Dagmar Rosa-Bjorkeson
Vice President
Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation
More from Dagmar
Her parents, Jose and Irma: My mom while she didn’t go to college herself always thought I could do anything I wanted to do. I learned so much from my dad. He’s a people person, a leader, demanding and hard working, I think he saw that in me too.
Her grandmother Gloria: She helped me raise my kids when they were little. She stayed with us Monday through Friday. It was a huge blessing in my life.
Early influence: Adelaide Torres, my mother’s aunt, who passed away years ago. She was a teacher, a politician, and a seamstress. Adelaide was very demanding and also gave me a lot of positive feedback.
Work/life balance: My husband, Christoffer, and I, we’re a two career family. We had to talk about how we’re going to do it. My brother calls our marriage a “merger.” All the decisions were really about how to merge two situations. The deals you make at home are really the most important ones.
Pay Attention to Future Trends
February 2012
Sometimes in our jobs we may feel that, even though we work hard, we’re not going anywhere. Follow the advice of Dagmar Rosa-Bjorkeson. As head of the Multiple Sclerosis Business Unit, she leads more than 200 professionals. Dagmar advanced her career by looking ahead and urges you to do the same.
Look to the Future
It’s not just enough that you’re doing your job in its parameter – redefine it, recreate it. Deliver on strategic and forward thinking. Think of the future and not only the business as it is now. Stay connected with trends that are going to drive the next big step in your industry, your business, your area. Be one of the people who thinks about the next leap forward.
In my own career, five years ago, the U.S was the center of activity. But I made a strategic move to work in Scandinavia, by becoming the Country Head and President for Novartis Sweden. I learned about how to work with governments and how to operate outside my comfort zone. I had an idea that this is where the industry was going here in the US.
Look Outside Your Department
Sometimes we put our heads down and focus on delivering what we ourselves are responsible for. That’s important, but we also have to lift our heads up and look to the sides. Notice what’s going on around you. Network with areas you might not think are naturally related to what you’re doing. When creating the MS Business Unit we found the time to talk to the Oncology business unit, which has become a leader in its area. You can leverage best practices of other units and functions.
Avoid Self-Sabotage
I’m a positive person and devote time to mentoring people, speaking to them one on one. When I notice women engaging in self-sabotaging behaviors, here are the strategies I suggest they use to counteract that:
Prioritize: Sometimes women don’t work in a resourceful way – they try to make sure everything that’s on their list is done, not realizing that only the top three items on that list really matter. Many women in the workforce, are perfectionists. But, ask yourself what will you let go of so you can have a little more peace, more balance? You have to prioritize. Guilt does us no good, it serves no purpose.
Claim Your Accomplishments: You have to find your own voice. Ask yourself, “How do I become comfortable sharing the success I’ve had?” As for myself, I’m very much a “we” person and I tend to point out who we’re serving — the patients and healthcare professionals — with this focus I have found my voice.
Fill Your Life With Positive People: Choose to surround yourself with people who build you up. I am extremely lucky to have a husband who is positive and very good for me. If I’m sabotaging myself he will tell me. If it’s not your spouse or partner, you need friends like that. You don’t want to be around people who bring you down.
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