In our fifth EmpowHER spotlight series, we highlight the remarkable career of Neus Valveny, Senior Director, Head of RWE at TFS HealthScience. Neus embodies leadership and resilience, and she has a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within her team. Join us as we explore Neus’s insights, experiences, and thoughts on diversity within the life sciences industry. 

Did you miss our fourth EmpowHER edition on Hanna Sandvall? Read here! 

 

Neus Valveny on Diversity and Leadership Strategies for Success 

 

1. What defining moment in your career propelled you into a leadership role, and how has it shaped your approach to leading your business unit?

A leadership role is both an honor and a great challenge and responsibility. There was not a single moment but continued support from colleagues and mentors, who constituted an example of how to train and empower a team. Gaining confidence over the years is a combination of experience, lessons learned from failures, and persistence. Having experienced people trusting your possibilities is critical, in my case prior TFS leaders and current mentors, like our CEO, Dr Bassem Saleh, Dr Marta Mas, Head of Medical Writing and Miriam Martin, Head of Business Development.

 

2. In navigating challenges specific to your industry, what strategies have you found most effective in ensuring sustained success for your business unit?

Being flexible, responsible, and transparent are the qualities most appreciated by our customers. RWE is a fast-changing environment, with new methodologies, study designs, and data sources almost every month. Learning with ongoing and past studies is not enough, we must keep the unit trained constantly and open-minded to new approaches and regulatory or marketing requests. Many customers require advice on which are the best studies to enhance their drug or device, and we are ready and happy to provide it. 
 

3. What woman has inspired you most to pursue your career in life sciences/research, and how has her influence shaped your professional journey?

When I started my biological degree in the early 90s, not many women were a referent in life sciences. I was the first woman in my family to go to the University. Very few names appeared in biochemistry and genetic books, although I was inspired, for example, by Marie Curie, Margarita Salas, and Rosalind Franklin since molecular genetics is my passion. Fortunately, since then, there have been enormous changes in society, and now the list is endless.

 

4. As a champion for diversity and inclusion, how have you actively fostered an inclusive culture within your team, and what impact has it had on your unit’s dynamics?

Our team is really diverse, with people from many different cultures and countries. The first rule is to enforce respect for each personality and background while, in parallel, trying to increase communication as much as possible. During regular team calls and with our customers, we strongly encourage everybody to use the camera since this improves the mutual understanding of emotions. Words have different meanings for different people and circumstances, and looking at emotions through body language helps a lot in being respectful of everyone’s feelings. We also try to perform face-to-face meetings whenever possible.

 

5. Can you share an example of a time when you felt particularly supported or empowered in your role at TFS?

At my first bid defense meeting for an important and large study in renal disease, I was really nervous. While the preparation was meticulous, and I had crucial statistical insights into the study design, I struggled with effective communication, compounded by the language barrier as a non-native speaker. My senior colleagues exhibited patience, attentively listening and offering valuable advice multiple times. The meeting went very well, and they congratulated me, which reinforced my self-confidence. I felt genuinely supported and empowered during that pivotal moment, a memory I often recall when confronted with similar challenges. It underscores the significance of even the smallest gestures or words of encouragement, as they can have a lasting positive impact, resonating for years to come.

 

6. In the face of technological advancements and remote work trends, how do you ensure your business unit remains agile and innovative, staying ahead in the competitive landscape of your industry?

We regularly attend RWE (Real World Evidence) congresses and virtual webinars to keep up with the latest industry trends. Additionally, I actively encourage all team members to share new information, whether it’s from webpages, manuscripts, or guidance documents, through Microsoft Teams chats. These discussions serve dual purposes, facilitating both technical updates and personal or lighthearted exchanges. Such interactions prove valuable as they demonstrate that knowledge and enjoyment can coexist harmoniously, reflecting our collective passion for fostering a vibrant work environment.
 

7. As a woman in leadership, what advice do you have for aspiring female professionals looking to advance their careers and break through barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields?

Do not try to follow men´s style of leadership. We women may have different skills that we can leverage, like patience, perseverance, or managing many things at the same time. Also, keep up the good mood within your team and with your colleagues, and the rest will follow. When something is not working well, try to discuss it openly; otherwise, the problem will only grow. Do not give up on the first try.

 

8. What advice would you give to allies who want to support women in science and research but aren’t sure how to be most effective?

Simply treat women with the same consideration as you treat men, and, if you are a woman, recognize that your words and opinions are equally significant. I’ve been in meetings where there seemed to be a greater interest in men’s opinions compared to women’s, and while it’s often a subtle bias, unfortunately, it persists in some environments. Fortunately, at TFS, we are exceptionally lucky to have a workplace where many empowered women ensure that our voices hold the same value as those of our male colleagues

 

9. What are your hopes for the future of women in science and research, and what changes do you think are necessary to make those hopes a reality?

The future is brilliant and promising, thanks to the evolving mindset of girls in the new generation who feel empowered to accomplish anything! A great example is what is happening with Barcelona football players. Additionally, remote work has been instrumental in assisting families with children, lessening the impact on mothers’ careers. However, there remains a need for increased involvement from partners to ensure a more balanced sharing of parenting responsibilities among mothers.

My hopes for the future of women in science involve creating a more inclusive environment with success recognition, family-friendly policies, and mentorship programs promoting leadership roles.

 

10. Looking ahead, what are your visions and goals for the future of your business unit, and how do you plan to lead your team toward continued success and growth?

Our vision is to continue building a specialized, global RWE unit with a strong scientific and methodological focus, successful and flexible delivery to meet client needs, and operation in a digitized environment. This implies leveraging RWD analysis tools, like AI, NLP, and OMOP common data models. 

 

Connect with Neus on LinkedIn! 

 

TFS’ Commitment to Inclusive Innovation 

At TFS HealthScience, we are committed to fostering innovation through inclusion. We aim to create a professional work environment where every employee feels respected and valued, regardless of gender, race, culture, or belief.   

Inclusion is not a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing journey. We strive to constantly communicate and organize initiatives to integrate inclusion as a core sustainable value of the business. 

Our EmpowHER campaign invites you to join this transformative journey. Connect with us, engage with our stories, and join the conversation! 

Contact a team member today or connect with us on LinkedIn!