Pia D'Urbano
Pia D’Urbano is a global life sciences executive and transformational business leader with more than 25 years of experience driving commercial growth, innovation, and large-scale operational strategy across the biopharmaceutical industry. She has served in senior leadership roles overseeing global and regional commercial organizations, most recently as Worldwide Lead at Havas Health Network. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for building high-performing organizations, leading cross-functional teams of up to 5,000 people across more than 40 international markets, and delivering strategic commercialization for complex therapeutic areas including obesity, oncology, immunology, and rare diseases.
Her executive career spans leadership roles at some of the world’s most prominent pharmaceutical companies, including Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Grifols, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Across these organizations, she has held progressively senior positions in commercial strategy, product launch excellence, and enterprise P&L leadership, managing business portfolios ranging from hundreds of millions to multi-billion-dollar scale. Her work has included leading major product launches, advancing immunology and oncology franchises, and contributing to the development and expansion of breakthrough therapies that have reshaped global healthcare markets.
Pia D’Urbano holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Concordia University and has completed executive education programs at institutions such as Harvard University and Kellogg Executive Education. Earlier in her education, she studied business administration at Vanier College. Known for her authentic leadership style and strategic clarity, she is widely regarded for her ability to scale businesses, integrate innovation into commercial strategy, and drive patient-focused outcomes across global healthcare systems.
• Executive Learning Program
• Harvard Program on Obesity Strategy
• Concordia University - BBA
• Sanofi
• Novo Nordisk
• Griffles
• Women Inspiring Santa Fe Excellence
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of mindset, objective decision-making, and confidence in my abilities. Strategic clarity and self-awareness help guide my choices, while resilience and decisiveness allow me to execute effectively. Above all, I maintain an ownership mindset that keeps me focused on driving results and continuously improving outcomes.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received has come not only from strong mentors and inspiring leaders, but also from observing what doesn’t work. Some of the most valuable lessons have come from witnessing poor leadership decisions and understanding the kind of leader I do not want to be. These experiences, while sometimes challenging, have helped me strengthen my own judgment and leadership approach. I’ve also been fortunate to work alongside highly successful individuals, which has supported my growth and enabled me to contribute to bringing innovations to market and advancing better healthcare across different countries.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to stay authentic to yourself and pursue work that genuinely inspires you. Follow your passion, trust your capabilities, and take full ownership of your career path and decisions. Believe in your vision, even when others may have differing opinions, while also being wise enough to recognize and accept sound guidance. Most importantly, check ego at the door—yours and others’—because humility, conviction, and strong judgment are what truly drive sustainable success.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value in my work and personal life is doing what is right for the business and the people it ultimately serves. I focus on making decisions based on what best supports the organization, customers, and patients, rather than personal preference or individual interests. I’ve learned that when you prioritize the greater good, everyone benefits—including the team and the company as a whole. That approach has also required courage and accountability, but I’ve never been afraid to do the right thing, even when it meant taking risks, because integrity and impact matter more than personal comfort.
Locations
Havas Health Network
Bernardsville, NJ 07924