Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Jun 15, 2025 7:00 AM - Jun 19, 2025 3:00 PM

801 Allen Y. Lew Place, NW, Washington, DC 20001-3614, USA

DIA 2025 Global Annual Meeting

Resilient Leadership: Overcoming Isolation and Adversity

Session Chair(s)

Robin  Whitsell

Robin Whitsell

President

Whitsell Innovations, Inc., United States

In the ever-evolving pharma/biotech landscape, leaders face challenges that test their professional and personal resilience. The past year has seen a significant strain on the industry, marked by the disruption of new technologies (and expectations associated with it), the failure of promising compounds, economic pressures, and layoffs. As leaders, we are often left to shoulder the weight of these challenges, managing not only our own emotional burden but also the morale of our teams and the broader organizational impacts. This presentation, delivered by a panel of seasoned professionals in the regulatory writing space, will explore the often-unspoken loneliness of leadership in times of upheaval. We will share personal insights from our career journeys, addressing the ways in which leadership can feel isolating, especially when navigating industry setbacks. In addition, we will provide practical strategies for coping with these burdens, drawing from experiences in career pivots, reskilling/retooling, and personal resilience. We will discuss ways to maintain emotional well-being, foster collaboration, and lead with transparency, even in the face of industry-wide adversity. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to support their teams and themselves, and insights into how to continue leading effectively in times of uncertainty.

Learning Objective : Discuss the unique emotional and professional challenges faced by regulatory writing leaders during periods of significant change; Develop strategies for maintaining personal resilience and emotional well-being while leading teams through industry-wide setbacks and economic pressures; Implement actionable techniques for fostering skill development, reskilling, and collaboration to effectively support both individual and team growth during challenging times

Speaker(s)

Cathy  Tyrrell

Panelist

Cathy Tyrrell

Seqirus, United States

Head of Medical Writing and Disclosure

Matthew  Robillard

Panelist

Matthew Robillard

AbbVie, United States

Senior Director, Regulatory Strategic Writing

Have an account?

Be informed and stay engaged.

Don't miss an opportunity - join our mailing list to stay up to date on DIA insights and events.