Encouraging and cultivating female life sciences leaders of the future
The diversity of corporate leadership has progressed significantly in recent decades. As companies recognise the value of including differing perspectives and experiences in leadership roles across the enterprise, many are prioritising initiatives that are focused on the recruitment and development of diverse leadership teams. In fact, research shows that companies with the most gender-diverse executives are 15% more likely to generate above-average profitability.
The life sciences industry is no exception, but there is still progress to be made in cultivating, identifying, and elevating the diverse executives of tomorrow. IQVIA executives offered the below commentary on best practices and tips for fostering the next generation of women leaders in the life sciences.
Fostering female leaders with internal corporate programmes
Annette Williams, VP and global head, lifecycles safety, IQVIA
It’s important to me, as a female leader in the life sciences industry, to mentor women I work with, to help guide their careers and prepare them for roles of increasing responsibilities. It also brings me great joy to work with, coach, and mentor other professionals in the industry outside of IQVIA. That said, the company has its own dedicated programme to foster female leaders from within: the Women Inspiration Network (WIN) programme, which helps assigned mentees achieve their developmental goals through coaching sessions with female leaders across the enterprise. The programme ultimately helps female mentees develop plans and earn subsequent promotions through recognition of their efforts – ensuring promising employees, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to rise through the ranks to lead the next generation of life sciences professionals and innovators.
Understanding the value of a female perspective in leadership
Susan Hill, VP and general manager, customer engagement at IQVIA
As a woman who has worked in life sciences and technology for over 20 years, it is clear the industry needs more women. Establishing a strong pipeline of diverse talent is essential for innovation, and the first step in doing this is to give them equitable access to STEM education. Recognising the beneficial effects that STEM and technology have on society and its communities is equally important.
Women bring to the table a unique perspective and skillset that is crucial for innovation and creating a strong team. Nonetheless, despite recent improvements, technology still trails behind other sectors in tackling gender imbalances. This must be addressed with a top-down strategy and the appointment of qualified women to leadership positions.
I have discovered that being a mother and a caretaker has strengthened my leadership. Regardless of gender, it's critical for leaders to show understanding of and concern for their team in order to build stronger teams. People can demonstrate their knowledge and integrity to dismantle gender barriers and establish credibility. Gender diversity and inclusion can also be aided by encouraging more women to work in technical disciplines and providing them with possibilities for leadership roles, as well as family assistance. Finding mentorship from other successful women in the field can also be a great source of advice and support. In the end, respecting varied viewpoints and skills can result in more effective leadership and an inclusive workplace atmosphere.
Women in technology have a special chance to support innovation and grow the sector. To do this, we need more women in leadership positions, and businesses must place a high value on diversity and inclusivity to maintain a strong pipeline of female candidates in the future. As women in technology, we must keep empowering one another and inspiring the next generation.
Encouraging STEM education and career paths for young women
Dr Christina Mack, chief scientific officer of IQVIA Real World Solutions
Being both an engineer and a scientist has brought a richness to my career and influenced the way I think about solving problems of all kinds. I became interested in coding in high school, at which time taking computer science required walking from my high school to the all-boys school across the street. It has been rewarding to watch STEM fields expand, and see more and more women rise in leadership across all facets of science, math, tech, and engineering.
Having a career in STEM has been personally rewarding for me every step of the way. I feel I have made an impact, using science to better understand diagnostics and treatments for diseases, pushing innovation forward in research methods, and contributing to improvements in patient care and population health. Importantly, pursuing a STEM career at a company that values women leaders has enabled me to have the needed flexibility at work to raise three amazing children – and have fun in the process! I’ve enjoyed mentoring many brilliant women through programmes at IQVIA, the NCI/NIH diversity programme, and as academic faculty; and, of course, I have benefitted from the mentorship of those that have walked this journey before me.
Empowering women in technology: Building high-performance organisations with innovation and inclusivity
Aruna Adhikari Thapa, senior director of product strategy, at IQVIA Technologies
As a Minnesotan Nepalese with a Bostonian spirit, I specialise in building high-performance organisations with world-class technology products. With my educational background in engineering and management, I have honed my skills to deliver the best technology product solutions. As an immigrant child and STEM student, I have developed resilience and grit, enabling me to overcome challenges and think outside the box. Currently, at IQVIA, my focus is on building a clinical trial ecosystem with a site-first approach, driving innovation to improve access, experience, data, and process, and ultimately reducing trial cycle times.
