A Day in the Life of a Biopharmaceutical Leader: Live from SXSW 2023

·42 min·4 clips

Rosanna shares she's not just a pharma leader but also a patient diagnosed with cancer last year.

This episode features host Aaron Strout interviewing Bristol-Myers Squibb leaders Rosanna Rickerfert, VP of Immuno-Oncology Cell Therapy Clinical Development, and Bryant Powell, Associate Director and Chief of Staff. Rickerfert is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and a cancer patient, while Powell hosts an internal podcast and entered healthcare after his father's diagnosis. The conversation covers their personal journeys into healthcare, with Rickerfert inspired by her mother's work in a blood bank and Powell motivated by his father's battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. They discuss BMS's patient-centric culture, including a mandatory "Patient Expert Engagement Resource" process for clinical trial design. Rickerfert shares her "day one" cancer diagnosis experience and enrolling in a clinical trial she helped develop. Powell emphasizes the importance of in-person connection, citing a patient-story town hall that filled an office. A key initiative is improving clinical trial diversity by partnering with underserved sites and training investigators. Rickerfert describes her leadership style as setting high standards while caring for her team, influenced by former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi. The company's "speak up" culture encourages diverse perspectives for better decision-making. Internally, Powell is excited about initiatives to simplify work processes. The tone is conversational and personal, blending professional insights with humanizing stories. Listeners interested in pharmaceutical industry culture, patient advocacy, and leadership development would appreciate this episode. Those seeking a highly technical discussion on drug development might find it less focused.

As heard by us

A steady SXSW conversation about pharma leadership, patient-first work, and the value of in-person connection.

This live SXSW conversation about pharma leadership stays centered on how Aaron Strout frames the work at Bristol-Myers Squibb through patient-first strategy, internal collaboration, and the practical demands of leadership.

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Want a live SXSW conversation about the human side of pharma leadership?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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