Women in Pharma: Bridging Science, Strategy, and Equity in Chemicals and Pharma

Our monthly Women in Pharma series highlights the influential lives and work of impactful women working across the pharmaceutical industry, and how the industry can work towards making the healthcare industry and workplace more equitable and inclusive.

1. Please could you give us an overview of yourself and your work?

I ended up in the chemical industry purely by chance. After school, I was determined to start a dual apprenticeship in foreign trade, which is a very common form of education in Germany that combines business school education with practical work in a company. I ended up taking a position at the chemical distributor Nordmann with a long history in my hometown of Hamburg. During the 4 years I spent there both during my apprenticeship and after, I was able to gain experience not only in different sales departments but also in supporting roles, which has given me a deep understanding of this sector. One sentence I heard many times over the years was: ‘chemistry sticks’, meaning it is easy to stay in this industry. After almost 20 years in the industry, I can surely echo that.

Even though I do not have a chemical education, this thorough background on trade, economy, and international relations has given me a deep knowledge of the industry and on how to best handle relationships with contacts from different regions, countries and cultural backgrounds.

I am currently working at Novasol Chemicals as a Global Product Manager, I greatly enjoy being the connection between a manufacturer and a customer, to find the best middle ground to make both of them happy as well as my own employer. Solving the problems that come with international trade, positioning materials in different regional markets, and finding out what is happening in each market anew makes my role as a product manager never dull. Every day is a new adventure with new challenges to be solved.

2. You’ve worked across various roles and regions before your current position at Novasol Chemicals – how have these experiences shaped your leadership style?

Every position I have had so far has given me valuable experiences, which have shaped both my professional life and my private life. I learned how important it is to be open-minded and to listen to my colleagues. That kindness clearly goes a long way.

It is possible to be determined in where you want to go and to be mindful of your own responsibilities without pushing others down. Supporting each other not only creates a great basis for teamwork, but also strengthens bonds across departments and subsidiaries worked with great leaders so far in my career that have been incredibly competent, knowledgeable, and have led purely by example. I learned that leadership needs to be lived. It needs to include passion for your job and a willingness to share knowledge and support others in finding solutions to complex topics instead of simply top-down commands and being in control.

3. You’re an active participant in Women in Chemicals (WiC) – why is this community important to you and how has it influenced your perspective?

I am a feminist and incredibly passionate about women in the chemical field, a Being able to participate in the leadership team of WiC for several years and to help built an amazing support network has given me great satisfaction.

There have been many moments in my career, as there probably have been for many other women, that made it very clear to me that I will have to work harder and prove myself more often than the men around me. This was a shocking revelation in my twenties. After needing almost a decade to find my professional confidence, I am excited that now we have networks like WiC that, among other things, helps to instil and support confidence in young women going into STEM, acting as the support many of us women in this industry need. It is a place that allows us to share our experiences and knowledge with each other with the hope to create equal opportunities despite gender and age.

4. How do you define inclusive leadership, and what does this look like in your day-to-day?

For me personally, inclusive leadership means embracing our differences and to focus on opportunities instead of potential problems. Also, accountability is an essential part of leadership. I personally think leaders today need to be an example for this too – being open to feedback and adapting to the needs of a team shows respect and accountability.

Looking at the day-to-day work, it is important to keep in mind the bigger picture but also to see the details. We need to focus on fostering a culture in which women feel valued and safe to call these issues out themselves, and one in which we strongly emphasise to our male colleagues that some behaviours cannot be accepted these days.

My employer, Novasol Chemicals, is actively working on this by creating a diverse and equal work environment and a safe space for women. Company-wide policies are in place to support women during pregnancy and maternity leave, as well as a code of conduct ensuring respectful behaviour.

In addition, I have received nothing but support for my activity in the WiC leadership team. Novasol Chemicals has created career opportunities for many women over the years and have just recently given promotions to three of them into leading positions.

5. What are the most exciting trends you see shaping the future of inclusivity and equality in STEM industries like Chemicals and Pharma?

The fact that a network like WiC has grown so quickly in such a short amount of time proves that we are ready to change the industry and willing to push to make space for us – yet are not quite there.

Many leaders are realising that women’s style of leadership is different, but can often lead to more productivity, motivation, and satisfaction in teams. Furthermore, they start to see the great amount of talent the industry has been missing out on in past decades by favouring men.

Luckily, more and more companies are like Novasol Chemicals: with (mostly) women in leadership and team lead positions, it gives me great hope for more equality in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

Have a story to share about diversity, equity, and inclusion in pharma? Contact [email protected] to learn how you can contribute to our Women in Pharma series.