SpreadLove In Organizations - Healthcare Leadership

In this podcast episode, Naji Gehchan interviews Vinit Nijhawan, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, exploring his journey and insights into building successful startups and leading high-performing teams. Vinit shares his simple yet impactful journey from founding and scaling startups in tech to transitioning into a role where he mentors and invests in other entrepreneurs. He emphasizes the importance of a strong team, good technology, and timing in the success of startups. Vinit also highlights the qualities he looks for in a founding team, including coachability and a balance of determination and flexibility. The conversation delves into the nuances of building teams, navigating cultural differences, and fostering trust within organizations. Vinit stresses the significance of trust, generosity, and genuine care in leadership, advocating for an entrepreneurial mindset that constantly questions the status quo and seeks innovative solutions. "Leadership is about genuine care and generosity; it's the ultimate empathy in action" MEET OUR GUEST Vinit Nijhawan Investor, Entrepreneur, and Academic. Vinit Nijhawan is a strategic visionary who has conceived and built several technology organizations that have been acquired by companies such as Boeing, Motorola and Qualcomm. He is an admired leader and mentor who has built or inherited and then effectively managed several high-performance teams. He has worked in many industries: computing, aerospace, logistics, supply chain, manufacturing, telecommunications, medical devices, biopharma, synthetic biology, advanced materials, etc. Vinit is an empathetic and collaborative team member and stays connected with all his past supervisors, mentors and many of his former employees and students. In 2008, Vinit intentionally pivoted his career from technology entrepreneur and CEO, to helping other entrepreneurs with a special focus on academia. He began teaching Entrepreneurship at Boston University and subsequently led the Office of Technology Development from 2010-2016 (he published a peer reviewed paper on that experience: Maximize Collisions, Minimize Friction). In this role, Vinit participated in several BU committees and organizations, such as the BUildLab, Faculty Innovation Network, Conflict of Interest Committee, Coulter Translational Program, Fraunhofer Grants, CTSI and on the board of the National Academy of Inventors. Additionally, he has represented BU on several boards and business plan/grant review panels. Subsequently, Vinit took the OTD experience and launched a national academic IP monetization program with 40 institutions engaged, including UC Berkeley and UCLA. He launched Waterloo Alumni Angels at his alma mater. Most recently, Vinit is the Managing Director of MassVentures. Steeped in respect for diversity and with a deep passion for exploration and adventure, Vinit is strong in his commitment to family, friends and colleagues.

In this insightful podcast episode, Naji engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Richard Dale, a seasoned leader with a background in startups, corporate groups, and executive coaching, particularly in healthcare. Richard reflects on his journey as a leader, describing a shift towards conscious leadership over the past 10 years. He emphasizes the importance of understanding leadership as the invisible medium that shapes organizational culture. Richard underscores the significance of psychological safety in fostering high-performing teams. He shares practical strategies, such as implementing root cause analysis, to create an environment where failures are examined without blame, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement. The discussion delves into the challenges and opportunities in healthcare innovation, with a focus on AI. Richard expresses enthusiasm for AI's potential to provide personalized information at the point of care, enhance diagnostics, and revolutionize drug development. Throughout the episode, Richard's wisdom shines, offering valuable insights for healthcare leaders navigating the complexities of their roles and striving for positive organizational impact. "Leadership is what shapes culture, it is that invisible medium, which generates the currents, which very often, nobody really sees." MEET OUR GUEST Richard Dale Executive Coach, Leadership and Impact Advisor, Board Member, Values-forward Leader, Innovator, Facilitator, Former President @ OptumLabs. Richard Dale is a seasoned, values-driven executive leader known for his strategic acumen and operational excellence. Richard has consistently delivered proven results by translating vision into market realities in startup, large company, and non-profit contexts. His leadership strengths lie in building robust teams and fostering powerful relationships with diverse stakeholders, achieving meaningful and sustainable business outcomes. Richard currently specializes in Executive and Leadership Coaching, Health Sector Advisory, Impact Consulting, and Team/Culture Facilitation. Richard has been an active coach for senior executives and high-potential leaders since 2000, emphasizing the invisible environment of leadership that significantly influences organizational success. Drawing on his diverse career experiences, he believes in creating awareness of rarely seen aspects of leadership and inspiring leaders to be the change for growth and success. Until recently, Richard held executive roles within Optum (part of UnitedHealth Group) for over ten years, where he played a pivotal leadership role in founding and operating OptumLabs, and subsequently as a Senior Vice President for Health System Alliances in Optum, leading efforts for multi-billion-dollar cross-enterprise partnerships and innovation collaborations. As COO and then President of OptumLabs, he spearheaded a big data research and innovation collaborative of 40+ complex partnerships, including Mayo Clinic, Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, UMN, University of California, AARP, US Department of Health and Human Services (office of the CTO), Imperial College London, London School of Economics, and the National Health Service in the UK. Under Richard's leadership, OptumLabs delivered groundbreaking initiatives starting with hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific publications providing insights that led to improvements in various facets of the healthcare system, and data science innovations including real-time data exploration tools and deep-learning models. With an earlier background at Sigma Partners VC and before that as co-founder of Phase Forward (acquired by Oracle), Richard has a wealth of experience in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and high-tech startups. Beyond his professional work, Richard serves as a board member for Seeds of Peace, an interfaith and cross-border youth movement fostering peace-building initiatives globally. He previously served as the founding board chair for Adamah, the leading US Jewish environmental non-profit. Richard bakes sourdough challah and rides a recumbent bike. Richard has had at least one brush with fame: ask him how he came to have lunch with Bill Gates. Join Richard as he shares not just his wealth of experience but the transformative moments that shaped his approach to leadership in healthcare. Discover how innovation, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to positive change can redefine the future of healthcare leadership. Get ready for an inspiring journey that transcends the ordinary, led by a speaker who has consistently turned vision into market realities.

In this special podcast episode in partnership with Jill Donahue, I talk to Nejma Chami, the Global Head of Medical Affairs at Grünenthal. Nejma shares her inspiring journey from working in a medical practice to her leadership roles in medical affairs. As a purpose-driven leader, she emphasizes her mission to alleviate the suffering of individuals and improve lives. Nejma's leadership philosophy highlights her commitment to staying true to her North Star — placing the patient at the center of all actions. Throughout our chat, Nejma's responses underscore her humility, focus on serving others, and the belief in the positive impact that we, healthcare leaders, can achieve. "Leadership is about serving the people we work with, not managing them" MEET OUR GUEST Nejma Chami Global Head of Medical Affairs at Grünenthal. Nejma Chami is Global Head of Medical Affairs at Grünenthal. Nejma spent years working in a medical practice before joining the pharmaceutical industry. She has since served in several leadership roles in medical affairs at Abbott, Novo Nordisk and now at Grunenthal. Nejma is a purpose-driven leader with a mission to lighten the load of people who are suffering to make lives better. 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 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.