Andrea Schwarz

What is the biggest challenge facing women leaders in our industry today and how do you overcome it?

Throughout my career I have mentored and coached many women.  One of the consistent messages I hear is often around how we can sometimes struggle with balancing competing priorities at home, work and other outside obligations.  Although the number of women in leadership roles is growing, we are generally under-represented in senior leadership roles.  There is still space for improvement in terms of diversity and inclusion at the leadership levels and we need better systems in place to support women in achieving this.  One way to overcome this is to look outside our industry at other successful organizations that really live their values around diversity and inclusion and to learn from them.

What is the leadership/business framework you use most often to help you lead effectively?

There are many wonderful leadership frameworks out there that you can research and read about at any bookstore or online.  You have to take the best of what you read and make it your own.  I would define my own personal leadership framework as follows:   Creating a positive working environment which empowers people to reach their potential will lead to inspired trust and strong results.   I strive to create a team culture where each member of the team feels valued, purposeful and trusted.   With a solid foundation of trust, teams are willing to explore ideas, adapt better to change, take risks, and develop new skills.  This framework has helped me lead teams to great results and navigate through challenging times.

What trend in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry should receive more attention?

Having been in the industry for almost 20 years now, I would say one trend that needs more attention is shifting the image of pharmaceuticals into a more positive one.  Organizations are becoming more patient centric and it is at the heart of what we all do.  We should be proud to work in an industry where we serve our patients to make medicines available and accessible for everyone.  During this difficult time of COVID, I have been amazed at how quickly competing companies have collaborated on how best to help patients.

How do you define career progression?

When I start in a new position, I work very hard to build a solid foundation and challenge myself to learn as much as I can to build my skill set.  In each role, I set clear goals to achieve not only in my current role but also with my own professional development in mind when it comes to my next career opportunity.  As a leader I get the opportunity to be part of my direct report career journey.  Nothing brings greater joy than watching someone you have worked with progress through the organization to advance their career.  Sometimes this happens in a very  “step by step” way.  The route you follow to reach the goals you have set out for yourself is different for everyone, but always includes opportunities to learn, grow, and develop.

How and with whom do you celebrate your life or career milestone moments?

I celebrate my life and career milestones with my family as they have always been my biggest supporters and I would not be where I am today without their encouragement and support.  I am very passionate about coaching and mentoring and I love to share any career achievements with my mentors & coach.  Their wisdom, guidance and encouragement has shaped who I am today, and I am so grateful.