Career Moves Empower

Can you share an example of successfully leading a diverse team and achieving project goals?​

In my transition from site engineering to product operations within Strategy and Business Excellence, I encountered a significant shift in team dynamics.

Leading a team with diverse backgrounds and a focus on long-term strategy meant I had to rethink how I approached leadership and transition from a fast-paced setting to a more thoughtful, strategic one.

Welcoming the team's diverse perspectives and longer project timelines, I adjusted my communication pace and decision-making approach. This allowed me to embrace the criticality of our decisions and the need for alignment with organizational goals so that I could build an environment where team members could openly express their views and concerns.

This experience not only expanded my leadership skills but also ensured that our ambitious goals, which were highly visible, were achieved through the team's full support. With my background in engineering and project management, coupled with this transformative leadership journey, I am now better equipped to drive success in diverse and ever-changing team settings.

Describe a strategic decision you made that influenced a project's direction.​

In my current role, I may not directly make many strategic decisions that impact a project, but I am accountable for influencing such decisions.

Developing my executive influencing skills has been a primary focus in recent roles, prompting reflection on both successes and areas for improvement.

I've discovered that cultivating strong relationships with peers and stakeholders, effectively communicating my core purpose and maintaining a clear objective across functions has been instrumental in influencing key strategic decisions and driving successful outcomes.

Share a complex project you led and your impact on its execution and outcomes.​

One of my recent complex projects involved developing a process for registration samples, particularly addressing the requirements in countries like China.

The local health authority's demand for intermediate product samples and testing materials posed a challenge for timely new drug applications or Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) variation submissions.

Recognizing this organizational gap, my team focused on China as the most complex scenario and led a year-long effort to define the process, roles, responsibilities and key considerations for registration samples.

This project emphasized the importance of The Define Measure Analyze Improve Control (DMAIC) Process, ensuring a clear problem definition and alignment on project objectives and scope. The resulting playbook provides comprehensive guidance, acknowledging the unique aspects of each program and submission while accommodating diverse cultures and integrating multiple functions within the organization.