Curiosity and courage in leadership

A route into healthcare

Rebecca’s career in digital health was kickstarted when she won a placement at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) while studying at Queen’s University Belfast. Her lecturer encouraged her to apply for the ELS programme. “It was a combination of feeling inspired by people I met and also getting the idea that I could achieve something that gave me the courage to apply,” she says. Rebecca spent the award money on an immersive language course in France. “A few years later and I can speak to my clients and colleagues in French. It’s something that really has made an impact,” she says.

Focused on strategy

Rebecca spent time on international assignment in Japan with GSK, and upon returning to university, realised she wanted to specialise in healthcare. “The ELS really did help shape my journey into healthcare – it was a transformative opportunity that provided the critical resources and mentorship I needed to accelerate my leadership trajectory,” she says. “I had access to a world-class network of engineers, industry placements, and global exposure.”

Rebecca did a placement at TTP – a tech consultancy that she later joined after graduating from university. She rose to the position of a leading digital health strategist in pharma, managing a wide range of areas, from defining strategy to business development. “It was across the whole spectrum, which was amazing to get so early on in my career,” she says. 

Redefining standards of care

Rebecca is now Senior Portfolio Director in Oncology at AstraZeneca. She leads a diverse portfolio spanning lung, gastrointestinal, and head and neck tumour types. Her work involves overseeing a $20M internal investment fund designed to accelerate bold, high-potential ideas that could redefine standards of care and drive long-term value for patients, healthcare systems, and shareholders.

“While my title today doesn’t have ‘engineer’ in it, the critical thinking and problem-solving mindset I developed through the ELS programme remain at the core of my work,” she says. “From finding clarity in complex science, to connecting the dots between research, patient needs, and commercial impact."

The ELS really did help shape my journey into healthcare - it was a transformative opportunity.

Advice

"Effective leadership starts with curiosity – not just the impulse to understand, but the courage to look closely, even when the answers are uncomfortable or uncertain. It is about caring enough to ask and being humble enough to listen. Grounding ourselves and our work in empathy and connection allows us to see the people behind the challenges – our colleagues, our teams, and the lives we impact through our work–reminding us that true leadership is not just about the problems we solve but how we understand each other."