What Tips For Success Do You Have For A Career Bench Scientist/Mid-Level Manager Transitioning Into Their First VP/C-Suite Position?

WHEN YOU MAKE A LEAP TO THE C-SUITE, YOU’LL OFTEN HEAR THE ADAGE, “What got you here won’t get you there.” Largely, that’s true. Your functional expertise, while essential, is no longer your primary value. It’s your leadership, a position that gives you responsibility for others’ careers and the opportunity to guide and help advance them. As a leader, you cast long shadows. Your behavior influences your people in ways you may not see. One of the best things you can do is find mentors: superiors, peers, and “reverse mentors” who can provide perspectives on your actions and the perception they create. Your approachability and vulnerability brought you to this point and will remain essential to your success as a leader in the C-suite. As your job description changes, your humanity should not.

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 pharma industry.