Mesrak Lissanu

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

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The call for women as heads of organizations has never been louder in our industry and we’ve made undeniable progress. And yet, as we’ve worked, ever diligent, women are held to higher standards than their male counterparts. They need to do more to demonstrate their abilities or feel they are not good enough, despite having all the qualifications and more. This plays on weaknesses most women have, which is the reluctance to self-promote, speak up or ask for what we want. For this reason, it can be intimidating and tempting to step back in an effort to blend in/fit in. Our internal ‘Tug-Of-War’- feeling invisible, yet afraid to be seen.

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In these moments, it is vital to stay true to be your authentic self, play to your strengths, tap into your resilience to rise above preconceived notions and conquer challenges we face. Instead of conforming to the widely held belief of what a successful leader looks like or should be, I have discovered that it is essential to have confidence in myself and the skill sets that brought me to where I am today.

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"Sticking out" can be a positive attribute; it gives you a chance to spotlight your authentic self. There are so many rooms, I've gone into in my life where I was the only black woman. I learned to take that as an advantage. Because I know they are going to look, they are going to listen....They are wondering how I got in the room, so I have an opportunity to get their attention. I know all I have to do is deliver and pave the way for those that come after me. So, instead of shrinking back, step forward and make a lasting impression.

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Be seen, be heard, and be authentic!

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

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As Simon Sinek says, “To lead requires those who willingly follow. It requires being a part of something bigger than oneself. To inspire others to follow starts with having clarity of WHY. People don’t buy what you do; they buy “why” you do it.”

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It is about choosing to look out for your team; instilling confidence and transparency. Leading is not about holding a position of power or authority; leading is to inspire change, creativity and innovation in your team by building a safe and trusting environment.

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What trend in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry does not get enough attention?

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for virtual engagement and turned the health care system upside down and challenged consumers’ sense of well-being. They are learning about their health risks, communicating with their doctors in new and different ways, and changing their attitudes about data privacy.  With smartphones now being at the tip of our fingers, HCPs are now prescribing apps for their patients. One trend driving this shift is the rise of remote healthcare and telehealth during the pandemic, virtual care has heightened the need for more innovative data capture at the patient level.

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Digital therapeutics (DTx) will increasingly complement marketed drugs; we will see an increasing number of drugs developed in conjunction with digital therapeutics. DTx has the potential to improve primary care practice. A significant advantage of DTx is that it offers the physicians an option to provide treatment anywhere and anytime, transcending a clinic or a hospital's physical borders. This means primary care physicians can make the most out of technology innovations to offer low-cost treatment options that fill current gaps and encourage collaboration between patients and physicians to achieve better health outcomes.

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DTx is here to stay. It is a category of emerging treatment approaches, ready to address chronic and other difficult-to-treat conditions. DTx is expected to influence healthcare delivery and its consumption across the globe significantly. These therapies have the potential to change what the pharmaceutical industry sells, catering to both providers and patients both by selling not just a drug but a combination of drugs and digital services.

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What can the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry do to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

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Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) must be prioritized in every organization with a clear D&I strategy. To enable this to happen, leaders must embrace it and effectively lead an inclusive organization. Leaders need to pause, reflect and investigate why there is a lack of diversity in the industry. Uncover if all employees are bringing their true authentic self to work every day. If not, why not? Are leaders genuinely inclusive, or are they inclined to choose those who look, feel, talk and think like their own profile? Are we missing out on large numbers of highly talented and skilled people who could improve the company performance (e.g., women, minority groups, and LGBTQ+ people); are they overlooked?

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Many companies have yet to recognize that their future success will in part depend on their ability to build a diverse, inclusive, and culturally intelligent workplace. As an industry committed to improving and saving lives worldwide, we must ensure that D&I is front and center in everything we do.

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What does Black History Month mean to you?

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To me Black History Month is a time for highlighting the many accomplishments and contributions that Blacks have made to the scientific, educational and social justice fabric of our country. Black History Month means honouring the challenges, so many Black men and women faced, educating society on the challenges they still face, and celebrating the challenges they've overcome. So, I will leave you with a quote from Hon. Jean Augustine - "Black history is not just for Black people - Black history is Canadian history."