Women in leadership: Strategies for strengthening the pharma C+ club With a lot of studies pointing towards ‘gender diversity reaping better financial results for a company’, organizations have increasingly become more sensitive to making diversity and inclusion (D&I) a part of their strategic priorities. As per a global report by Grant Thornton, ‘India ranks third lowest in having women in leadership roles’. However, with the latest SEBI guidelines on board representation, these figures are slowly changing. As per a McKinsey & Company report, ‘Achieving gender equality in India would have a larger economic impact there than in any other region in the world.’ Some studies also reveal that the highest percentage of women executive directors in the pharmaceutical industry is only 7.69%. Organizations are now channelizing their efforts towards building a gender rich workforce, with a special focus on women in leadership roles. This panel discussion will be addressed by highly accomplished women from the pharma industry who are at leadership positions and have broken the glass ceiling in a previously male preserve. Key points of discussion:

• Understanding and addressing the reasons for the ‘leaky pipeline’ in the pharma industry
• Women as agents of change in ensuring a level playing field for peers
• Crafting an effective D&I organizational strategy for the pharma industry
• Fostering a culture of learning, grooming and mentoring in the pharma industry
• Strategies for self-promotion
• Reinventing leadership for the 21st century

Breaking the status-quo: Inspiring next gen women leaders in pharma Leadership styles have evolved over time, with a prominent shift from the autocratic and directive leadership of the twentieth century to a more participative and democratic style of the new generation. With the new gen of women leaders being looked up to more as mentors than just managers, does there seem to be a transformational shift in the leadership styles of the 2 generations. The session will be a fireside chat with a veteran who has evolved as a powerful leader in the pharma industry vis-a-vis a next gen leader who has held the reins and continues to inspire aspiring women leaders in the pharma industry.