HBA's 2014 Woman of the Year: Broadening the Base

To mark its 25th year in recognizing female leadership in the tough competitive ranks of biopharma, the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) is opting for a breakout triple play. When the group convenes on May 1 in New York for its annual Woman of the Year (WOTY) luncheon, not one but three executives will receive top honors.  The choice to go plural was deliberate -and a sign that the pool of female managerial talent continues to expand as the industry moves toward a connected, interdependent business model that values diversity.

The three designees are:
Shideh Sedgh Bina, founding Partner of Insigniam, a boutique consulting firm focused on change management, innovation, strategic refocusing and organizational effectiveness.

Annalisa Jenkins, Executive Vice-President and Head of Global R&D for Merck Serono, a leading global developer and manufacturer of innovative medicines.

Patricia Maryland, President, Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer of Ascension Health, the largest non-profit provider of hospital and related health services in the US.

“Our designees this year reflect the commitment the HBA is making to the major transformations taking place in the health care landscape,” HBA President Laurie Cooke told Pharm Exec. “Partnerships among formerly siloed players are driving business opportunities in every segment of health care.  Giving our members exposure to other perspectives in the health care community is critical to keeping HBA at the center of the workplace discussion.”

Cooke has a point.  Consider the backgrounds of the three and it becomes apparent the May 1 event will unite on one stage an outward-facing expert on organizational flexibility, cultural change and innovation strategies; a top big Pharma scientist, with line responsibilities for a billion dollar plus research budget; and a front-line provider working to deliver health care efficiently to a diverse patient population.   Put together, the three embody the skill sets that every manager – regardless of gender – will need in this new era, where staying in your comfort zone is the surest pathway to career obsolescence.  These new WOTY will also add significant heft to the HBA work program, providing richer content and thought leadership that HBA members can apply to their professional journeys and company outlooks.

Look for a detailed portrait of Bina, Jenkins and Maryland on the cover of the April edition of Pharm Exec, which has profiled in its pages every WOTY winner since the HBA established the award in 1990.