Hesham Sabry, serving as the General Manager of Roche Bulgaria, brings over 22 years of extensive experience in the healthcare sector, across diverse systems, geographies, and cultural landscapes. He holds a firm belief in the transformative potential of digital technologies to positively impact healthcare outcomes. With his wealth of career experience and insightful perspective, he is the ideal person to discuss the array of career opportunities available in the healthcare industry.
Mr. Sabry, you have a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in Cairo University. However, you have not worked as a pharmacist for a single day. Did you expect this when you were a freshman?
Yes, that’s correct. I did have a chance to work in pharmacy once during summer. I worked in a community pharmacy in London and also in my mom’s pharmacy in Egypt. When I was a freshman, I was really confused and not sure about what I wanted to do. I thought maybe I would go into research and development, and my mom saw me working in production in a pharmaceutical factory, just like she started her career. Then, I got interested in the healthcare industry and liked the idea of learning about different healthcare systems and helping patients in various countries. For the past twenty years, I’ve felt fulfilled and found my purpose in helping patients get access to innovative treatments in different places.
What alternative career paths are currently available for students, pursuing degrees in Pharmacy, Medicine, or related fields?
I think there are quite a few other career paths tied to what is currently happening in healthcare, like digitalisation processes, more personalized healthcare, and focusing on the value of healthcare. Some options could be: working in digital healthcare, becoming an AI scientist or specialist, bioinformatics specialist, or health economics specialist. The first step is knowing yourself well – who are you, what you’re good at, and where you can make a difference. Also, understanding that the world is always changing and can be unpredictable.
Given the rising popularity of startup accelerators, is entrepreneurship a viable option for young professionals to develop leadership skills and address real-world issues?
Yes, entrepreneurship, especially through startup accelerators, is a great way for young professionals to grow their leadership skills and solve real problems. These programs are like fast-track training camps where young people can learn by doing. They face real challenges, work with diverse teams, and learn to adapt quickly.
In healthcare, where there are many different problems to solve, from patient care to technology, these programs are very important. Healthcare is changing fast with new technology, and young professionals can really make a difference in this direction. Startup accelerators are not just about starting a business. They’re about learning to lead, work with others, and make a positive impact, especially in healthcare. This makes them a perfect fit for young people wanting to make a difference in the world.
What specific abilities and skills are necessary for students to qualify for entrepreneurship and other career opportunities that you have mentioned?
Students will need a mix of hard and soft skills. I would start with the soft skills: developing leadership and a growth mindset, which are essential for success. It’s also important to have the ability to adapt and work well within a team or network. Resilience and learning from setbacks are crucial, too.
Furthermore, communication skills and the ability to work with people from different backgrounds are also important. Understanding and embracing diversity can lead to better team dynamics and innovative solutions. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills will help in making informed decisions and overcoming challenges in the workplace. Overall, a balance of these hard and soft skills will prepare students for a successful career in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. Finally, being tech-savvy is important because of how technology impacts healthcare and the opportunities it can create for our patients.
How can we inspire more young people to become drivers of positive change in the healthcare industry?
There are many challenges in healthcare, such as capacity issues and long waiting lists for patients. Another big challenge is the lack of funding and resources for people from different backgrounds in our society. There’s also a gap and delay in bringing our healthcare systems online. These complex issues need new ways of thinking to make positive changes. We must work together to highlight how important it is to drive positive change. Let’s share success stories more often. Encouraging teamwork can create chances to make a difference. We need to build a culture that values new ideas. And it’s important to recognize, reward, and acknowledge good work to inspire others to move in the same direction.
What responsibility do current leaders like yourself have in supporting the next generation of experts for the emerging roles in healthcare technology that society will demand?
Leaders play a vital role in supporting the next generation of professionals. Their responsibilities include:
- Investing in training and education, emphasizing quality. This involves collaboration with educational institutions and healthcare organizations from both governmental and non-governmental sectors.
- Providing opportunities for the next generation to gain hands-on experience, allowing them to practice and learn.
- Promoting diversity and inclusion by creating a welcoming and diverse environment.
- Encouraging innovation and research, focusing on securing funding, fostering collaboration, and creating platforms for young talents to present their ideas.
- Building a supportive work culture that values continuous learning, creativity, and teamwork.
Leaders need to guide and inspire young professionals by creating opportunities for growth and development. By doing so, they ensure the advancement of the field and prepare the way for future innovations and improvements in healthcare and beyond. Leaders must be committed to nurturing an environment where young professionals feel valued, included, and motivated to develop their best work.
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About Roche
Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world’s largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. Roche is a pioneer in personalised healthcare and wants to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice. In recognising our endeavour to pursue a long-term perspective in all we do, Roche has been named one of the most sustainable companies in the pharmaceutical industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the fifteenth consecutive year. This distinction also reflects our efforts to improve access to healthcare together with local partners in every country we work.
