Paula Albuquerque

Who am I and how did I become what I am today?

I still remember my first projects as a consultant, after finishing college. It was in 2005, when I led the negotiation of Price and Reimbursement for a new treatment that saved the lives of children suffering from a very specific type of blood cancer. In the end, the reimbursement was refused. I was so shocked by the decision that the associated sense of frustration prompted me to bet on the belief and mission of transforming the world by ensuring democratic access to medicines and health care.

I have focused my work, as a scientist and senior executive in the pharmaceutical sector, on patients with unmet, serious or life-threatening needs, for whom science continues to investigate a better treatment or cure. In practice, this means that my work is closely related to the research of active ingredients, commercial and distribution strategies to patients, in order to create solutions to future challenges, as well as to develop innovative opportunities for the market, accessible, to the extent that the price/medicine ratio for a particular ecosystem – patients, caregivers, health systems and the State – is fully considered.

Therefore, more than the commercialization and creation of critical events for the market, the purpose of my work is to pave the way for the responsible adoption of new health solutions, when innovations are launched, and for universal financing, so that all patients who can benefit are covered.
Since the first project, the experience has been fruitful, with a lot of positive news for patients and their families.

What are the main milestones in your professional career that contributed to reaching the position you are in?

There are 3 major milestones in my career path, which have led me to my current position, as Director of Global Market Access for Immuno-Rheumatology at UCB Biopharma.

First of all, it is the business perspective acquired through training. The AESE Executive MBA happened at a crucial moment in my career. In fact, it represents 2 years of study and dedication, but also an opportunity to expose myself to a diversity of ways of thinking, knowledge sharing and networking. The AESE Executive MBA allowed me to develop a differentiated profile and start the transition from technical responsibilities to management. It provided me with the foundation to develop my business proficiency and gain recognition in the field, in addition to the technical skills and competencies gained with a PhD in Pharmacy and a Master’s degree in Health Economics. It still leaves a strong sense of personal fulfillment, after 11 years. From a more personal point of view, there is a friendship that endures. Colleagues, teachers and mentors remain with me to this day.

Secondly, there are 17 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry with a record tract in Global Market Access and Pricing. During this period, I focused on reducing the gap between science and patient-centered Go-to-Market strategies. Exposure to a variety of business areas, needs, goals and international teams are probably fostering my transition from a management to a management role.

In 3rd place, I consider it to be the practical exposure to the pharmaceutical and consultancy industry at an international, multilingual and multicultural level, and having lived in the United Kingdom, Spain and Belgium.

What were your main achievements?

My 4 biggest achievements in the field were:

What are the main lessons that make you the leader you are today?

Life and well-being are just as important as work and career. It’s easy to put it off or forget it. We all have busy schedules, ambitious projects, and career goals. Developing other aspects of life, having other interests and, above all, being careful with our well-being is extremely important. In the last year and in the present, I feel that the new configuration at work, with the less defined boundaries between personal and professional life, challenges us to be more proficient in order to find this balance. Of course, the needs are different for each of us, but planning quality time outside of professional activity also has an impact on career and business success.

There are decisions and next steps that can be guided by instinct (intuition); There are others that require consideration and others that we simply have to give up. This is particularly relevant to be assertive and enhance the focus on deadlines and resources in business, which need a process of mature reflection to achieve success. For example, I have always worked in grassroots innovation companies, where collaboration time, different ways of thinking, think-tanks, and design thinking sessions were as important as completing projects, achieving goals, and making decisions. Therefore, as a team leader, it is important to develop this triage ability, to be assertive with a solution-oriented mindset. It helps to focus and gain space for the creation of differentiated value propositions in the business.

The power to learn, exercise and study. I believe that, as leaders, we have a role that goes beyond the business. We also have responsibility as coaches, mentors and learners. The power of diversity within our teams is incredible and is the most valuable resource for personal and professional growth. It goes beyond academia, books and the news we read.

What values do you govern yourself by and that you transmit to your teams?

Self-awareness about who we are and our value system is very relevant. Integrity and Family represent the top of the hierarchy of this system.

Integrity: it is very important in all aspects of my life. Whether personally or professionally, all decisions and actions are based on high standards of respect, morals and ethical principles. I am a lover of rest, so it is very important to lay your head on the pillow and enjoy a pleasant and peaceful night.

Family: represents authentic love, stability and fortitude that allow me to start over and do better every new day. They are my inspiration and my safe haven, while living abroad, away from all my loved ones who stayed in Portugal.
Then, Happiness, Success and Flexibility follow as equally significant values.
For the teams I manage, these are the values I try to convey and, curiously, they recognize them. It becomes easy when they give us feedback. I believe it is important to create this conducive, flexible and open environment in companies, so that people can be authentic and the best version of themselves. Leading by Example is definitely the leadership style I identify with best.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

I am very happy, grateful and proud for everything I have achieved professionally. I am enthusiastic about my work and I would not change anything in this path. One day, a friend told me that my work was silent but impactful. And it’s true. There is a wealth of knowledge that needs to be considered to sustain the negotiation of access to new therapies. However, in my 17-year career, I have already contributed to many patients in different countries having access to innovative medicines that have changed their lives. I am very grateful for the opportunity to continue to contribute in this regard.
Perhaps what I would do differently was to pay more attention to my health and well-being, especially in recent years, by taking on higher responsibilities; In fact, it was not always on my radar, but now it has also become part of my professional agenda.

Professionally, how do you see yourself in 5 years?

This is a difficult question: no one knows. However, it is essential to plan. I think there is a great fit between my mission and my professional trajectory to date. I would like to maintain this consistency. The plan is to continue to grow, eventually into a top executive role in a company and, in the future, establish myself as the Thought Leader in Global Patient Access and Pricing.