On the fast-track in pharma

A route into healthcare

Rebecca’s career in digital health was kickstarted when she won a placement at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) while studying at Queen’s University Belfast. Her lecturer encouraged her to apply for the ELS programme. “It was a combination of feeling inspired by people I met and also getting the idea that I could achieve something that gave me the courage to apply,” she says. Rebecca spent the award money on an immersive language course in France. “A few years later and I can speak to my clients and colleagues in French. It’s something that really has made an impact,” she says.

Focused on strategy

Rebecca spent time on international assignment in Japan with GSK, and upon returning to university, realised she wanted to specialise in healthcare. She decided to forgo non-healthcare related jobs with Procter & Gamble and Volvo Cars and did a placement at TTP – a tech consultancy – before she graduated.

Rebecca joined TTP after university and rose to the position of a leading digital health strategist in Pharma, managing a wide range of areas, from defining strategy to business development. “It was across the whole spectrum, which was amazing to get so early on in my career,” she says.

Rebecca has started a new role at AstraZeneca where she is Associate Director of Digital Health Oncology R&D. She is focused on identifying strategic digital health opportunities to support and augment clinical trials. Rebecca is passionate about using digital health and patient insight, to revolutionise healthcare.

The ELA programme really jumpstarted my career and accelerated my learning even before I graduated.

Advice

Rebecca believes that simply applying for the ELS programme is valuable and that it is important for young engineers to get used to feeling uncomfortable. “The process pushes you outside of your comfort zone, but, if you want to be an engineering leader you have to learn to be uncomfortable and push yourself.” she says.