CEO Corner: On Leadership

By Nancy Simonian

Given the hurdles associated with discovering and developing innovative medicines, I’m often asked what it takes to be a successful biotech CEO, and as one of the relatively few female CEOs in our industry, what it takes to break the proverbial glass ceiling.

Before answering the second question, let me briefly address the first. I believe there are universal leadership traits that influence someone’s rise to and success in senior roles — regardless of gender. In biotech, more so than in many other industries, a successful CEO needs a strong vision and sense of purpose, the ability to build and inspire a team, the willingness to pivot, and perhaps above all, the ability to lead through uncertainty and failure.