A Day in the Life of a Senior Director at Boehringer Ingelheim

In our Day in the Life of series we love getting to know the people at the heart of pharma. In this latest interview we speak to Sanobar Syed, Senior Director at Boehringer Ingelheim, about her career and what she feels is most important for the future of the industry. 

Please could you outline your background and the career path that has led you to your current position?

I began my career in the pharmaceutical industry after completing my MSc in Organic Chemistry and MBA. Over the past 17+ years, I’ve worked with top global companies with my career spanning commercial strategy, financial management, and multi billion US dollar brand launches across multiple therapeutic areas globally. Each role gave me increasing responsibilities in leading teams, shaping commercial strategies, and building cross-functional partnerships. 

What would be the perfect start to your day?

For me, the perfect start is a balance of mindfulness, positivity and productivity. Post morning mom school drop-offs, a short workout followed by catching up on industry news helps me feel cantered and informed. I like to prioritise my day by setting key objectives that align with both immediate deliverables and long-term strategy both personally and professionally.

What do you most like about your role?

What excites me most is the opportunity to connect science with strategy and bring drugs to patients. I enjoy shaping commercial strategies for innovative medicines and ensuring that data-driven insights translate into better decisions. Working cross-functionally with diverse teams globally also energizes me, as it brings different perspectives together to solve complex challenges. 

What would you like to see from the industry to better support diverse people in STEM?

The industry has made progress, but there’s more to be done. I’d like to see intentional sponsorship programmes for underrepresented groups, structured mentorship opportunities, and equitable access to leadership pipelines. Diversity shouldn’t just be a number, it should be about enabling all voices to influence innovation and decision-making.

How can people in your position better support each other?

By building networks that go beyond our immediate organisations. Sharing best practices, mentoring emerging leaders, and being transparent about both successes and failures helps create a culture of collective learning. I also believe in actively amplifying others’ voices, especially those who might not naturally be heard in larger forums. Forums like CPHI are exactly such platforms that can be leveraged for this purpose.

Who do you look up to in the industry? Who inspires you? 

I’m inspired by leaders who balance innovation with inclusivity. Richard Gonzalez, former CEO of AbbVie, left a strong impression on me during the Allergan integration, his patient-first approach shaped how I thought about strategy in complex environments including COVID. I also admire Emma Walmsley, CEO of GSK, for breaking barriers as the first woman to lead a major global pharma company while championing diversity and sustainability. Closer to home, I’ve been fortunate to work with many women leaders & allies whose mentorship and encouragement pushed me to take on new challenges and reinforced the importance of lifting others as we grow.

What do you see as the next big opportunity in your sector?

One of the biggest opportunities lies in harnessing real-world evidence and advanced analytics to shape market access and commercialisation strategies. As therapies become more personalised, the ability to cater to unmet need accurately and adapt quickly to patient and payer needs will be a game-changer.

Is living sustainably important to you and how do you incorporate being environmentally friendly into your day?

Yes, sustainability is very important to me. On a personal level, my family and I practice mindful consumption, minimise waste, and prefer sustainable commuting options whenever possible. Professionally, I advocate for ESG initiatives, recognising that the pharmaceutical industry has a responsibility to reduce its environmental footprint while delivering life-saving therapies.

If you weren’t in this field, what would you being doing?

I would likely be in academia or consulting. I enjoy teaching and mentoring, and I’ve had opportunities to develop and deliver commercial analytics courses in top Canadian & global institutions. However, if you would have asked a younger, fitter me, I wanted to be swimming professional.