How Do Leaders Transition From A Functional Role To A GM-Like Role?

A | IN GENERAL MANAGEMENT YOU HAVE BROAD RESPONSIBILITY, including in areas that you haven’t trained for. The key to success in these spaces is stimulating discussion and pressure testing by asking the smart questions that facilitate consensus and understanding. In more familiar functions, you must support but not interfere with the people in those roles. It’s management in leading people and processes and most importantly in providing a vision, empowering functional managers to advance the mission, and fostering a passionate culture around shared goals. General management is something new every day in problem solving and decision- making, but it also must be consistent in representing the company’s values and driving excitement about the mission.

SANDY MACRAE, M.B., CH.B., PH.D. is president and CEO of Sangamo Therapeutics. He has over 20 years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry.