Can you please describe your career development?

I studied Political Sciences and Law in Paris and then pursued an LLM in the US on a scholarship. I was fortunate to start my career in Switzerland with Laurent Lévy and Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler, top arbitrators who taught me skills I still rely on today.

I later joined the Schellenberg Wittmer in Zurich and thereafter, was sent to support their new office in Singapore. In 2017, I was recruited by Shire, a pharmaceutical company specialising in rare diseases, to join their international commercial headquarters. This was my first experience both as in-house and in pharma. I never regretted this move.

My current role as head, legal portfolio and pipeline (Europe-Canada) at Takeda involves leading a team of product lawyers, providing end-to-end legal support to the commercial organisation across the entire portfolio – nine therapeutic areas – and pre-launch pipeline assets.

Today, I understand better the benefit of being qualified in different jurisdictions and being exposed to different cultures, as this helps me be a more effective legal advisor to clients operating worldwide and a better people leader to a diverse team.

What are your greatest achievements?

This year, my team did an amazing job supporting the launch of two new products which were game changers for patients. These products were targeted at the ultra-specialised area of transplant, and at providing a vaccine for the four billion people around the world at risk of contracting dengue – vastly different areas, each with its share of complexity, yet united by the high level of impact on patients.

I am also extremely proud of the pro-bono work that our group, Takeda Gender Parity Network, does to advance women development and make it a reality. I have been part of this group since its inception and its passion, creativity and drive have permitted us to create flagship programs. We are truly fortunate to have the support of senior leaders in elevating the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion, and the group was ecstatic to receive the first Takeda Global DE&I Award last year.

Do you have any advice to those wishing to become as successful as yourself in the in-house industry?

If I had a few pieces of advice to my younger self it would be to never stop learning; it always pays off to take on a role – even lateral – where you have the opportunity to earn something new.

“Be yourself, everyone else is taken”. This quote from Oscar Wilde rings even truer if you aspire to be an authentic leader.

Finally, it is important to make your personal life and work a constant source of joy. Having three young children and a husband working full time is a constant balancing act, but one needs to be happy in both to feel complete.