09/25/2026
We had the opportunity to hear from three amazing GMs in the life sciences industry at the Ontario Pharmaceutical Marketing Association event at Henderson Brewery.
They provided fantastic guidance for anyone looking to advance and lead in the industry. Our personal favourites were:
“When evaluating an organization, it is important to see that a true testament to culture is not when everything is going well, but how the organization functions when things are not going well and how the people thrive and rise during this time.”
“When looking for advancement, job descriptions are mere suggestions…. The true role of any position is problem solving at that level.”
“When looking to lead a group, aspire to be a “Service Leader” – someone who removes barriers to people’s success.”
And the closing comments were golden. When asked about the future, they were truly visionary, focusing on experience over titles:
“When thinking about your career, there is a shift from “Career Ladder” to “Career Lattice”, focusing on breadth of skill.” Paul Petrelli, Vice-President and General Manager at Gilead Sciences Canada
“Consider smaller organizations that provide opportunities to learn multiple roles.” - Danielle Portnik, VP, GM Commercial Business, Emergent BioSolutions
“The goal is to teach all members of the leadership to act, think and lead like a GM.” - Bob McLay, VP, General Manager Canada at Sobi Canada Inc.