A Life of Learning, By Daniele Thibodeau

If there’s one thing that has guided me throughout my life, it’s this: if I’m not learning, I’m not living.

My journey has never been linear. I began in chemistry at Sherbrooke, but as a francophone, wanted to strengthen my English, so I studied at McGill. From there, I earned a Master’s at Queen’s, a PhD at Carleton, and then found myself in Paris, doing a postdoc in a lab founded by Irène Curie. At every stage, I followed my curiosity – about science, about people, about what might be possible next.

That same spirit carried into my almost 30 years at Apotex. I began at the bench, moved into regulatory affairs, and eventually led global product launches. Each new role forced me to zoom out and see the big picture, and then zoom in and master the details. Every success and setback became another opportunity to learn.

I first joined Women Leaders in Pharma (WLP) in 2019, drawn by its mission and community. When I retired in 2022, I was able to deepen my involvement – taking a more active role in mentorship and collaboration. What I found was a community that felt like my next classroom: women who share their wisdom freely, who mentor one another, and who remind me that growth doesn’t end when you step away from a corporate role.

Now, as Vice President of WLP, I continue to learn every day – from younger women just starting out, from peers navigating new challenges, and from the act of mentorship itself. Retirement hasn’t been the end of my journey. It’s simply the next chapter in my lifelong education.

If you’re looking for a place to grow, to share, and to keep learning no matter where you are in your career, I invite you to join us at Women Leaders in Pharma. The learning never stops – and that’s what makes the journey so rich.