axtria

Life science organizations must evolve and adapt for future success. Today, Sameer Sardana, Leader of Product Development at Axtria, discusses transforming operational methodologies within life sciences. He delves into the agencies responsible for promotional planning, measurement, and activation, stressing the significance of accurate analysis measurement. 

Sameer also discusses how MLOps (Machine Learning Operations) workstreams and technologies empower stakeholders and marketers to make real-time promotion decisions, driving pivotal decision-making processes. Sameer adds that this represents a substantial shift for individuals accustomed to traditional settings, potentially disrupting established practices and necessitating new approaches. Our audience can benefit from today's insights to gain a competitive edge in the future.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [2:53] Sameer Sardana discusses pharma companies' current state of affairs and how they spend much of their revenues on promotion.

• [4:42] Sameer outlines four trends in this space of promotional effectiveness that are drivers of change.

• [7:09] Discussion of the three deterrents to the evolution of change and the inefficiencies created by many agencies because they are often involved in promotional measurement.

• [11:01] Sameer discusses a CoE (Center of Excellence) created at Axtria where all promotional measurements were done for a customer, allowing the organization to leverage the best in class techniques.

• [13:11] Sameer explains the use of software and the three areas of value it brings to the promotional measurement space.

• [15:54] Sameer discusses how marketing and IT have impacted the stakeholders 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The pharmaceutical sector invests millions in advertising and assessing the efficacy of campaigns. The quality of the analysis hinges on the expertise of the individuals interpreting the data.

• One of the most significant barriers to change is that promotional planning, measurement, and activation must be tied together, impacting promotional efforts and the ability to change course quickly.

• Agencies have expanded, taking over not only promotional planning and execution but also measurement, creating spending 200 million dollars in one company. 
  

BIOGRAPHY: 

Sameer Sardana heads products at Axtria and is the force behind some of the leading software products in the life sciences commercial space. He has spent over a decade developing products in customer engagement, promotional measurement, and MLOps workstreams. In his role, Sameer is also responsible for defining the strategy, going to market plans, and executing Axtria's product vision.

He routinely partners with global commercial leaders to provide last-mile decision support, leveraging AI and technology to transform their businesses. Before Axtria, Sameer held increasing responsibilities in data analytics and technology consulting with expertise in sales and marketing operations, commercial model design, marketing mix, and patient analytics.

Over the years, he has partnered with customers on dozens of transformation initiatives requiring large-scale change management across various stakeholders. Sameer holds a bachelor's and a master's of technology degree from IIT Delhi.

YOUR HOST: JASMEET SAWHNEY 

Jasmeet Sawhney is a life sciences industry executive, marketing leader, and serial entrepreneur with deep roots in technology and data analytics. He is currently the global head of marketing at Axtria. Jasmeet has over 20 years of experience in the life sciences domain and has helped build and scale three successful companies. He has received several company and individual awards, including Inc 500, Deloitte Fast 500, Crain’s NY Fast 50, NJBiz Fast 50, Business of the Year, SmartCEO Future 50, Top CMO, Forty Under 40, and many more.

Jasmeet Sawhney - LinkedIn

Axtria on LinkedIn

Sameer Sardana - LinkedIn

Today, we are honored to have Gurdyal Kalsi as our guest, holding the position of Chief Medical Officer at Asklepion Pharma and AdventHealth and overseeing a varied Research and Development portfolio. Gurdyal explores the significance of AI in healthcare and emphasizes a long-overdue shift toward giving patients a voice in clinical trials. He underscores the necessity of addressing illnesses and striving for a definitive cure, which he terms "One and Done." Additionally, Gurdyal provides insights into the future direction of the life science field and emphasizes the role AI is poised to play in shaping it.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [03:56] Gurdyal shares his professional journey and his childhood experiences that led to his desire to become a doctor

• [5:41] Gurdyal discusses his current role, goals and objectives, and where he sees the industry going

• [10:14] Gurdyal explains what it means to let the patient have a voice in clinical trials and also the importance of AI in the medical field

• [16:50] Gurdyal explains why he scaled his professional journey and why it is critical to multitask and obtain across-the-board learning

• [20:52] Gurdyal talks about the people and events that have framed his career and gives advice on what he has learned and wants to pass on to the listeners

• [26:35] Gurdyal reveals how he continues his learning and balances his personal and professional life

• [30:08] Jasmeet asks Gurdyal a series of rapid-fire questions

KEY TAKEAWAY:

• [6:43] Many medicinal products in the marketplace are not cures. A change needs to happen in this area of medicine to look for a cure and not continuous treatment.  

