The Country Head and Managing Director of Sandoz Italia delivered an inspirational talk to the MBA students of Luiss Business School.
«Market understanding and people leadership are now the most important skills to develop. But remember: develop yourself not only for the company you are working in. Develop yourself for the market. Company you work in, will benefit as a consequence». Francesca Romana Ramundo underlined her strong beliefs during the MBA Inspirational Talk at Luiss Business School, meeting all MBA students. The Country Head and Managing Director of Sandoz Italia addressed her speech starting from the beginning of her career, talking with Samuel Alexandre Vigne, Part-time MBA Programme Director.
Francesca Romana Ramundo is the Country Head and Managing Director of Sandoz Italy. She has over twenty years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector and has previously held leadership roles at Novartis and Baxter, as well as a prior position at Sandoz as the Business Unit Head for Biosimilars and Hospital. In her current role, she aims to strengthen Sandoz’s presence in Italy, with a focus on generic and biosimilar medicines, accessibility to healthcare, and sustainability.
She holds a degree in Industrial Chemistry, which led her to have her first experience abroad at 23. After that, she worked in Italy, Switzerland and she’s been responsible for a business in the Greek market, enriching her international perspective and honing her ability to adapt to diverse cultural contexts. “Living abroad is always a challenge but it’s a very important opportunity to learn,” said Ramundo. “The moment I arrived in the US I started living in a fraternity. I simply went out of my comfort zone, and I became something new.”
Ingredients for future leaders
A people-oriented leader with proven expertise in team management, organizational design, and optimization, Ramundo stands out for her positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, and her ability to solve problems in complex and high-pressure situations. “Choosing the right people for the right role is my most important responsibility. People who can contribute to the growth of the company. I look for blended profiles which include vertical expertise and solid behavioral attitude. Data analytics and a deep understanding of the market complete the profile.”
“But when we look for the leaders of the future there are three strategic ingredients: level of engagement toward the company vision; the belief in the core values of the culture; the ability of the leaders to influence others.”
“We are all vulnerable, we are all emotional,” added Ramundo. “Showing emotions may be important to show us as humans. But when you cover leadership positions people expect answers and decisions. The combination of the two elements is what really matters.”
Also, Ramundo stated not to underestimate the power of communication: “Covering leadership positions puts you in charge of driving the change, something that people often fear. The right ability to communicate will make the difference.”
Advice for students
Ramundo addressed some advice to MBA students. “Be curious, look outside and benchmark the external. Also, seek a mentor who already plays a role in the organization you are looking for a job in. Ask yourself what you really want to do. Ultimately, be brave.”
The future of pharma and people
“I strongly believe that being healthy is the biggest fortune we have in life. Working in a pharma company, contributing to make the cure available and accessible for everyone, is what drives my daily motivation and enthusiasm.” Ramundo said. “AI is reality. Let’s start talking about how we can use it at best. I believe that AI will impose companies to choose people with diverse skills. The most important risk is related to the young generation and their path to education that we must secure.”
