Read the Conversation
EF: What challenges and opportunities do you anticipate for 2024, and what is your outlook for the upcoming year?
MCB: I prefer to focus on opportunities rather than challenges. While acknowledging the world's current challenges and complex geopolitical landscape in Poland, I remain positive, influenced by Poland's overall growth and commitment to innovation and digital technologies.
I see this as a year of advancement in the pharmaceutical sector, which is my passion and work. We have the opportunity to contribute to medical progress in research, where companies like Novartis expect significant breakthroughs in various disease areas and ensure that these medical innovations are available to patients who need them in Poland.
My focus is not just on having effective medicines but also on facilitating their accessibility to the right patients at the right time. This involves the reimbursement process and ensuring that the drugs reach the patients who can benefit from them. This year should be about growth, leveraging innovation, and helping more patients with our efforts.
EF: Could you share the mission you set for yourself and what opportunities you saw in your career?
MCB: I have extensive commercial experience across Latin America and Canada, which I still feel connected to, personally and passionately. Meeting people who share this passion excites me. Simultaneously, I aim to fulfill my mission and impact the world meaningfully. This led me to seek professional development in a different setting, and I saw Europe as the ideal place for this transformation.
As we are in a crucial moment of organizational evolution, my role in Poland has become more important. The decision to merge business units aimed at enhancing agility and better serving our customers. Participating in this transformation presented challenges and a unique opportunity to build a new team united by a shared purpose. Our current priorities are aligned with addressing universal societal health issues, focusing on oncology, hematology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular.
Our first year involved internal restructuring for efficiency, and now we're more externally focused, emphasizing collaboration and partnerships. No industry operates in isolation post-pandemic, and we're actively engaging with hospitals, institutions, and other companies to reshape healthcare ecosystems. In Poland, there is a shortage of healthcare professionals. We are exploring digital and AI solutions to address this challenge through ongoing pilots in certain hospitals.
The magic, as I call it, happens when technology, partnerships, and a passionate team align. Internally, my focus is on promoting diversity, introducing new working methods, and encouraging younger generations to contribute meaningfully to our organization. This is a holistic approach to delivering impactful healthcare solutions and making a positive difference.
EF: Could you elaborate on the current strategic importance and structure of therapeutic areas in the Polish footprint?
MCB: Novartis focuses on three therapeutic areas: oncology and hematology, neurology & immunology, and cardiovascular. Breast cancer treatment is a significant priority due to huge medical needs; breast cancer is the leading killer of women in Poland. Novartis constantly develops innovation in this disease area, reimagining women's lives worldwide. More positive readouts and ongoing developments are expected even this year. Hematology remains a consistent part of Novartis' portfolio, and promising compounds are also awaited. Novartis is also at the forefront of enabling access to radioligand therapies, particularly for prostate cancer patients.
The company has recently launched a multiple sclerosis asset, addressing a disease that predominantly affects young people suffering because of this disease, and changed the treatment paradigm, empowering the most effective treatment at the very early stage of the disease. Immunology is another key area with multiple indications and potential value for patients and the healthcare system in the coming years. Although Poland faces challenges due to delayed product launches compared to other European countries, Novartis is committed to delivering quality care and improving cardiovascular treatment. Also, in this civilization problem, we bring an outstanding solution that addresses the main reason for cardiovascular events.
Our focus includes ongoing research, early access initiatives, and the establishment of a Novartis Operations Hub. Clinical trials and investments in new disease areas underscore Novartis' dedication to advancing healthcare solutions in Poland.
EF: What key points formed the basis of your pitch to headquarters in presenting Poland as the preferred location for these significant operations and footprints?
MCB: I believe Poland has three key advantages. Firstly, its strategic location is excellent. Secondly, the country boasts a highly skilled workforce. Thirdly, Poland's drive towards innovation in medicine, exemplified by technology companies establishing a significant presence in Poland, makes it an ideal country for operational centers and expanding its footprint beyond traditional settings.
I see Poland as a well-kept secret in Europe. Having lived here for 18 months, I appreciate the richness of the country and the highly skilled and purpose-driven people. It also emphasizes several factors contributing to Poland's rapid evolution, and I believe it will be a country of substantial growth in the next decade. Partnership and addressing challenges will be crucial for Poland's role in the European landscape.
EF: Could you elaborate on your strategy for attracting talent, particularly the younger generation?
MCB: There are three key factors, and despite the actual challenge of attracting people, the pharmaceutical industry is appealing to purpose-driven new generations. Novartis distinguishes itself by allowing individuals to fulfill their purpose by helping bring innovative medicines and solutions that save and prolong people's lives so that we can impact and change the world. This uniqueness brings excitement and a sense of venturing into unexplored territory. Secondly, new programs for young professionals aim to offer a more flexible career path, departing from traditional structures.
This change responds to the evolving expectations of younger generations, fostering agility in skills and mindset. Lastly, the company's culture is vital—it's about how one feels upon entering. A supportive environment where open communication and collaboration are encouraged, regardless of position, creates a magical and successful working atmosphere. The company's development program for young talents has succeeded in enabling them to impact and fulfill their purposes.
EF: What keeps you inspired and motivated in your role?
MCB: The perpetual sense of being a learner is crucial. I purposefully engage in diverse activities, always seeking learning opportunities that challenge me to think differently. Secondly, amid the situation of our world, I'm driven by a desire to contribute positively. Observing the challenges, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, where a significant backlog of undiagnosed patients exists, motivates me to think about what more I can do. While I may feel tired at the end of the day, each new day brings an opportunity to make a positive impact, a mindset I developed during my experiences in Argentina, where navigating daily crises was the norm. I believe this perspective will be relevant for years to come.