• [10:02] The future is moving toward letting patients have a voice in clinical trials, which is the right way of doing a clinical trial.

• [11:21] Gurdyal is encouraged by the use of AI. There are still areas where more work must be done to achieve accuracy. 

RESOURCE LINKS:

Podcast - Leading Minds

Jasmeet Sawhney - LinkedIn

Gurdyal Kalsi - LinkedIn

BIOGRAPHY:

Gurdyal Kalsi is a seasoned executive, a physician-scientist, and a leader engaged in developing novel therapeutic approaches for challenging diseases in rare, orphan, cell, and gene therapy areas.

He's a veteran of global transformational R&D leadership with over two decades of experience specializing in pharmaceutical and critical care medicine. His work has resulted in the development and commercialization of several important human pharma drugs. Gurdyal started his professional journey in the UK and earned his MFPM from the UK joint Royal Colleges of Physicians and medical degrees in medicine and surgery from the Glancy Medical School.

He transitioned into the biopharmaceutical space, first in neuroscience and then in inflammation and immune modulation therapies. He later moved to the US and was instrumental in several strategic investments and collaborations between the public-private sector and US federal agencies. He currently serves as the chief medical officer of AdventHealth and Asklepion Pharma, and manages a diverse R&D portfolio. 

YOUR HOST: JASMEET SAWHNEY 

 Jasmeet Sawhney is a life sciences industry executive, marketing leader, and serial entrepreneur with deep roots in technology and data analytics. He is currently the global head of marketing at Axtria. Jasmeet has over 20 years of experience in the life sciences domain and has helped build and scale three successful companies. He has received several company and individual awards, including Inc 500, Deloitte Fast 500, Crain’s NY Fast 50, NJBiz Fast 50, Business of the Year, SmartCEO Future 50, Top CMO, Forty Under 40, and many more.

Today, we have the privilege of hosting Ramona Sequeira, the President of Takeda's Global Portfolio Division. She will delve into Takeda's involvement in the Life Science sector, shedding light on leadership, employee oversight, and recruitment. Ramona emphasizes three essential qualities for those aspiring to join her team: curiosity, humility, and courage. Additionally, she delves into the importance of making decisions as close to the patient as possible, tailoring strategies to the needs of specific healthcare systems and markets.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [03:56] Ramona provides a background of her professional journey into her current position

• [08:17] What are the major shifts in the industry

• [10:43] Ramona discusses key decisions she has made during her career

• [15:21] Ramona shares attributes she looks for in employees

• [17:39] Keeping abreast of continuing education is critical for Ramona, and she discusses how she prioritizes her career and personal life

• [23:32] Jasmeet asks Ramona a series of rapid-fire questions
  

KEY TAKEAWAY:

• Strategies must be tailored to the needs of specific healthcare systems and countries in order to best meet the needs of patients globally.

• When stepping into a new role, it's crucial to ensure that you bring employees along with you by communicating the why and being clear on your vision.

• Curiosity, humility and courage are essential to lead in a rapidly changing environment.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Podcast - Leading Minds

Jasmeet Sawhney - LinkedIn

Takeda - Website

Ramona Sequeira - LinkedIn

BIOGRAPHY:

Ramona Sequeira is a leader in the biopharmaceutical industry, currently serving as President of Takeda's Global Portfolio Division (GPD) and as a member of Takeda's Executive Team. With a career spanning multiple markets, cultures, and healthcare systems, Ramona has launched brands and built and grown businesses for Takeda and prior to that Eli Lilly, always with an unwavering dedication to building solutions based on a deep understanding of patient needs.

YOUR HOST: JASMEET SAWHNEY 

Jasmeet Sawhney is a life sciences industry executive, marketing leader, and serial entrepreneur with deep roots in technology and data analytics. He is currently the global head of marketing at Axtria. Jasmeet has over 20 years of experience in the life sciences domain and has helped build and scale three successful companies. He has received several company and individual awards, including Inc 500, Deloitte Fast 500, Crain’s NY Fast 50, NJBiz Fast 50, Business of the Year, SmartCEO Future 50, Top CMO, Forty Under 40, and many more.

