Leading Without a Playbook - By Julie-Noelle Joannette, President, Women Leaders in Pharma

If you had asked me early in my career what made a great leader, I would have said confidence, decisiveness, and bold ideas. At 22, I believed leadership meant setting the tone and expecting everyone to follow it. I was ambitious, eager to prove myself – and that approach helped me rise quickly through roles in pharma and later in agency life, where I led large teams and complex mandates.

But over time, I learned something important: leadership isn’t about being the one with all the answers. It’s about creating the conditions for the right answers to emerge.

To lead well – especially in today’s world – you have to listen. Not just to understand, but to connect. To build trust. To make room for perspectives that might be different from your own. I also believe in putting myself in the shoes of others – really seeing things from their perspective. I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by different generations who push me to do this every day. My oldest daughter, just starting her career, brings me fresh insights about the workplace. My youngest, who is far more tech-savvy than I am, challenges me to see the world through a different lens. They remind me that leadership is never fixed – it evolves as we do.

That’s perhaps been the most important evolution in my leadership journey. And it’s why I’m so proud to serve as President of Women Leaders in Pharma (WLP) – a community that encourages women to lead with authenticity, resilience, and purpose.

At WLP, we don’t believe in one model of leadership. We believe in growth. In showing up. In learning through experience – and in lifting others as we climb. Whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting out, you don’t need a perfect résumé or a flawless plan. You just need the courage to believe in yourself to take the next step.

In my role at WLP, I’ve seen first-hand how powerful it is when women come together – not to compete, but to collaborate. We are building a space where it's safe to learn, to be challenged, and to grow. Where no one’s leadership journey is “too messy” to be valuable.

And we’re just getting started.

If you’re looking for a community that sees you – not just your title or your company, but your potential – I hope you’ll join us. There’s no playbook here. Just possibility.

Become a member of Women Leaders in Pharma. There’s a place for you here.