In the life sciences industry, forward thinking and inspirational leaders are crucial. There are talented STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) women who lead teams, discover innovative products, and keep drugs safe, pure, potent, and effective. Yet few STEM females rise to the ranks of senior executive leaders. In 2019, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported that “…25.9% of pharma leaders were STEM women.
However, there are examples of inspiration leaders who are women. Heather Bresch, chief executive officer of Mylan, is the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical firm. Emma Walmsley is the first woman to lead a global pharmaceutical company.
What characteristics do these women leaders have in common? How can we develop more of them?
Let’s review the findings from a qualitative study designed to uncover the traits and skills of extraordinary STEM women. This study asked these questions: What traits and skills make these STEM women leaders extraordinary? What are the lessons the next generation of STEM women need to learn to be extraordinary leaders themselves?
In 2023, twenty-one interviews were completed by mid to late career STEM women professionals with job titles of manager, team leader, director, or Vice President. Interviewees were located on the US East Coast and worked for private sector life sciences, healthcare, and government organizations.
Empathy. Empathy is one of the five factors that define emotional intelligence. According to Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, “…being emotionally intelligent is an essential prerequisite of effective leadership.” Goleman defines empathy “…as the ability to understand the emotional makeup of others.” Interviewees reported that extraordinary STEM women leaders put people before tasks by placing the needs of others before their own. For example, busy as she was, one exemplary woman leader took time to have coffee with those who sought advice or friendship. An interviewee said her STEM woman extraordinaire was an emotional savant, a person who was exceptionally aware of the needs of others. She made others feel like they mattered, were seen and valued.
Firmness, and at times, fierceness. The extraordinary female leader stands up to those who challenged her point of view. She does not back down when advocating for what was right instead of what was popular. She is not shy. She respectfully engages in constructive disagreements. One interviewee said, “she talked about a topic that other leaders would ignore because it was uncomfortable or too risky to talk about publicly.”
Authenticity. Brené Brown defines authenticity as the “…[the] daily practice of letting go of who we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” An interviewee commented that this memorable STEM woman leader was true to herself and did not change herself to fit into the organizational culture. A second interviewee commented that “who she was at work was who she was outside of work.” She was transparent and stayed true to her core beliefs.
Superior communications. Interviewees said that the extraordinary STEM woman leader used precise language and could explain her ideas so that anyone could understand. Her communication avoided vagueness. She preferred not getting lost in the weeds by spending too much time on details. One interviewee said she did not talk just to “fill air space.” Meetings are where the exemplary STEM woman leader displays her communication prowess. She asks questions to challenge assumptions. After meetings, the extraordinary STEM woman leader confirms that everyone is clear on their action steps.
A connector. An exemplary STEM woman leader links with other leaders across the organization so that complex projects could get unblocked and completed. She spends time connecting through mentoring, supporting the career aspirations of junior STEM women.
Collaborative leadership style. Extraordinary leaders are interested in building others up and developing their direct reports. They understand that cultivating workplace relationships is an effective way to motivate and inspire employees rather than relying on hierarchical, top-down orders to get work done. These amazing leaders adopt a collaborative leadership style by getting work done through others.
Executive presence and vision. Women leaders with charisma and gravitas can inspire audiences. They hold their head high while embracing the unknown, endorsing innovative solutions, and sharing their dreams of what is possible.
This study painted a portrait of the extraordinary STEM woman leader as both empathetic and fierce. She is a superb communicator who speaks clearly, concisely, and thoughtfully. She connects with experts and other leaders, crossing organizational boundaries. She draws out the best in others, encouraging the gifts and respecting the expertise of others. She is memorable because she genuinely cares about others and makes it safe to talk about both thoughts and feelings. The author, poet and civil rights advocate, Maya Angelou was quoted as saying: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Look around your organization. Are there women who possess these characteristics? If yes, spend time observing them and learning from them. If not, what are you doing to develop your skills or your staff to get these skills?
Susan Morris, M.Ed., CPCC, ACC is an internationally certified professional coach and personal growth speaker. Susan has more than 30 years of experience in partnering with individuals, R&D functional groups, new and mature discovery and development teams, primarily in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare industries. Susan provides professional coaching to STEM academics and STEM professionals in the life sciences. Her clients include seven of the Forbes Top 10 global pharmaceutical organizations, medical device companies, contract research organizations, and government agencies.