Diana Ferraez Morlet

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

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I would say, lack of sponsorship. It is not a secret that there is more male representation in senior positions in organizations. I have noticed that there is a lack of support and sponsorship to actively promote women to executive roles in the industry.

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I believe it is important to help and guide one another. This is what inspired me to join WLP. I’m looking to serve other women with my experience and learn from others. Sharing knowledge and listening to what experienced women have to say, will truly empower us. Beyond what we can learn from academic programs or the internet, is a wealth of knowledge gained, through sharing our unique experiences.

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2. What is a trend going on in the pharmaceutical industry that doesn’t get enough attention?

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Inclusive Marketing- When we discuss diversity and inclusion, we automatically default to thinking about the company culture and employees. One key aspect that is not commonly addressed is being inclusive with our customers.

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Recognizing customers’ values and needs, rooted in their unique cultures, is essential for pharmaceutical companies to tailor their value proposition and service offerings which affect millions of people in their everyday lives. We need to adapt our communication style and ensure representation of various communities, institutions, and patients.

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3. What is the leadership or business framework you use most often to help you lead effectively?

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My personal code of conduct is composed of the following 4 elements: Ethics, open communication, respect, and solution-oriented approach. These are the 4 guiding principles which I live by and share with my teams to help me to make decisions and build long-lasting relationships.

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4. What is the greatest piece of business advice you have received from a mentor/sponsor?

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A person that I consider a mentor told me once that listening is a valuable skill. Active listening involves fully engaging with the other person and listening with all our senses. This helps us build better relationships and gain a better understanding of the situation. Active listening is one of the hardest skills to build since, as human beings, we tend to gravitate towards talking more than listening. However, it is possible to become a great listener if we are intentional about building this skill and we approach each conversation to learn more about the other person rather than share about ourselves. You’d be surprised what you could learn once you start practicing it!

5. June 27th is Canadian Multiculturalism Day, which acknowledges the contributions that various communities make to Canadian society and celebrates the country's richness and diversity. How do you advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in a meaningful way as a leader?

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I promote diversity within my team and ensure that all teamwork is grounded on the foundational attributes of trust and respect. I believe we should celebrate diversity and multiculturalism every day; I love to be surrounded with people with different perspectives, experience, cultures, and backgrounds. I do my best to be aware of my own unconscious bias by educating myself on certain topics, developing strategic training programs, acknowledging holidays of all cultures, and making it easy for my team and others to participate in our work discussions.