Elevate: Henny Zijlstra on Gut Feeling, Guilt, and Getting to the Top

Elevate: Henny Zijlstra on Gut Feeling, Guilt, and Getting to the Top

In this episode of Elevate: Women Leading the Way in Pharma Outsourcing, host Marianne Gissane speaks with Henny Zijlstra, Chief Commercial Officer at Ardena, about building a career on instinct, leading without a scientific background, and why women in pharma need to back themselves harder and feel guilty a whole lot less. Henny shares her journey from studying international business in the Netherlands to working her way through Hetero Drugs, DSM Sinochem, LONZA and Adragos Pharma, before stepping into her current role at Ardena. Along the way, she's relocated to Barcelona, raised two kids, built commercial teams from scratch, and learned to hold her ground in rooms where she's often the only woman. Reflecting on the opportunistic decisions, the support systems that made them possible, and the moments she pushed through self-doubt anyway, she talks openly about what it really takes to grow a career in a technically demanding industry without a technical degree. Drawing on her experience leading commercial functions across the pharma services sector, Henny offers candid insight into negotiating your worth, trusting your gut on big career moves, and why the most important investment you can make is in yourself. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why taking opportunities before you feel ready is often the smartest move you can make * How to build commercial credibility in a science-driven industry without a scientific background * What the double standard around working mothers in pharma actually looks like, and how to respond to it * Why the support system around you matters as much as your own ambition when stepping into senior roles * How a deliberate morning routine and consistent self-care can underpin long-term professional resilience * Why you should never, ever accept the first salary offer "Find your believers, the people who lift you up, and you'll be able to excel at anything you pursue." Henny Zijlstra is Chief Commercial Officer at Ardena, a pharma development organisation with offices across Europe. With a background in international business and marketing, she has spent more than 15 years building commercial teams and driving growth across pharma and biotech, holding senior roles at Hetero Drugs, DSM Sinochem, LONZA and Adragos Pharma before joining Ardena in 2025. Known for her directness, her willingness to say "explain it to me again" until she genuinely understands, and her conviction that people buy from people, Henny brings a commercially sharp and deeply human approach to leadership. She believes the best thing a woman in business can do is invest in herself first, back herself always, and never accept the first offer.

Elevate: Eleonora Casucci's Curiosity Principle - How Humility and Intention Built a Career in Quality

In this episode of Elevate: Women Leading the Way in Pharma Outsourcing, host Marianne Gissane speaks with Eleonora Casucci, Vice President of Quality and Compliance at Pro Pharma Group, about building a career with intention, leading through curiosity, and repositioning quality as a strategic driver rather than a compliance function. Eleonora shares her journey from graduating in Rome and joining a small Italian pharma company undergoing a complete quality system overhaul, to deliberately seeking out gaps in her experience, relocating to the Netherlands, and ultimately making the leap from technical expert to business leader in a global consulting organisation. Reflecting on the mentors, pivotal decisions and moments of discomfort that shaped her path, she describes how humility and curiosity have been the constants behind more than two decades of professional growth. Drawing on her experience leading quality teams across Europe, the UK and India, Eleonora offers thoughtful insight into what it means to serve your team, navigate the rise of AI in pharma quality, and lead with both technical credibility and human warmth. In this episode, you'll learn: * How to intentionally map your career by identifying gaps and building on your strengths at every step * Why choosing a lower-paid role with the right mentor can be the smartest early-career decision you make * How quality has evolved from a policing function to a true strategic partner within pharma organisations * What it really means to lead a consulting team and why being at the service of your people is the key to success * How the industry is responding to the rise of AI and machine learning in GXP compliance and validation * Why humility and curiosity are the most underrated qualities of a seasoned professional "I've always approached every job as a learning opportunity. Being humble is a very important characteristic of a seasoned professional — because you will never be as strong as the team is together." Eleonora Casucci is Vice President of Quality and Compliance at Pro Pharma Group, where she leads the delivery of quality and compliance services across European, UK and Indian teams. With more than 20 years of experience spanning pharma and biotech, she has held roles across quality systems, validation, qualified person responsibilities and new facility build-outs, before transitioning into consulting leadership. Known for her collaborative approach and people-centred leadership style, Eleonora combines deep technical expertise with a genuine belief that quality, at its best, exists not to police but to enable — bringing teams together around their shared purpose of delivering safe, effective medicines to patients.

