book from Jill Donahue", I interviewed Julie Kim, President U.S. Business Unit at Takeda, and discussed her inspiring career journey. Julie emphasizes her commitment to inclusive leadership, sharing personal experiences and insights. She highlights the importance of giving everyone a voice, building trust and fostering a growth mindset. Tune in to hear the worst advice she was ever given as she started her career. The conversation concludes with a call for collaboration among healthcare leaders to build sustainable and thriving healthcare ecosystems globally. "Take the option that will stretch you more." MEET OUR GUEST Julie Kim President, U.S. Business Unit at Takeda. Julie Kim is President of the U.S. Business Unit, U.S. Country Head and member of Takeda’s Executive Team. The U.S. Business Unit portfolio encompasses gastroenterology, neuroscience, plasma-derived therapies and rare diseases. She joined Takeda in 2019 through the acquisition of Shire, where she held several diverse roles with increasing responsibility. As part of Takeda, she became the President of the Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit, the position she occupied until April of 2022, when she became President of the U.S. Business Unit and U.S. Country Head. Julie has 30 years of experience in health care, with leadership positions at global, regional, country and functional levels. In the biopharmaceutical industry, her experiences have spanned a variety of therapeutic areas, international market access, country and regional general management, marketing and emerging market development. Julie is known for strong, collaborative and inclusive leadership that enables Takeda to meet the needs of the people the company serves while driving innovations that will improve patients’ lives. Her global outlook, a result of having worked in many countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America, as well as having lived in the U.K., Switzerland and the U.S., have helped her create teams that are diverse in multiple dimensions to enable inclusive decision-making that keeps the patient at the center.   Julie serves on the boards of directors for PhRMA, an organization which represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, and Croda International, a company which leverages smart science to create high-performance ingredients and technologies that improve lives. She was named one of Boston’s 50 Most Influential Asian American Pacific Islanders in 2023, to The 2022 PharmaVoice 100 list and to Fierce Pharma’s list of 2020’s Fiercest Women in Life Sciences. She earned an MBA from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College. She resides with her family in the Boston area. This episode is in partnership with Jill Donahue. Jill published her third book recently A Dose of Inspiration: 100 Purpose Stories From Pharma Leaders and we partnered together to bring to light those incredible stories. You can find here or wherever you podcast more episodes with some of those executives. Download the ebook now for a free dose of inspiration here: excellerate.ca/freebook/

In this episode in partnership with "A Dose of Inspiration Book from Jill Donahue", I interviewed Kevin Williams, Chief Medical Affairs Officer at Pfizer. Kevin shared his powerful and inspiring journey. He grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where his father, the third African-American physician in the city, inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. After working in private practice, specializing in HIV and AIDS care during the height of the epidemic, he transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry, joining Pfizer in 2004. Throughout his career, he emphasized patient-centricity, health equity, and the importance of bringing the patient's voice into the development of medicines. As an executive, he encourages a purpose-driven approach, role modeling authenticity, and creating environments where teams feel nurtured. Kevin also emphasizes the need for leaders to step outside their comfort zones, believe in themselves, and continue growing. "Put people in a position to succeed and then let them do their job." MEET OUR GUEST Kevin Williams Chief Medical Affairs Officer, Global Medical Excellence & Innovation, at Pfizer. Kevin joined Pfizer in January 2004 as a Director, Regional Medical & Research Specialists working in the HIV disease area. After moving into a Team Leader position in July 2005, he has served in various leadership roles during his career in the company. Kevin is also Co-Chair, Board of Directors for SAGE, the country's leading national non-profit organization focused on advocacy and services for LGBT+ elders. Kevin received his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine, a Masters in Public Health and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. This episode is in partnership with Jill Donahue. Jill published her third book recently A Dose of Inspiration: 100 Purpose Stories From Pharma Leaders and we partnered together to bring to light those incredible stories. You can find here or wherever you podcast more episodes with some of those executives. Download the ebook now for a free dose of inspiration here: excellerate.ca/freebook/

For the launch of her new book A Dose of Inspiration: 100 Purpose Stories From Pharma Leaders, I sat with Jill Donahue and discussed the story behind her inspiration to write it, what she has learned from interviewing hundreds of biotech and pharma professionals, and her call to action for all of us in the industry. Tune in to hear Jill discuss purpose, leadership, values and how they translate into impact for both the business and most importantly the patients we serve. "What makes your heart sing?" MEET OUR GUEST Jill Donahue Author, Speaker, Guest Faculty at Queen’s University and Founder of Excellerate. Jill Donahue is a global thought leader in pharma. Jill has won multiple awards for her work, author of 2 soon 3 books, delivering talks at global conferences, publishing in industry journals and serving pharma teams. Jill also co-founded The Aurora Project; a global volunteer group of thought leaders trying to illuminate commercial pharma’s path to patient centricity. Jill published her third book recently A Dose of Inspiration: 100 Purpose Stories From Pharma Leaders and we partnered together to bring to light those incredible stories. Episodes with some of those executives will air on our show soon - Stay tuned! Download the ebook now for a free dose of inspiration here: excellerate.ca/freebook/

