Hello tech talent – next generation healthcare calling

I remember the sense of anticipation I felt before joining Novartis. Even two years ago, data, science and technology were starting to converge and the healthcare industry was ripe for disruption. A little daunted but equally drawn to the challenge, you could sense something big was coming and I wanted to be part of it. New to the industry, there was a lot to learn, and two years down the line, there still is – science is ever evolving and amazingly humbling.

As an industry we’re constantly learning. COVID-19 certainly forced us to pause, reflect and challenge ourselves - how can we better use data and digital to speed up drug discovery, continue to engage with our customers and ensure patients still get the medicines they need? Without a doubt, the pandemic accelerated the pace and scale of our transformation. But it did something else too – it pushed us to an inflection point and shifted people’s perceptions of the healthcare industry, specifically that of future talent who we need, now more than ever, to join us in reimagining, no, revolutionizing this industry. We know – we asked them.

86% technology professionals believe that the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry’s digital moment has arrived.

And I agree. There has never been a more critical time to go big on data and digital. Nobody asked for this crisis, but COVID-19 has shown we can push boundaries because patients, physicians and regulators are expecting us to.

• 12 years and $2.5 billion – when this is what it takes to get a new drug to market, how can we better use data and digital to speed this up?
• 75% US physicians are now connecting on peer-to-peer platforms like Doximity - how can we create more personalized, consumer-like experiences and meet them there?
• 40% of patients never get from script to medication – what is our role in addressing this?

Regardless of the sector they currently work in, the two that industries technology professionals would consider switching to are technology, and healthcare & pharma (49% for each).

This has certainly not always been the case. My move into this industry was spurred by the belief I could put my experience behind a greater purpose, and at scale. When you consider Novartis invests the same in R&D as the total GDP of some small countries, you can appreciate the unparalleled impact a company like Novartis can have. Last year our medicines reached almost 800 million patients. By talking to the incredibly talented people who are joining our teams from such diverse companies including Nestlé, IBM Watson Health and Google, you also get a sense that the tides are turning.

40% tech talent don’t believe they have enough industry knowledge to join.

I get it, but don’t be intimidated. We have world class scientists; what we need are customer-obsessed tech natives who can join us in reimagining medicine with data science and digital technologies. By collaborating with a huge range of partners, from nimble startups and innovative academic institutions to tech giants such as Microsoft, Tencent and Amazon, we are creating exciting opportunities for dynamic, bright minds to come and collaborate with us. I’m personally very passionate about the importance of bringing diverse expertise together – this is when the magic really happens. It is only by being inclusive of people from all backgrounds and perspectives that we generate new ideas, drive innovation, better understand our stakeholders and get closer to the needs of patients.

Do you have what it takes? Be curious. Come and find out.

These insights and more are explored in a research report we are proud and energized to share: A powerful pairing: technology talent’s resolve to decode the world’s biggest healthcare challenges. At Novartis, our strategy is underpinned by the core belief that powerful opportunities exist when you combine pure science with data science and digital technology. So, we have included perspectives from industry experts at Microsoft, BenevolentAI and MIT to aid us in exploring this digital inflection point.