Sandra McFarland
Sandra McFarland is an accomplished pharmaceutical sales leader with more than two decades of experience at AstraZeneca, where she currently serves as Interim District Sales Manager. In this role, she leads a high-performing district team while continuing to develop talent and drive results across respiratory and immunology portfolios. Previously, she built a distinguished career as a senior executive field sales representative specializing in inhaled and biologic therapies for COPD and asthma, earning a reputation as a trusted partner to pulmonologists and allergists who view her as a true advocate for patients.
Sandra’s professional philosophy is grounded in relationship-building, continuous learning, and mentorship. She entered the pharmaceutical industry with the goal of improving patients’ quality of life and has remained deeply committed to that mission throughout her 23-year tenure with the same company. Her career path reflects resilience and adaptability—transitioning from early roles in IT and financial analysis into pharmaceutical sales following industry layoffs and steadily advancing into leadership while balancing clinical expertise with performance-driven sales metrics.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, Sandra completed her undergraduate degree while working full time, ultimately earning a degree in human development. She is actively involved in professional and diversity-focused organizations, including the National Sales Network, where she serves as both a member and mentor, and AstraZeneca’s African Heritage Employee Resource Group, which she co-leads. Her excellence has been recognized with multiple Circle of Excellence awards and completion of AstraZeneca’s LEAP leadership program. Sandra consistently encourages the next generation to invest in education, build a strong personal brand, and seek out mentorship—while also paying it forward.
• LEAP leadership development program
• The University of Texas at Dallas- Bachelor's
• The University of Texas at Dallas- B.S.
• President’s Club
• Circle of Excellence
• National Sales Network
• African Heritage Employee Resource Group
• Women's Diversity Groups
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, perseverance, and the courage to leave a small town in Lumpkin, Texas, to build a meaningful career in Dallas doing work I love and that helps people. I’m also grateful for the strong education I received at the University of Texas while working full time and raising my two boys, who have always been my greatest motivation.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You can make a difference—choose a career you love, and the impact will follow.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You can do it—invest in your education, commit to continual learning, build a strong personal brand, and seek out mentors while also paying it forward by mentoring others.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Balancing the demands of helping every patient and client with maintaining quality family time, especially since her son established family game night, is both a challenge and an opportunity to model work-life balance.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are helping others and finding joy in my work, while now that my two boys are grown, I can fully focus on my career and personal growth.