Movers and Shakers: Pharmaceuticals

by Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

Writing for PharmExecutive.com, Kristin Rand recently asked “Where are the women in Pharma?” (article) . The article reported on a study–commissioned by the nonprofit Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association and fielded by Booz Allen Hamilton–which showed that, despite a concentrated effort on the part of the industry to ensure diversity, women at the top of pharmacuetical companies remain few and far between.

Perhaps the most telling fact is that the percentage of women in management in pharma showed little, if any, increase, over the course of the five-year period studied. The researchers, drawing on data from 19 US and European pharmaceutical companies, found that women held only 17% of senior management positions and 34% of middle management positions over the five years.

The Glass Hammer is hopeful that the following women, already making their marks in the industry, will pave the way for the next wave of women in pharma:

(1) Christine A. Poon is the vice chairman of the Board of Directors and worldwide chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group of Johnson & Johnson. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Ms. Poon spent 15 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb, ultimately reaching the position of president of International Medicines. In 2004, the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association named her Woman of the Year. Then, in November 2005, she was named Business Leader of the Future by CNBC/Wall Street Journal.

(2) Amy Schulman is senior vice president and the general counsel of Pfizer. Before joining Pfizer in June 2008, Ms. Schulman was a partner at DLA Piper, focused on complex class action litigation for numerous Fortune 500, including Pfizer. According to Pfizer’s website, The American Lawyer recognized her as one of the legal superstars under the age of 45. Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wesleyan University with a double major in philosophy and English. She graduated from Yale Law School in 1989. Ms. Schulman is on the boards of Equal Justice Works and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

(3) Laura Schumacher, vice president and general counsel of Abbott Laboratories, joined the company in 1990 as a litigation attorney. Ms. Schumacher worked her way up through legal department from divisional vice president and deputy general counsel. A graduate of Notre Dame, she obtained her JD from University of Wisconsin at Madison. Ms. Schumacher serves on the Board of Directors for the Clara Abbott Foundation and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the Chicago Network and Chicago Club.

(4) Mary Katherine Wold joined Wyeth as vice president of Taxes in 2002 with responsibility for Wyeth’s worldwide tax matters. In 2005, she became senior vice president of tax and treasury. Prior to joining Wyeth, Ms. Wold was a partner and head of the worldwide tax practice group at the New York law firm of Shearman & Sterling. Ms. Wold earned an undergraduate degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

(5) Sandra Leung started with Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1992 as a staff attorney in the litigation department. She held positions of increasing responsibility within the company’s legal department until she was made acting general counsel in 2006. She was named to her current position–senior vice president and general counsel–in 2007. Before joining the company, Ms. Leung spent eight years as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and was one of New York City’s first Asian-American female prosecutors. She earned her law degree from Boston College of Law and her Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University.

(6) Deirdre P. Connelly was named president of Lilly USA in June 2005. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ms. Connelly holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics and marketing from Lycoming College (PA) and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program. Ms. Connelly joined Lilly in 1984 as a sales representative in San Juan and moved up within the company, holding positions including the national sales manager for the Puerto Rico affiliate, marketing and sales director for Puerto Rico, director of sales and marketing for the Caribbean Basin Region, and general manager for Eli Lilly Puerto Rico, S.A. In the fall of 2006, Connelly was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the 50 most powerful women in business.

(7) Anna Richo, senior vice president of worldwide compliance of Amgen, joined the company in 2003 as the vice president, Law. Previously, she spent 12 years at Baxter Healthcare Corporation in roles of increasing responsibility in law and compliance. Richo received her Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law and her Bachelor of Science in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University. She co-chairs the Straus Institute Council of Distinguished Advisors at Pepperdine University’s School of Law.

(8) Robin L. Washington has served in the role of senior vice president and chief financial officer for Gilead Sciences, Inc. since May 2008. Ms. Washington oversees Gilead’s worldwide finance and investor relations functions and serves as a member of the company’s senior leadership team. She holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining Gilead, she served as chief financial officer of Hyperion Solutions and senior vice president and corporate controller of PeopleSoft. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of MIPS Technologies, Inc.