Reimagining workplace culture: Pharma leaders set the tone for a post-pandemic future
Our industry is exploring hybrid work to improve collaboration and innovation (Issue #314, 1,235 words, 6 minutes)
Good morning, and welcome to the NPC Healthbiz Weekly e-newsletter from the National Pharmaceutical Congress and Chronicle Companies.
How does an industry built on personal connections thrive in a world where Zoom calls have replaced water cooler conversations? The answer, it seems, is as nuanced as the challenge itself.
At the 18th Annual National Pharmaceutical Congress, held on November 6, 2024, at the Mississauga Convention Centre, three pharmaceutical industry veterans shared their innovative approaches to reimagining workplace environments during the panel discussion “Evolving Workplace Environment and Behaviors.”
Pat Forsythe started the discussion by reporting that Eisai has adopted a hybrid work model with two mandatory weekly office days and a third optional day. Forsythe, the company’s VP & GM, says this strategy aims to capture the benefits of in-person interactions, which are lacking during remote work. “We missed water-cooler talk. I’d probably get 25 per cent of my work done just by walking around the office and talking to people,” he said. “We also missed getting good conversations going, brainstorming, and strategic planning. It wasn't easy if you had more than three people in the room on a Zoom call. So we said we’re coming back to meet as a team.”
Tamara Seales, President at Seaford Pharmaceuticals, noted that Seaford has implemented a three-day in-office policy after experimenting with various other structures. She said this approach fosters interdepartmental and cross-functional communication. Seales emphasized the importance of face-to-face interactions for better work outcomes and maintenance of company culture. “I truly believe that until AI comes and takes over our lives, companies are fundamentally about people and influencing one another. We’re social animals,” she said. “So I value face-to-face, in-person interactions. I think that ultimately, work gets done better and more effectively, and the culture is something we can support by being in the office three days a week.”
Gilead Sciences Canada’s approach is to take the middle ground, with three office days designated collaboration days, said Paul Petrelli, VP and GM. Additionally, the company is experimenting with “Freedom Fridays,” encouraging employees to avoid Zoom meetings and focus on individual tasks.
“One thing I noticed from a previous organization where everything was remote and then transitioning back to an office setting is the decision-making process. In remote environments, you often have to overanalyze and rely on lengthy meetings to make decisions,” he said. “In contrast, being in the office allows for more spontaneous interactions that enable quicker, more effective decision-making. You don’t need PowerPoint slides or elaborate discussions; it’s about taking action at the moment, assessing risks and challenges, and moving forward. I’ve found that decision-making has significantly sped up.”
The takeaway: The panellists agreed on a key insight: workplace flexibility is less about rigid day counts and more about creating a strong organizational culture. They stressed the importance of clear goals, psychological safety, and understanding individual work preferences across generations.
THIS WEEK 01/21/25
Health Canada approved Roche Canada’s faricimab injection (Vabysmo) for treating wet, or neovascular, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.
Takeda Canada announced that Health Canada provided market authorization to fruquintinib capsules (Fruzaqla) for treating adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer previously treated with or not considered candidates for available standard therapies.
Health Canada issued a Notice of Compliance for Otsuka Pharmaceutical Canada and Lundbeck Canada’s aripiprazole prolonged-release injectable suspension (Abilify Asimtufii) for the treatment of schizophrenia and maintenance monotherapy of bipolar I disorder in adult patients.
The U.S. FDA approved to AstraZeneca’s datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk (Datroway) for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer who have received prior endocrine-based therapy and chemotherapy for unresectable or metastatic disease.
NOW LISTEN UP: HERE’S TOM SLOWE OF BREADCRUMB ANALYTICS
In season 13 of the NPC Podcast, Tom Slowe, CEO of Breadcrumb Analytics, gives insights into using AI to sort and sift through statistics, the importance of context with data, and why AI should only supplement human work. Hear him in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea, and Mark McElwain.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE NPC LIVE WINTER WEBINAR ON FEBRUARY 12 AT 11 AM EDT
What kind of year ahead can we expect in the life sciences industry in Canada? That’s the question everyone is asking. Get real answers on 02/12 when the National Pharmaceutical Congress presents the 2025 Winter Webinar, featuring Dr. Bettina Hamelin of Innovative Medicines Canada, Brian Bloom of Bloom Burton & Co., and other experts in a free-wheeling panel discussion moderated by Ben Parry of Pangaea Group and Mitch Shannon of Chronicle Companies. Register for free and be prepared to ask the experts during this one-hour virtual event. Sign up using the link below.
