Career Development
Vibha Jawa, PhD FAAPS (she/her/hers)
Executive Director
Bristol Myers Squibb
Aliasger Salem, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Research
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Donna Konicek, PhD
Sr. Director
Insmed
Bridgewater, New Jersey
Vivek Gupta, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Graduate Education & Research, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
St. John's University
Queens, New York
Early career scientists, including graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, face a daunting task, i.e., to develop a unique skillet that will enable them to develop as effective team players and stand out as leaders capable of taking the initiative and motivating and inspiring teams. While we all have some experience in working in a team environment, current academic and industry training doesn’t necessarily inculcate principles of effective and dynamic leadership, which is essential to navigating the ever-changing landscape of the pharmaceutical industry while embracing innovation, organizational complexity, and collaboration.
In addition to popular soft skills such as problem-solving, time management, collaboration, etc., a few of the world's fastest-growing and most innovative companies, including Amazon, follow an exhaustive list of non-traditional leadership principles. Many of these principles may be relevant to young pharmaceutical professionals, while they develop their own leadership niche. In this panel discussion, we will bring accomplished leaders from academia and industry to discuss some of these non-traditional leadership principles that may help young professionals articulate their own style of leadership and succeed in the fast-paced environment of pharmaceutical product development. Some of the key principles that we will discuss include (i) project ownership and judgement skills, (ii) highest standards in product and personnel development, (iii) think big, invent and simplify, (iv) challenge decisions that you disagree with, and dive deep, and (v) focus on deliverables while being frugal.
The discussion format of this panel will enable young professionals to develop an understanding of the basics of dynamic leadership while laying down the foundation of lifelong learning and innovation
This session is intended for a panel discussion regarding developing non-traditional leadership skills and principles. The panel will be composed of 3-4 panelists with diverse leadership background, who will be able to discuss their experience, and share thoughts and tips on how to acquire the skills needed to become a successful leader. To initiate the discussion, the moderator will prepare a list of 4-6 discussion items which will engage the panelists, as well as the audience (approximately 40 minutes). Following the discussion items, the floor will be open for attendees to share their experiences, and for Q/A.
This panel discussion is focused toward young pharmaceutical professionals including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career scientists. In addition, the concepts discussed in this session may also be useful for mid-career pharmaceutical professionals, who are looking for career transition, or to enhance their leadership skills.