Jaswinder (Jassi) Chadha, President and CEO of Axtria, which is one of the life sciences' most prominent global leaders, joins us today to discuss how innovation has transformed the global healthcare system. He is regarded as one of the top data scientists and influential thought leaders in the life sciences industry. Jaswinder will share his perspective on the fast-growing and ever-changing life sciences industry, including how Covid created a recognition in pharma of the human-centric aspects of healthcare.  In addition, Jassi shares how he balances his busy work schedule with family and friends. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [03:50] Jassi shares his journey through university to his current position as an entrepreneur

• [07:42] His current focus is working in an industry that saves lives, and his goal is to ensure that the pharma industry serves the patient better

• [09:20] The significant shifts in the industry are decoding the human genome and being able to treat patients globally through innovation 

• [13:33] Jassi talks about what he has learned through his professional journey and how he defines a great leader

• [19:24] As an entrepreneur, you need to continue to seek out learning no matter how busy your schedule is. Jassi shares how he balances the personal and professional aspects of his life

• [26:08] Jassi responds to Jasmeets rapid-fire questions

KEY TAKEAWAY:

• A great leader has a vision and inspires their team to excel in whatever the mission is.

• The healthcare sector gained valuable insights during the Covid-19 pandemic and emerged from it significantly improved.

• Knowledge is like a video game. When you think you’ve reached the top, there is another level.
  

RESOURCE LINKS:

Podcast - Leading Minds

Jaswinder Chadha - LinkedIn

Jasmeet Sawhney - LinkedIn

BIOGRAPHY:

JASWINDER CHADHA, President and CEO, Axtria

Currently serves as President & CEO of Axtria. Since its founding in 2010, Axtria has gone on to become one of the biggest global leaders in the industry with customers in over 120 countries. Previously, Jassi was co-founder and CEO of marketRx, which was acquired by Cognizant Technology Solutions. Jassi and his companies have been featured in some of the most aspirational lists - INC 500, Deloitte FAST 50, NJBiz FAST 50, SmartCEO Future 50, Red Herring, and several other growth, product, culture, and technology awards.

YOUR HOST, JASMEET SAWHNEY

Jasmeet Sawhney is a life sciences industry executive, marketing leader, and serial entrepreneur with deep roots in technology and data analytics. He is currently the global head of marketing at Axtria. Jasmeet has over 20 years of experience in the life sciences domain and has helped build and scale three successful companies. He has received several company and individual awards, including Inc 500, Deloitte Fast 500, Crain’s NY Fast 50, NJBiz Fast 50, Business of the Year, SmartCEO Future 50, Top CMO, Forty Under 40, and many more.

Amar Sawhney is one of the most accomplished individuals in the realm of Medical Technology. His achievements and professional journey are unparalleled. In a conversation with Jasmeet, he recounts the path that led him to his current position. He imparts insight into effective leadership, emphasizing a life devoted to service and a keen focus on improving the healthcare system for patients. Keep a pen and paper handy to jot down his advice.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [04:11] Amar shares his journey from childhood through university to his current position as an entrepreneur
• [09:17] Amar discusses what started his entrepreneurial path
• [12:33] Learning from the challenges and benefiting from roadblocks
• [18:39] The background of a holding company and intellectual property
• [23:49] Amar talks about balancing his professional life with his personal life and what brings contentment 
• [30:54] Amar shares innovations that are happening in the field of MedTech
• [36.47] Mentorship has been helpful to Amar and his response to the rapid-fire segment

KEY TAKEAWAY:

• If your business model is a holding company, you can maintain control. When you have stockholders, you can quickly lose control.
• If a leader hires good people and gives them autonomy, he can spend time building other ventures.
• Make sure that the people you partner with have the same goals and life values you do.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Podcast - Leading Minds