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE MARKETING HALL OF FAME
The Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame awards were established in 2002 to honour healthcare marketers who have contributed to our vocation and inspire others.
More than 100 honourees have been selected during the past 22 years. In the selection committee’s view, they represent a cross-section of the qualities that make our business unique and fulfilling. NPC Healthbiz Weekly will acknowledge the 2024 Hall of Fame Honorees over the next few weeks. Nominate a colleague for the 2025 Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame by clicking here.
2024 Inductee
Ian Howard
Director/Managing Director
Ovation Science and Dermatology Update
Vancouver
Ian Howard, Director of Ovation Science and Managing Director of Dermatology Update, says his healthcare career has been long and multifaceted. He started in the federal government, gaining invaluable experience and insight. One key takeaway from his time in government was the realization that the popular perception of public sector workers being less capable than those in industry is unfounded. “Government employees are exactly like the rest of the population,” he said. Howard says he noticed that government employees shared similar aspirations and anxieties as those working in private industries, with a commonality of purpose that connected them.
A significant focus in Howard’s career has been his work with Dermatology Update, a conference launched by the late Vancouver dermatologist Dr. Stuart Maddin (a previous Hall of Fame inductee). He highlights Dr. Maddin’s unique vision for shaping the conference into a collaborative space between dermatology professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Maddin’s model, as Howard describes, diverged from traditional medical meetings by removing the formal barriers typically placed between industry and practitioners.
“Dr. Maddin’s vision was to create a joint venture between industry and the dermatology profession where both sides would be treated equally, with an exclusive focus on therapies,” he said. “That’s the model he established, and it has proven very successful over the years,” Howard remembers Dr. Maddin as a unique individual with interests spanning far beyond dermatology. This year will mark the conference's 40th anniversary, and although it won't be too different from other years in terms of content, Howard says there will be champagne to celebrate. “That’s the number one difference,” he said.
Howard is a director at Ovation Science, a company specializing in CBD-based dermatologic treatments. He became involved through a personal connection with a former colleague, Doreen McMorran, who invited him to join the company. Ovation's focus on CBD aligns with Howard’s interest in exploring innovative therapeutic options in dermatology. He describes his role with Ovation as an opportunity to collaborate with old friends while working in a fascinating field.
Outside of work, Howard has a passion for travel. Having visited every continent except Antarctica, he especially values his time in South Africa. He worked closely with the South African government on their bid for the 1990 Summer Olympics, which allowed him to explore Cape Town and Johannesburg and even meet Nelson Mandela, an experience he considers a great privilege.
To Howard, being inducted into the Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame means receiving recognition from an industry he respects deeply. “It’s a great honour, an honour from the industry, and I'm just a person like everyone else,” he said. “It’s nice to feel some appreciation for what you've done, and it’s significant because the recognition comes from a group of fellow professionals.” Looking ahead, Howard aims to create a long-term vision for Dermatology Update. He remains passionate about his work and has little interest in traditional retirement, noting that he's more focused on continuous learning and adapting to the ever-evolving field of therapeutics.
INTRODUCING DERMATOLOGY.BUSINESS and the DERMATOLOGY.BUSINESS DEEP DIVE PODCAST
Check out Dermatology.Business, the new newsletter from the same wonderful, supremely talented people who bring you NPC Healthbiz Weekly. Now, you can dive deeper into the Dermasphere with our supplemental podcast. Both are published every other Wednesday at precisely 6:00 a.m. EDT. Dermatology.Business has all the breaking news reported directly from the Dermasphere. Find it here and request your free subscription. Listen to the Dermatology.Business Deep Dive podcast is on the player below.
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