While attending high school in Connecticut, O’Day found work as an Emergency Medical Technician. Several of them got back to him offering positions yet he was cautious in accepting any immediately.First, he praises how Roche always put patients needs first, saying, “this way of thinking was instilled in me by my mentors in the organization and I pass it along to others: If you need to make a choice between something that is right for patients and something that seems better for the business, ALWAYS chose the option that is right for patients.”1987-1995, Roche Pharma, US, Various commercial/sales roles They worked on the railroads until Daniel’s grandfather got involved in the oil industry; which led to his dad growing up in Cut Bank, Montana.2012, Roche Pharmaceuticals Division, COO and Member of the Roche Corporate Executive CommitteeOur main character in this story, Daniel O’Day, was born in Texas in 1964 but did a lot of moving around as a child. Advanced analytics can interrogate the data to come up with ideas for new medicines, enable us to do clinical trials faster, and eventually to help the healthcare system determine who should be treated and who shouldn’t in a constrained economic environment.Regarding how travel has shaped his leadership style, O’Day explains, “I feel very fortunate to have had such a varied global career and I think these diverse experiences have formed who I am as a person and my thinking on most things.
He had always shown considerable interest in the medical field and tending to those in need of critical care only affirmed those burgeoning passions.2010, Roche Diagnostics Division, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Roche Corporate Executive Committee,The discovery of medicines is all trial and error, at the end of the day. With so many unique experiences available to tend to all over the globe, one can understand, based on what we’ve discovered about his childhood, how O’Day began to flourish at Roche.His father responded, “Well, who was the hiring manager that you think you could learn the most from, and would inspire you the most?”Why the healthcare industry? Pharmaceutical companies, when allowed access, can implement that invaluable information into their own studies – in turn using it to further their missions for improved human health.1996, Roche Pharma, US, Director Product MarketingSince his arrival, O’Day’s most pressing responsibilities have been ensuring that Gilead’s pricey move into CAR-T cancer treatment proves prosperous and correctly using the companies $28 billion in cash and short-term investments for promising acquisitions, research, and development deals.Next, O’Day mentions that he loves how decentralized the company is.