Elevate: Jonina Gudmundsdottir on Leading with Confidence: Building Trust in Pharma

In this episode of Elevate: Women Leading the Way in Pharma Outsourcing, host Marianne Gissane speaks with Jonina Gudmundsdottir, Chief Executive Officer at Coripharma, about building confidence, leading through growth, and creating high-trust partnerships in the global generics market. Jonina shares her journey from studying pharmacy in Iceland to becoming employee number seven at Medis, where she helped scale the business from €20 million to over €500 million in revenue. Reflecting on her early exposure to registration, marketing, finance and international deal-making, she describes how working in small, agile environments became the foundation for her leadership philosophy. Drawing on her experience in business development, global licensing and now CEO leadership, Jonina offers practical insight into what it takes to lead with clarity, resilience and confidence in a competitive, highly regulated industry. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How early cross-functional experience can accelerate leadership readiness * Why trust is the true currency in B2B pharma partnerships * What scaling from entrepreneurial growth to global operations really teaches you * Why mixed-gender teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones * How to build confidence and show up powerfully at the negotiation table * The importance of visibility, networking and claiming your ambition early in your career “You cannot sit and wait for someone to come to you. You have to be noticeable and flag your ambition.” — Jonina Gudmundsdottir, CEO, Coripharma Jonina Gudmundsdottir is Chief Executive Officer at Coripharma, where she leads the company’s strategic direction, overseeing development, out-licensing and global supply of high-quality generic medicines. With more than two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, she previously spent 16 years at Medis, playing a pivotal role in international expansion, strategic transactions and long-term global partnerships. Recognised for her commercial acumen and people-centred leadership style, Jonina combines strategic clarity with a strong belief in trust, balanced teams and long-term relationship building as the foundations of sustainable success in pharma outsourcing.

Elevate: Christiane Bardroff on Redefining Leadership in Biopharma

In this episode of Elevate: Women Leading the Way in Pharma Outsourcing, host Marianne Gissane speaks with Christiane Bardroff, Chief Operating Officer at Rentschler Biopharma, about leading with purpose, navigating complexity, and building inclusive, high-performing teams in the biopharma industry. Christiane shares her career journey from working hands-on on the shop floor to the C-suite, reflecting on the mentors, turning points, and leadership lessons that shaped her path. Drawing on her experience leading large-scale digital transformation, manufacturing innovation, and cultural change, she offers candid insights into what it takes to lead authentically in a highly complex, regulated environment. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What it takes to transition from managing projects to shaping organisations * How to lead innovation and digital transformation by bringing people along the journey * Why diversity, collaboration, and trust are critical drivers of performance * The leadership lessons learned from building and scaling large biotech operations * How women can advocate for themselves and claim a seat at the table * Why purpose, empathy, and authenticity matter at every level of leadership “Diverse teams don’t just feel better, they perform better.”— Christiane Bardroff, COO, Rentschler Biopharma Christiane Bardroff is Chief Operating Officer at Rentschler Biopharma, where she leads global clinical and commercial manufacturing, engineering, and technology operations. With a background spanning hands-on operations, large-scale capital projects, and digital transformation, she brings a unique systems-level perspective to leadership. A passionate advocate for inclusive leadership, Christiane previously co-founded Teva’s global Women’s Network, championing representation, mentorship, and cultural change across the organisation. Today, she is recognised for combining operational excellence with people-centred leadership to drive sustainable growth in the biopharma industry.

Elevate: Elizabeth Malson on Pivots, Playbooks, and Personal Brands

In this episode of Elevate: Women Leading the Way in Pharma Outsourcing, host Marianne Gissane speaks with Elizabeth Malson, an accomplished commercial executive and founder of Executive Echo, about the importance of cultivating your personal brand—especially on LinkedIn. Liz shares her journey from corporate leadership at companies like Roche, Medtronic, and Dentsply Sirona to entrepreneurship and thought leadership, offering tangible advice for professionals ready to amplify their voices in a highly regulated industry. * How to recognize when your personal brand needs attention—and where to start * Practical strategies for building a credible, authentic presence on LinkedIn * How to navigate company policies and professional boundaries while posting online * The mindset shift from perfectionism to progress when sharing your expertise * Why “the people who are visible are the ones who win” * The power of consistency, community, and courage in professional growth “The people who are visible are the people who win. They’re not always the best—but they’re known.” — Elizabeth Malson, Executive Echo Elizabeth (Liz) Malson is a seasoned commercial executive with more than 15 years of experience driving marketing and business growth in the global medtech industry, having served in leadership roles at Roche Diagnostics, Medtronic Diabetes, and Dentsply Sirona. She is also an entrepreneur, having founded The Nanny Institute, the first online accredited college for nannies, and Executive Echo, a ghostwriting firm that empowers leaders to strengthen their personal brands through authentic storytelling. Today, Liz helps executives and organisations harness the power of LinkedIn and personal branding to build credibility, connection, and career opportunity in an increasingly digital world.