Jürgen Wiehn, Marian Duven

Why leadership teams become dependent on pressure and what it costs performance

leadership, career, performance

In many high-performing environments, pressure is not the exception. It becomes the operating baseline. Deadlines compress.Decisions stack.Communication tightens.Expectations increase. And over time, something subtle but important happens. Leadership teams begin to rely on pressure to function. …

Apr 13^th • 5 mins read

Michael Pietrack

Resume Advice: Tattoos and Breadcrumbs

careers

Okay, Pietrack has finally lost it! What do tattoos and breadcrumbs have to do with resume advice? If you did a web search seeking resume advice, you would get pages of information about resume construction to format to length. So much of how a resume should be constructed is subjective or based o…

Jul 14^th • 5 mins read

Tom Caravela

MSL Retention – What Matters Most

digital marketing, search engine optimization, keyword analysis, content strategy, online visibility

As the Medical Science Liaison job market continues to become more and more competitive, attrition rates continue to increase as a result. One of the most common questions I receive from MSL Directors and Medical Affairs leaders is, “What can we do to keep our MSLs loyal and motivated?” …

Mar 15^th • 2 mins read

Tom Caravela

7 High-Cost Interview Mistakes that are Easy to Avoid

digital marketing, content strategy, search engine optimization, keyword research, online visibility

Is your job search taking much longer than expected? Have you gone on interviews and feel it went well, but you still didn’t get the job? Interviewing in a competitive job market can be more challenging than one might think. COVID-19 has not made the interview process any easier – instea…

Jul 28^th • 1 min read

Bridget Rasmusson

Positioning Yourself to Become an MSL in 2022

MSL role, clinical background, academic background, research background, industry, MSL Society, conference, scientific expert, therapeutic expertise, pharma companies

After attending the MSL Society’s 9th annual conference in Vegas Last week, I have taken some time to reflect on inquiries our team received about how to effectively step into the MSL role from a clinical, academic, or research background. Industry is a tough nut to crack, but it is absolutely…

Dec 21^st • 10 mins read

Leon Rozen

What decision-makers actually do when they can't evaluate reasoning directly

Medical Strategy, Medical Leadership, Medical Affairs

There is a scene most advisory professionals will recognise. A recommendation that took weeks to produce — drawing on regulatory environment, market dynamics, scientific evidence, competitor positioning — gets four minutes in a senior forum. A question or two. A decision. The people in that roo…

Apr 12^th • 5 mins read

Leon Rozen

The advice was good. It didn't matter.

Medical Strategy, Medical Leadership, Medical Affairs

There is a particular kind of professional frustration that doesn't have a clean name. It isn't failure — the work was sound. It isn't incompetence. The reasoning was careful, the constraints were weighed, the recommendation was defensible. It is something more specific: the experience of having d…

Apr 12^th • 5 mins read

Leon Rozen

Medical Affairs value isn't what you think it is

Medical Strategy, Medical Leadership, Medical Affairs

Medical Affairs functions have spent years building the case for their value. Frameworks, metrics, dashboards, impact stories, insight delivery. The work is real, the effort is genuine, and most of it misses the point entirely.

Apr 1^st • 5 mins read

Jamie Riley

The Talent Inflection Point in Pharma and Biotech: A Challenge to Companies — and a Call to Candidates

hiring, talent demand, job market

As pipelines advance and execution accelerates, pharma and biotech hiring may shift again in 2026, reshaping talent demand.

Feb 4^th • 7 mins read

Angus Liu

Large pharma companies reduced headcounts by more than 22K in 2025 as $300B patent cliff looms

headcount, reduction, revenue per employee

Large pharmaceutical companies, each with at least $20 billion in 2025 revenue, collectively reduced their workforces by more than 22,000 employees last year.  Among the 17 largest pharma companies analyzed in a Fierce Pharma review of annual reports, only five logged a head count increase in 2025…

Mar 23^rd • 10 mins read

Leon Rozen

Medical Judgment at the Point of Decision

Medical Strategy, Medical Leadership, Medical Affairs

Why Experience Matters in Local Medical and Clinical Leadership

Feb 12^th • 5 mins read

Leon Rozen

Launch Readiness Is an Organisational Capability

Medical Strategy, Medical Leadership, Medical Affairs

Why Successful Launches Depend on More Than Plans and Checklists

Feb 12^th • 5 mins read

Leon Rozen

Business Acumen Is Not Strategic Judgment

Medical Strategy, Medical Leadership, Medical Affairs

Why Senior Medical Support Requires More Than Understanding the Business

Feb 11^th • 5 mins read

Michael Pietrack

Leading From the Front: 3 Leadership Lessons From Mark Cuban

careers

Businessman and entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently discussed leadership with Leadership Lab columnist Michael Pietrack. The three lessons that came out of that conversation start with one word: caring.

Dec 17^th • 6 mins read

Michael Pietrack

Leadership Lab: 10 Ways Executives Can Stay Visible, Valuable Between Jobs

careers

For biopharma executives who are between roles, navigating the transitionary time can be challenging. However, they can remain visible and valuable so they’re ready to seize their next big opportunity.

Oct 22^nd • 5 mins read

Michael Pietrack

Leadership Lab: Take a Cue From Athletes by Working With an Executive Coach

careers

Executive coaches can help executives take their game to the next level in four key ways, from improving their self-awareness to reshaping their thinking.

Feb 19^th • 6 mins read

Michael Pietrack

Leadership Lab: 5 Ways Biopharma Execs Can Restore Trust, Retain Talent After Layoffs

careers

In the latest installment of his column, Kaye/Bassman’s Michael Pietrack shares five ways leaders can help their teams after a layoff, from acknowledging emotions to reestablishing culture.

Jun 25^th • 4 mins read

Michael Pietrack

Leadership Lab: 5 Steps for Building Your Personal Brand

careers

By building and nurturing a strong personal brand, you can benefit in multiple ways, including enhancing your credibility, attracting opportunities and inspiring investor confidence.

Aug 19^th • 5 mins read

Michael Pietrack

Leadership Lab: How To Spot When Employees Are About To Walk Away

careers

Employees rarely leave companies for one reason alone. In this column, Kaye/Bassman’s Michael Pietrack shares a framework that helps leaders identify when their team members are thinking about heading for the exit—and how to address it.

Oct 22^nd • 7 mins read

Michael Pietrack

Leadership Lab: 4 Ways Biopharma Leaders Can Prepare for Media Interviews

Media coverage can help biopharma executives connect with, inform and inspire the public. In this column, Kaye/Bassman’s Michael Pietrack and three communications experts share how to make the most of these opportunities.

Aug 20^th • 6 mins read