You have had a remarkable career, from clinical research to global leadership in the pharmaceutical industry. What were the key milestones that shaped your commitment to innovation in healthcare?
From the very beginning of my career, I have been committed to innovative molecules, because I studied biotechnology and, at the time, the Holy Grail was to successfully bring biological molecules discovered and developed in the laboratory to market and finally make them available to patients. I was fortunate enough to participate in the clinical development (patient trials) of a brand new biotherapy. Throughout the rest of my career, I always raised my hand when it came to investing in future medicines that had the potential to change the game for patients, whether they were suffering from immunological or neurological diseases or cancer. I also loved exploring with the teams what new technologies (digital and then AI) could bring us in terms of developing drugs more quickly and ensuring that they fit into an environment that allows for their best use.
You also founded a start-up dedicated to diabetic patients. How has this entrepreneurial experience shaped your approach to leadership and healthcare system transformation?
This experience was fascinating, as I was coming to the end of a long cycle working for large pharmaceutical companies. I was able to rediscover the importance of understanding the everyday concerns faced by patients with a fairly common condition such as diabetes, which I knew very little about, as well as the expectations of pharmacists in terms of developing products that meet their needs. We spent a lot of time talking to our contacts, far removed from the endless slide shows that are sometimes developed in large companies. I rediscovered the pleasure of developing a brand and working on the technical development of products with suppliers (cream consistency, packaging colour, food taste, etc.). Having previously worked in areas requiring a high level of scientific expertise, I gained a better understanding of the role of pharmacies in different European countries. Healthcare systems vary from country to country, but the trust that exists between patients and pharmacists is a cornerstone. And I loved taking teams that we had recruited entirely ourselves to pharmacists’ associations to present our ambitious project, even though there was not yet a comprehensive approach for diabetic patients.
You have long been committed to women’s leadership. What levers do you consider to be priorities today for accelerating women’s access to leadership positions, particularly in healthcare and technology?
Education, education, education and… quotas! After years of reflection and experience on the subject, my firm belief is that it all starts in childhood. School certainly plays a role, but so does culture. For me, the Nordic system remains a model, because gender equality is promoted from an early age as a matter of course. To remedy the imbalance that exists today, quotas remain a system that works very well. In our country, it is clear that scientific training must be promoted to girls by all means, and I am confident that by imposing women on company boards, role modelling will play its part if these women support sisterhood.
Why did you want to join the JFD Club? What synergies do you see between your commitment and JFD’s mission, particularly with regard to inclusion in innovation?
I have met Delphine Remy-Boutang, founder of JFD, on several occasions at events and have been impressed by the energy she puts into promoting women in all the circles she touches. I love the idea that women feel comfortable in all environments, and seeing them shine in the scientific field is always a real pleasure for me. I am not a fan of the idea that professions are gendered. Throughout my career, I have seen many women who did not dare to express themselves even though they were competent in a field that needed new ideas, or who were asked to keep a low profile because they were not welcome. Numbers, science and medicine do not belong to any one gender. Women are increasingly present in these fields, but they are often not very visible. I cannot imagine how we could treat female and male patients in the future without including half of humanity in the evaluation of solutions! Women have more than their say. I would like to point out that, in healthcare, it is women who bear the main burden of the family. They experience illness first-hand, so they inevitably have a contribution to make to making our world healthier.
In the era of artificial intelligence and personalised medicine, what role should women play in building a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future for healthcare?
Women must be present everywhere, because they belong everywhere. In a recent LinkedIn post, I highlighted the names of a few women who are changing things in AI and healthcare. Through their projects, they are making patient care more seamless. Five years ago, I also co-founded an association called Donner des Elles à la Santé (Empowering Women in Healthcare) with an admirable female urologist, Dr Géralidine Pignot, to change the way the healthcare world views female doctors in hospitals, break down stereotypes and promote gender diversity. The members of the association and its highly committed board have accomplished tremendous work in just a few years, not least of which is the creation of an equality charter that is supported by the Minister of Health and signed by more than 110 institutions.
If you had one piece of advice for young women starting their careers in life sciences or technology, what would it be?
Take your place without feeling self-conscious. There’s no need to constantly prove your expertise. Have confidence in yourself. You are never alone. Make sure you have a coach/mentor in your field who will always be there to help you understand the codes and brainstorm the best strategies for your development!
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Emmanuelle Quiles is an experienced healthcare executive known for her ability to transform organisations and promote innovation for the benefit of patients. In her most recent role at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, she led the global commercial strategy for the cardiovascular/metabolic portfolio, developing innovative medical solutions while fostering collaboration among stakeholders and the healthcare ecosystem to advance breakthrough science.
During her career, Emmanuelle has held the position of Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer at Johnson & Johnson France, Wyeth France and Pfizer France, as well as founding and managing a start-up dedicated to improving the lives of diabetes patients. In 2019, she also launched AI for Health, a pioneering initiative aimed at integrating artificial intelligence into the healthcare sector to accelerate innovation and tangibly improve patient care.
With extensive experience in development, marketing, commercial activities and market access in numerous therapeutic areas, Emmanuelle combines strategic vision and practical execution to guide organisations through complex transformations and integrate cutting-edge technologies for the benefit of patients. Passionate about digital innovation and artificial intelligence applied to healthcare, she is also an advocate for inclusive leadership, actively supporting women in science and technology and promoting the creation of diverse teams capable of tackling the most complex challenges. Throughout her career, she has mentored many women to accelerate their development and support them in reaching positions of responsibility.
Through her involvement with Join Forces & Dare, she seeks to inspire collaboration, encourage bold ideas and accelerate innovation across sectors. She sits on several scientific boards and committees, holds a degree in biotechnology engineering from the University of Strasbourg and has been awarded the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
