Meet Racey Muchilwa – A Trailblazer In The Pharmaceutical Sector

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A chat with Racey Muchilwa, President and Head, Novartis sub-Saharan Africa. Racey has 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and a recipient of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) 2020 Leading Women Awards.

The business environment globally faced numerous hurdles during the Covid-19 pandemic. What unique challenges did Novartis face and how did the organization surmount them?

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges and disruptions to healthcare systems around the world and we know the impact in Africa was substantial. In response, the pharmaceutical industry stepped up and innovated in ways we never thought possible.

At Novartis, our commitment to improving and extending people’s lives drives everything we do, and this alone is a motivation. We knew that we had to adapt quickly to meet the urgent healthcare needs of patients, healthcare professionals, and healthcare systems. That is why we established a dedicated organization to reach more patients in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which is home to the largest underserved population in the world.

There was an immediate need to rapidly scale up our digital capabilities to enable virtual engagement with our customers and stakeholders. This required significant investments in technology and infrastructure, as well as a change in mindset and behaviour across the organization. We also had to navigate complex regulatory and logistical challenges, such as ensuring the continuity of our supply chain and finding innovative ways to deliver medicines and healthcare services to patients who were unable to visit healthcare facilities

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) 2020 Leading Women Awards celebrated you for exemplarily spearheading your team amid the Pandemic. What leadership lessons did you learn from that crisis?

I am honoured and humbled to have received this recognition.

Navigating the pandemic required us to be agile, innovative, and resilient in the face of rapidly changing circumstances, and we focused on three key areas. First, we prioritized the health and safety of our employees. We implemented strict safety protocols and guidelines to ensure that our employees could work safely, whether in the office or from home. We also provided them with the necessary tools and resources to work remotely and stay connected with colleagues and stakeholders.

Secondly, we adapted our business model to meet the changing needs of our patients and healthcare professionals. We rapidly scaled up our digital capabilities to enable virtual engagement with our stakeholders, launched innovative programs to support patients and healthcare professionals, and worked closely with governments and other partners to develop new solutions for addressing healthcare challenges during the pandemic.

Thirdly, we remained committed to our sustainability goals, even in the face of the pandemic. We continued to invest in programs that promote access to healthcare, support local communities, and protect the environment.

I am very proud of our team at Novartis SSA for showing that, with strong leadership, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability, we can overcome even the toughest challenges and continue to deliver on our mission to improve and extend people’s lives.

Reflecting on your career that spans across two decades at some of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, what inspired you to venture into this industry and what keeps you going?

My upbringing inspired me to believe that there was nothing out of reach for me as long as I put in the work. I come from an area that is endemic with malaria and sickle cell disease which drove my passion for healthcare and helping people. This industry is a perfect fit for me in terms of being able to make a real impact on patients’ lives.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with talented colleagues across the world, and together we have achieved some remarkable successes. I have also had the privilege of working on projects that have brought together different stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem such as patient organizations, healthcare providers, and government agencies, to improve patient outcomes. These collaborations have been incredibly rewarding and I’m proud to have been part of them.

What are some of the setbacks you’ve encountered while navigating through your professional life and how did you address these?

I have had the privilege of holding roles in local and global companies. I have encountered challenges along the way, but I believe that each one has helped me grow both professionally and personally.

One of the most significant of these was managing teams during a period of change and uncertainty within the organization. The teams were understandably concerned about their future, and it was important for me to provide clear communication and support to ensure that everyone felt valued and understood the direction of the organization. I tackled this through regular communication, listening to concerns and providing clear guidance. Ultimately, the goal was to ensure that the teams emerged stronger and focused towards achieving our goals.

I am a strong believer that challenges are opportunities for growth and development.

What is your advice to women who envision themselves in leadership positions? What can organisations do to ensure that men and women have equal access to opportunities for growth in the workplace?

Recent studies have actually shown that women in the pharma industry represent 61% of the workforce, which is considerably higher than other industries. However, when looking at leadership in this space, the percentage of female leaders is significantly lower. Less than 10% of CEOs in the Biopharma industry are women, and women make up only 25% of leadership teams in the pharmaceutical space.

I’m proud to be a part of a forward-thinking organization like Novartis, which recognizes the business imperative of advancing women and promoting gender equity, equality, and inclusion. As a company that’s dedicated to improving health, we understand the crucial role that women play in shaping healthcare. Novartis SSA is leading this space with a 50% female cohort in my leadership team.

Novartis is the only pharma company to have joined the United Nations’ Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) making a public pledge to achieve gender balance in management and improve our pay equity/transparency processes..

Sustainable change requires a collective commitment, so I encourage other organizations to take concrete steps in implementing diversity and inclusion policies, providing equal opportunities for career development and advancement and creating a culture of respect and inclusion in the workplace. Ultimately, creating a more inclusive and diverse workplace is not just the right thing to do, it is also critical for the success of any organization.

Good health and wellbeing is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. In your view, what role can women leaders in sub-Saharan Africa play in widening access to healthcare?

Women are often at the forefront of healthcare and education in many communities, and their leadership can help to address the challenges facing these sectors. They can help to ensure that healthcare systems are designed and implemented in a way that is inclusive and meets the needs of all individuals, including women and girls. This includes addressing issues such as maternal mortality, access to family planning, and gender-based violence. Women leaders can also advocate for policies and programs that prioritize the health and well-being of women and children, such as investing in primary healthcare and improving access to essential medicines.

As an organization that’s dedicated to improving global health, we understand the crucial role that women play in shaping healthcare and I strongly believe that representation matters! I am therefore proud that women make up 50% of my leadership team in SSA.

Of great importance to us as a healthcare company is health equity. Why should a child die of malaria within 24 hours of getting sick because the closest hospital is 100 kilometers away? Why should a child die before her second birthday because she could not access screening and diagnosis for sickle cell disease? These questions keep me awake at night as a mother and as a leader in the healthcare space.

I believe that African women leaders are well placed to champion the needs and challenges of their fellow women by lobbying for better healthcare provisions where they can get regular check-ups and, in cases of NCDs, get early screening and treatment. That is also why Novartis partners with organizations like the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve access to quality maternal and reproductive healthcare and essential medicines for women in SSA.

What is your ask to current and future female leaders?

Believe in yourself and your capabilities. Women have been making significant strides in all fields and breaking barriers, and there is no limit to what we can achieve. I encourage women and girls to continue to pursue their passions and dreams and to never let anyone or anything hold them back.

At the same time, I urge women and girls to support and lift each other up. We are stronger together, and we can achieve even more by supporting each other. Let us work together to create a world where all women and girls have access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for growth and development in order to pave the way for future generations of women to succeed.