Sandoz Talent Excellence Program

"I was drawn to the diversity and depth of the program."
 

Dheeraj joined the Sandoz Talent Excellence Program in January 2013 and spent his first six months in the program in Austria looking after Quality Assurance Stability at the Kundl site. Currently, he is based in Holzkirchen, supporting the Strategic Planning and Program Management team of Global Quality Assurance. His next planned move at the end of March 2015 is to the Wilson site in the US, where he will gain exposure to manufacturing operations.

An Indian national, Dheeraj received his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad. He then moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where he completed his master’s in Industrial Pharmacy at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich). He brings with him research experience in biology, physical chemistry and engineering drug particles.

We recently spoke to him about his experiences in the Sandoz Talent Excellence Program.

What factors should a recent graduate consider when choosing his/her first job?
‘Where do I fit in?’ is normally the question a fresh graduate grapples with during the initial phases of job hunt. Since the first job lays the foundation for the future career path (at least for the first few years), it is very important to identify one’s interest and start looking for jobs that match. Let your passion and interest lead you to the career choice.

Why did you decide to apply to the Sandoz Talent Excellence Program?
I was drawn to the diversity and depth of the program. The Sandoz Talent Excellence Program provided an opportunity to have deeper insight into the pharmaceutical industry starting from Product Development to Manufacturing to Quality Assurance. Cross-functional assignments in multiple countries with multiple functions, can really help to identify a trainee’s interest and allows him/her to make a well-informed career plan.

Describe your experience in the Sandoz Talent Excellence Program in one word.
Versatility. The Sandoz Talent Excellence Program program has exposed me to both technical operations at the manufacturing sites as well as broader strategic and corporate management principles at Sandoz headquarters.

What kind of recruit would prosper at Sandoz? (Top 3 winning behavioral tips)
Someone who is flexible, inquisitive about business, results-driven and social (actively networks cross-functionally).

What has been your greatest learning while working here?
Understanding how constant collaboration and team work is of utmost importance.

What do you know now about Sandoz that you didn’t know before?
Before joining, I expected Sandoz to be primarily focused on manufacturing and technology. What I have come to realize is that people and culture are the main drivers in the company.

Your tips for cultural adaptation?
If you are moving into a new country, observe first. Try to learn how things are done (both in formal and informal settings) so that you can adjust your working style. Go beyond your professional realm and take into the cultural surroundings with openness. During my attachment in Holzkirchen I’ve started learning German and even tried out snowboarding! Although I ended up with a small fracture in my wrist, I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. That’s what adapting to new cultures is all about, take it as adventure and enjoy the experience!

"I was attracted to the international opportunity and global reach of Sandoz."

A German national, Oforiwa completed her bachelor’s in Molecular Biology from Mainz University, Germany. She then moved to Edinburgh for her PhD in Biomedical Science and completed her Post-Doctoral from University of Strathclyde (Glasgow).

As a Sandoz Talent Excellence Program trainee, Oforiwa worked in Quality Compliance in Sandoz Kundl site, Austria, in Sandoz Development Center in Ljubljana, Slovenia and in Manufacturing Science and Technology in Sandoz Broomfield site, USA. After successfully completing the two-year program, she has been assigned to Kundl/Schaftenau site in the BioInject facility as Quality Assurance Compliance Manager.

Why did you decide to apply to the Sandoz Talent Excellence Program?
I was attracted to the international opportunity and global reach of Sandoz. It’s amazing how all the different cultures work together for a common goal to supply affordable medicine to everyone.

Describe your experience in the Sandoz Talent Excellence Program in one word.
A worthwhile challenge. In academia, you are used to work for yourself. In Sandoz, 10 Sandoz Talent Excellence Program trainees start to work together and you have to work as a team. Everyone in the team has a strong personality and you are collaborating and learning to accept the differences in working style and personality types. It gets more interesting as we are working on the same project from different locations. You can’t have a better grooming than is to thrive in a multicultural and international environment.

What kind of recruit would prosper at Sandoz? (Top behavioral tips)
The most important aspect is the ability to work as a team. You also need to be curious, flexible and show drive and initiative. You can be successful in Sandoz only if you think different or ‘outside the box’. You need to understand that as a trainee, you start from the beginning and have to take on responsibilities with openness. Start with a clean slate and take it all in. Sometimes unlearning some of your habits from academia, for example, focus on individual excellence is needed.

What has been your greatest learning while working here?
You always have to be open to new opportunities. On first impression a task might seem dull or tedious, you might not be too excited about the role, however don’t shy away from trying. Experience first and you might come out with a completely different outlook.

What do you know now about Sandoz that you didn’t know before?
Sandoz is much more diverse than I thought it would be in terms of the global reach and portfolio.

Your tips for cultural adaptation
Be patient and observe your surroundings for cultural signals before you act. People are different; you need to think why they are behaving in a certain manner without being judgmental.