In this conversation with Naji, Jeff French shares insights on leadership, generative AI, innovation, and fostering a sense of community in healthcare. For leadership, he emphasizes the importance of a community of leaders working toward common objectives. Regarding innovation, he advocates for purpose-driven innovation over opportunistic approaches, highlighting the need for meaningful impact. Lastly, on spreading love within organizations, he underscores the significance of a shared purpose, collaboration, and focusing on group ambitions to achieve positive outcomes. In a final word of wisdom for healthcare leaders, Jeff urges a transformative approach to technology and digital integration, emphasizing holistic change and differentiation in the healthcare space for greater opportunities and impact. "Purpose-led innovations achieve great things" MEET OUR GUEST Jeff French, a resilient, collaborative, and influential global leader who leverages deep expertise in digital and information technology. Jeff is considered a resilient, collaborative, and influential global leader and change agent who leverages deep expertise on digital and information technology, customer experience management, and brings broad business accountability experience in international sales, marketing, manufacturing, and finance in both the pharmaceutical and aerospace industries. He has held multiple regional and global leadership roles, digitally transforming organizations, re-engineering and standardizing business processes, establishing and embedding next-generation systems and capabilities, all in pursuit of building better customer experiences and driving real value generation. He is recognized as a thought leader, sitting on several Customer Advisory Boards for consultancies and service organizations supporting the Pharma industry, specifically on the challenges of digital and CX transformation, helping to define and drive industry standards and benchmarks. Jeff is currently a Senior Director at DT Consulting, a specialist strategy consulting organization supporting the pharmaceutical industry leadership in modernizing their organizations across commercial, medical, and R&D functions. Most recently, Jeff was the Chief Digital Officer at ViiV Healthcare and focused on building next-generation channels and services that leverage bold innovation and digital technology to deliver exceptional and unifying customer experiences, as well as valiant digital health innovations in the HIV therapy area. Prior to ViiV, Jeff worked for Biogen for 2 years and led the establishment of a global digital Centre of Excellence, focused on the commercial business transformation across global markets. His pharmaceutical experience, however, began at Eli Lilly in 1999, starting as a Senior Financial Analyst working on the Global Business Improvement Program, which then led to him joining the European IT organization in 2004. Here he held several roles in supporting manufacturing and commercial, eventually becoming accountable for all commercial digital and technology for the region. Prior to his pharmaceutical experience, Jeff had a short stint in consulting after working for Rolls-Royce Aerospace in various capacities including finance, process improvement and engine warranty sales. Jeff maintains a Bachelor’s degree in International Finance as well as an MBA, all from Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana U.S.A. Jeff is an American living in the UK, married to a Spanish wife, has a son who was born in Germany (Lucas), three lovely daughters and another son who were all born in the UK (Daniela, Noa, Bela and Tyson).

Saloni Behl, a healthcare leader with over 16 years of experience, is who I sat with for this episode. We discussed her journey from her upbringing in Mumbai, India, to her current role in leading R&D at Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. Saloni emphasized her leadership philosophy of observing, understanding, and empowering teams. Her childhood experiences shaped her leadership style, leading her to prioritize inclusivity, diversity, and empathy. Saloni expressed excitement about advancements in neuropsychiatry, particularly in digital therapies and psychedelic-based treatments. She emphasized the need for healthcare leaders to address global health inequities and work collaboratively to solve pressing healthcare challenges. "From acute observer of life to active participant" MEET OUR GUEST Saloni Behl Global Product Lead Neuroscience at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies. Saloni Behl is an accomplished leader with over 16 years of experience in building high-impact strategies to grow companies and make them more efficient and effective in bringing transformative medications to patients. Over the last 10 years, Saloni has been in Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and has played a critical role in helping the company grow its portfolio within Neuroscience and Nephrology. She has undertaken leadership roles in New Product Planning, Business Development Strategy, and most recently R&D. Saloni believes in leading teams by observing, understanding, and empowering. Her childhood experiences have taught her to see things others might miss, to bounce back from challenges, and to truly value the people she works with. She is passionate about making a real difference in brain health.

