Influential Woman · Pharmaceutical

Andrea Patterson

Sr. Director, Global Congresses & Events, Gilead Sciences

Easton, PA

Her Story

About Andrea

I work in the pharmaceutical industry leading a newer team function where there's still so much to accomplish. I'm focused on driving impact and value for my organization, and I look forward to all the great things that myself and the team can achieve. My team has embraced AI technology, which has significantly helped the speed at which we're working and communicating, and the speed that we can analyze and interpret things. I believe in working smarter and using the technology available to us. I'm passionate about showcasing that women, particularly working moms, can do a lot and there's really nothing holding us back anymore. I think it's important to share success stories about people doing it without sacrificing to the point where it's not working. I coach others in the industry and always emphasize the importance of not burning bridges because it's a small world, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. I'm committed to continuing my education and plan to pursue my doctorate in business (DBA) soon, which has always been a goal of mine.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Andrea

01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've received is not to burn bridges. It's a small world, and even smaller in the pharmaceutical industry. I even tell people I coach to just not burn bridges. I guarantee you, even if maybe something happened and you were in the right, whatever it may be, always take the high road, right? Because there is a very big chance that that person will show up in your life again. So don't burn bridges.

02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

Right now, AI is definitely a benefit in our field. My company and my team have embraced it, and it has significantly helped the speed at which we're working and communicating, and the speed that we can analyze and interpret things. I think it's helping us work smarter and use the technology that we have. But there's so many unknowns, right? There's so much more to still understand and learn about the longer sort of benefits or the longer range challenges it could cause by using it or leveraging it so much and just becoming so dependent on it. That's a little bit scary because it's the unknown. So right now, I think it's definitely a benefit, but there's lots more to come and better understanding around it.

03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I would say respect, 100%, right? We don't have to always agree, but you need to align, and I think with that comes respect. And I think, you know, just my general ethical behavior. I think your character is one thing, like, your character is so important, right? It's so important as you navigate, I think, your personal life and your career, and, you know, I do all that's needed to uphold that, right, to the person that I am, and that's being ethical, that's being respectful. So I think, yeah, character is everything, right? It's important to me.

Keep Exploring