The technology industry, particularly in the life sciences vertical, presents a unique opportunity for women to promote innovation and advance the sector with a meaningful purpose. To achieve this, it is imperative to increase the representation of women in leadership positions and prioritise diversity and inclusivity throughout the industry to ensure a robust pipeline of female talent. As a woman leader, I am deeply committed to empowering and inspiring one another and the next generation of women to pursue their goals and aspirations in the technology field.
As a mentor, I am passionate about guiding and supporting other women in their careers, helping them overcome imposter syndrome, and encouraging them to tackle challenges with calculated risks, while being confident in their abilities. Together, we can create a more inclusive and innovative technology industry that reflects the diverse perspectives and talents of all individuals, regardless of gender, and drive meaningful change for the future. Let us continue to empower women in technology, building high-performance organisations through innovation and inclusivity.
The future of life sciences leadership is diverse
The benefits of successfully establishing a gender-diverse bench of company leaders are undeniable. By encouraging promising young women to explore education and careers in STEM fields, fostering their development internally through corporate programmes, and providing career advancement opportunities to women, enterprises in the life sciences industry can ensure they are developing the best team of leaders available to drive companies towards innovation and a bright future. Companies that successfully accomplish these objectives will find they are not only more diverse in leadership, but also have a better opportunity to maximise revenue and overcome challenges by leveraging different perspectives, expertise, and experiences.
About the authors
Annette Williams, RPh, is VP of lifecycle safety at IQVIA, leading comprehensive global safety operations and project management, while serving as a member of the company’s Lifecycle Safety Governance Committee. Williams is also leading the exploration and adoption of innovative technologies designed to streamline how lifecycle safety manages safety information on behalf of its customers. Prior to joining IQVIA, she held leadership positions with Drug Safety Alliance Inc., Team Pharmaceuticals, and GlaxoSmithKline.
Susan Hill joined IQVIA in 2018 as part of the acquisition of AHM, and is responsible for the ustomer engagement and commercial compliance technology offerings. With more than 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry, Hill’s multi-functional background includes senior-level roles in business development, product management, and new technology investment and optimisation. Prior to IQVIA , she was a member of AHM’s executive team, responsible for leading AHM’s global technology solutions group, as well as the company’s marketing team. Hill holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland, and a MSc in Business Management from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr Christina Mack’s research has been published in top journals, including CDC’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, JAMA Internal Medicine, and Annals of Internal Medicine, on topics covering the effectiveness of medical products, infectious disease, sports medicine, and methods in machine learning. She advises organisations on data science, global health, and disease prevention, including the FDA, CDC, biopharmaceutical companies, the NFL, NBA, and International Olympic Committee. Mack co-chairs the Scientific Oversight Committee for the FDA Medical Device Epidemiology Network and the RAPID Safety Signal Discernment and Biostatistics workgroup. She is a Fellow of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology and on the Advisory Board of the Carolina Health Informatics Program. Featured by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Forbes - among others - she was dubbed a Top 20 Influencer in the 2020 NFL Season by NBC Sports, and referred to as a COVID-19 “SWAT Epidemiologist” by the Washington Post. Mack has been recognised by the Healthcare Business Woman’s Association for leadership and innovation, is a frequently invited speaker on careers in science and technology, and is a mentor for the World Economic Forum Global Shapers’ “Transformative Role of Women and Girls” initiative.
Aruna Adhikari is senior director of product strategy at IQVIA Technologies. Adhikari is a dynamic and creative product evangelist with more than 15 years’ experience in managing and building software. She leads cross-functional teams, shapes product strategy based on market research and customer feedback, justifies investment plans, and launches new products to the marketplace to solve complex business problems. At IQVIA Technologies, Adhikari is responsible for cross-product strategy across the Digital Site Suite and Digital Planning Suite. Her team works closely with engineering, sales, product owners, and customers to create the roadmap, adoption strategy, and go-to-market plan. She earned a BSc in Network Modelling & Simulation and Statistics from Saint Cloud State University and an MBA in Strategic Technology Management from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN.