In this interview, we welcomed Shawn Nason, former CEO of OFFOR Health, a company dedicated to transforming healthcare models for better access to care. Shawn emphasizes the importance of reimagining the human experience in healthcare, drawing on his diverse experiences in leadership roles. He shares his belief that success in healthcare lies in treating people with humanity. He recounts his involvement in disruptive healthcare models, such as the launch of Walmart Health clinics with a focus on affordability. The conversation delves into addressing challenges in healthcare, particularly the need to shift from a system built for paying claims to one centered around humane experiences. Shawn advocates for leadership transparency, building radical relationships, and a genuine love for people to foster positive change in the healthcare industry. "Let's strive for a healthcare system that goes beyond being human-centered; let's make it truly humane." MEET OUR GUEST Shawn Nason former CEO of OFFOR Health, CIO, and founder of Disruptor League. Shawn Nason, CEO of OFFOR Health, a company that reimagines outdated healthcare models to accelerate access to care for those who are under-served and under-resourced. With over 15 years of experience in creating and transforming experience ecosystems, Shawn is passionate about reimagining how people interact with health and wellness services and products. As a former Disney Imagineer, Chief Innovation Officer, and founder of the Disruptor League, Shawn has a proven track record of leading and executing innovative projects that generate significant revenue, customer loyalty, and social impact. Shawn is also an author, speaker, podcast host, and neurodiversity advocate.

In this episode with Rehan Ahmed, we discussed healthcare leadership and the importance of curiosity and problem-solving. Rehan shared his journey from a small town in Illinois to becoming a passionate ophthalmologist and entrepreneur. He emphasized the significance of genuine curiosity in leadership and how it helps bridge gaps and solve complex problems in healthcare. Rehan also highlighted the need for healthcare leaders to maintain a connection to patient care, even as they expand their impact. He stressed the importance of curiosity about the world, the people you work with, and the problems you aim to solve as a foundation for effective leadership. Hear more about Rehan's story and leadership beliefs in this inspiring conversation. "Healthcare is the most pressing problem facing the world. It's time to get to work." MEET OUR GUEST Rehan Ahmed an ophthalmologist passionate about improving eye care. Rehan Ahmed is an ophthalmologist passionate about improving eye care. Rehan has extensive experience in the patient eye care journey, from direct medical and surgical patient care, to retail optometric settings, medical OD/MD practice environments, drug development, and novel diagnostic and treatment modalities. His expertise is bridging strategic gaps between patient care, providers, payors, and regulatory agencies. Rehan is a practicing ophthalmologist, Medical Director in Global Clinical Development and Operations at Santen Pharmaceutical, founder of Texas Eye and Vision Associates, and Chief Medical Officer at Blink, a startup in remote ocular healthcare; he also advises multiple med-tech startups. Rehan received his MD degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Rehan completed his internship at the University of Texas, residency in ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine, and MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

In this episode, Fabrice Barlesi, CEO of Gustave Roussy, who is a lung cancer specialist, shares his personal journey into the field of medicine and oncology, highlighting a pivotal moment with a patient that shaped his dedication to this field. The conversation delves into leadership in the context of healthcare. Fabrice emphasizes the need for leaders to take responsibility and give credit, stressing the critical role of attracting talented individuals to an organization. The discussion also touches on precision medicine and its transformative impact on cancer care. Fabrice shares his insights on the future of oncology, focusing on early detection, precision medicine, and immunotherapy as key drivers in improving patient outcomes. Throughout the conversation, Fabrice's passion for advancing oncology and improving patient care shines through, making it clear why he has been recognized as one of the world's most influential researchers in his field. We're sure you'll enjoy the full conversation! "Oncology is the perfect mix of Science and Human" MEET OUR GUEST Fabrice Barlesi CEO of Gustave Roussy, a leading cancer center in Europe, ranked third world's best oncology hospital and first outside the United States. Fabrice Barlesi is Chief Executive Officer of Gustave Roussy. Fabrice is a lung cancer specialist and a major contributor to research in the field of novel oncological therapies. He was appointed Chief Medical Officer and then CEO of Gustave Roussy in 2020. Fabrice is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Aix-Marseille and joined Paris Saclay University in 2022. He has been head of the Multidisciplinary Oncology and Innovative Therapies Department of the Nord Hospital in Marseille and the Marseille Centre for Early Trials in Oncology (CLIP2) which were established by him. Fabrice is also co-founder of the Marseille Immunopôle French Immunology network. Fabrice is the author and co-author of some 400 articles in international journals and specialist publications. In 2018, the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) awarded him the prestigious Heine H. Hansen Prize. He appears in the 2019 World List of most influential researchers.