Amar Sawhney - Facebook

Amar Sawhney - Linkedin

Jasmeet Sawhney - LinkedIn

GUEST BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Amarpreet Sawhney is the CEO of Instylla, a company focused on embolic therapies for hypervascular tumors and control of hemorrhage, of Rejoni, a company developing products for preventing intrauterine scar formation; and of Pramand LLC, a company focused on developing biosurgery products. He was previously the Founder and CEO of Ocular Therapeutix, Augmenix, Confluent Surgical, and the technology founder of Focal and Access Closure. Amar’s innovations are the subject of over 120 issued and pending patents in biomaterials and bio-surgery. His inventions include several “first of a kind” surgical sealants, spacers, and drugs to be approved by the FDA, including ReSure Sealant and Dextenza for ophthalmology, DuraSeal for neurosurgery, FocalSeal for Lung surgery, Mynx for femoral puncture sealing, and SpaceOAR for prostate cancer radiotherapy. Amar and his partner Fred Khosravi have created Incept LLC, which provides a platform to support other healthcare entrepreneurs.

YOUR HOST: 

Jasmeet Sawhney is a life sciences industry executive, marketing leader, and serial entrepreneur with deep roots in technology and data analytics. He is currently the global head of marketing at Axtria. Jasmeet has over 20 years of experience in the life sciences domain and has helped build and scale three successful companies. He has received several company and individual awards, including Inc 500, Deloitte Fast 500, Crain’s NY Fast 50, NJBiz Fast 50, Business of the Year, SmartCEO Future 50, Top CMO, Forty Under 40, and many more.

`Amy Chipperson serves as General Counsel for Axtria, a global provider of cloud software and data analytics to the life sciences industry. In her role, she manages a team of attorneys in the US and Mexico who are responsible for drafting and negotiating various complex IT outsourcing agreements, including Cloud and SaaS. Amy is also responsible for mergers and acquisitions, maintaining corporate compliance, and implementing GDPR regulations.

In this episode…

The privacy and security landscape is intricate and layered, with companies often managing multiple priorities simultaneously, including consumer trust and national and global regulations. How can you craft a program that addresses each aspect while remaining informed?

General counsel Amy Chipperson affirms that companies should adopt a holistic approach to privacy and security to develop a program that satisfies various needs, goals, and requirements. Given that privacy laws are volatile, you must pivot effectively to maintain compliance. Amy urges being proactive and conducting extensive research into evolving regulations to adapt your strategies accordingly. 

Axtria’s General Counsel Amy Chipperson joins Jodi and Justin Daniels on this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security to discuss how businesses can develop privacy and security programs in a changing environment. Amy also talks about privacy and security’s effects on data analytics, maintaining compliance amid fluid regulations, and how a common-sense approach to privacy guarantees customer trust.

Charlie is a Principal at Axtria with over thirty years of experience in health care, financial services, and management consulting. He takes us through his personal journey and his experiences with rare diseases, how they impacted the individuals around him. Tune in as he explains why they are elusive, why diagnosis for these diseases is difficult, and the symptom surfing phenomena that occurs with the onset of these elusive diseases. He explains what the pharma industry must do to better detect and diagnose rare diseases and why he chooses the pharma industry to contribute to a better future for all.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [03:10] The journey of rare diseases from a personal perspective – recounting the struggle as it unfolded from Charlie’s point of view.
• [07:52] Symptom surfing and why elusiveness in rare diseases can be so frustrating. 
• [12:13] Coping with rare diseases in the family - the sacrifices and challenges.
• [15:03] The challenge of diagnosis in rare diseases and understanding what the family goes through.
• [21:47] The pharma industry and its progress in finding cures for rare diseases.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Rare diseases are hard on all levels – they are devastating for the families and extremely complicated to diagnose, treat, and manage.
• We must understand the patient’s and their family’s journeys to be able to help them better. It is imperative for the pharmaceutical industry to maintain continuous focus on solving rare diseases.
• There is a silver lining: Many of these diseases can now be diagnosed, and as the industry’s focus shifts to rare and orphan drugs, there is hope that we will soon have a cure for them.    

LINKS MENTIONED:

Axtria:

https://www.axtria.com

Charlie on LinkedIn :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-thompson-957490/

BIO:

Charlie has over thirty years of experience in health care, financial services, and management consulting. Charlie has worked with eleven of the top fourteen global pharmaceutical firms, helping them launch close to ten billion dollars in products.  

