Pharm Exec – Trading Big Pharma for Small Startup

A number of senior leaders in life sciences have elected to make the leap from big pharma to lesser-known startup or biotech companies. So what propelled these executives to make the move? Pharm Exec spoke to at least a half-dozen C-suite executives to examine their motivations and the intangibles that compelled them to go outside of their comfort zones and embrace change.

According to Egon Zehnder’s Alyse Forcellina, the C-suite business skills most desired by biotechs or early startups are those tied to experience with mergers and acquisitions, bringing a product to market and business development.

A big pharma executive being courted to stay on after a consulting project, or poached, is what people often think of when discussing someone joining a biotech or related startup. However, this isn’t always the case. While some executives are actively recruited, many make the switch on their own. The fundamental desire to deliver an impact and help patients is the motivating factor in both big pharma and biotech startup settings, with the major difference lying in the culture and business structure.

Full Story: Trading Big Pharma for Small Startup by Michelle Maskaly. 8 April, 2018. 

Alyse Forcellina, Egon Zehnder, New York