Biopharma leaders of the future: bridging the gap between business and science

In a sector where regulation is tight and reputation is paramount, bold, purposeful leadership has never been more necessary, writes Alessandro Buccella of Heidrick & Struggles, in an Expert View.

As innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry becomes more open, global, and complex, its leaders are tasked with becoming both more innovative and more human at the same time. Open Innovation (OI) has transformed sectors from finance and technology to agriculture, and it is set to do the same for biopharma.

In this competitive sector, OI is now a foundational business model. Yet, many biopharma organizations continue to cling to leadership archetypes better suited to an era when R&D took place in silos. To fully realize the promise of OI, I believe we must redefine what makes an effective biopharma leader, and to embrace what we call “connecting leaders”.