Charlie is a Founding Principal at Axtria where he leads major client transformations, such as commercial launches, post-merger integration, go-to-market pivots, and global digitization initiatives. His clients have publicly acknowledged his ability to help guide major initiatives that leverage clear values and guiding principles, along with authentic communication and storytelling. Previously, Charlie was a principal with marketRx, and before that he was with Assurant where he launched a new department to support direct marketing operations. 

He graduated from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management with majors in Finance and Marketing, and was selected Top Marketing Student by the faculty. He is a frequent guest speaker at Georgia Tech, Emory, PMSA, and the Sales Management Association on marketing strategy, sales force effectiveness, life sciences industry, and entrepreneurship. He also holds a patent in application of predictive models in customer call centers.

Kedar Naphade, Ph.D., leads Axtria's Decision Science practice and brings over 20 years of analytics, consulting, and leadership experience. First, Kedar talks about the strategic challenges life sciences organizations face specific to patient care. Then, he delves deep into how organizations must leverage data and analytics in the future to compete as the roles of software, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation expand in the life sciences industry. Tune in as Kedar shares how he innovates for his customers as it relates to the future of analytics.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:31] The strategic challenges life sciences organizations face specific to patient care.
• [11:28] Why life sciences leaders must prepare for future commercialization processes and the consequences if they don't prepare. 
•  [18:55] The role of platforms as software, AI, and automation play increasingly important roles.
• [22:00] Kedar's past innovations to his customers as they relate to the future of analytics.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Companies face significant consequences if life sciences leadership neglects analytics as a strategic weapon.
• Productization is key. An organization's ability to leverage software and AI will be critical in the future.
• Leaders must focus on three building blocks to enable digitization: inputting a data strategy, having the proper organizational structure and processes emphasizing the culture, and the right partners to enable best-in-class technology and analytics. 

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Axtria Insights - https://www.axtria.com/
  

BIO:

Kedar leads Axtria's Decision Science practice and brings over 20 years of analytics, consulting, and leadership experience. As a strategic advisor to executive leadership, he has a stellar track record in building and running large global analytics teams and accelerating innovation by delivering analytics using software platforms.  

Kedar has spent years building advanced analytics applications to solve strategic problems, including commercial strategy, omnichannel resource allocation, market access, the patient journey, and the supply chain. He has experience across global markets, including the top five countries in Europe, Japan, Turkey, and Canada.

Before joining Axtria, Kedar held leadership roles at Cognizant, marketRx, Bell Labs, and Lucent Technologies. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Mumbai and a Ph.D. in operations research from Lehigh University. Kedar is also an accomplished musician trained in Indian classical music.

As pharma reps' roles evolve, one pattern is evident: the traditional reach and frequency-based approaches are no longer adequate for pharma selling. Join Axtria's Vandana Singh as she explains how the pandemic has accelerated innovation in the pharma industry and why many more roles require increased coordination. Tune in as we talk about what the field rep of the future will look like, how pharma leadership needs to enable a field force of the future, and why organizations need to reevaluate their end-to-end field operations processes.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:20] The traditional reach and frequency-based approaches used for pharma selling are no longer effective.
• [05:50] The pandemic has accelerated the speed with which innovation has occurred in the past year.
• [07:40] What the field rep of the future will look like, and how will the role change from what it is today. 
• [11:30] What pharma leadership needs to do to enable a field force of the future.
• [14:10] Is the role of a field rep diminishing or becoming more powerful?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The pharma commercial model is increasingly complex, with more roles requiring greater coordination.
• The industry is focusing more on customer experiences. Reps need to be master orchestrators in providing the right message to the right customer using the right channel at the right time. 
• Working in silos is not enough. Instead, organizations must reevaluate their end-to-end field operations processes to enable the field force to work in these new ways.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Axtria

https://www.axtria.com/

BIO:

Vandana has more than 20 years of experience in various strategy, operations, and analytical roles within the life sciences industry. Currently, she is a principal within the Commercial Excellence organization at Axtria. She leads the Integrated Resource Planning Center of Excellence (COE) with her strong passion for developing new analytical solutions that enable omnichannel customer engagements. 

Vandana joined Axtria from Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), where she held a variety of positions with increasing levels of responsibility. There, she led the insight generation and recommendations for a company's rebranding during the BMS-Celgene integration. Prior to BMS, Vandana also worked at Sanofi-Aventis and ZS Associates in multiple field force effectiveness roles.