There has never been a time when the US drugmaker and vaccine manufacturer Pfizer's purpose of "breakthroughs that change patients' lives" has been more fitting than in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deborah Seifert, Pfizer's country manager for Thailand and Indochina, spoke with the Bangkok Post about how Pfizer will play a major role in Thailand's recovery while remaining a leader in the pharmaceutical sphere during trying times.
"Our priority is researching and developing medicines and vaccines that will benefit patients," Ms Seifert said.
She explained that innovation is at the heart of Pfizer's commitment to global health. Such shared determination among thousands of Pfizer and BioNTech scientists last year resulted in the development of a revolutionary vaccine against the deadly Covid-19 virus in a record-breaking time of 9 months.
But vaccines are just one of Pfizer's focus areas that allow the US drugmaker to deliver breakthrough results, the company also has dedicated research teams in different parts of the world in the areas of oncology, inflammation & immunology, internal medicine and rare diseases. These five areas ultimately cover patients in all age groups from pediatrics to later in life.
"We're applying equal intelligence and passion to help ensure these treatments and therapies are accessible to all."
REVOLUTIONARY VACCINE
Since April of this year, Thailand has been severely hit by the highly contagious Delta variant along with many other countries in Southeast Asia.
The surge in the number of Covid-19 cases impacts hospitals across the country, but especially in Bangkok to the limit. Such devastating circumstances prompted the government to introduce strict safety measures and intensify its procurement plans for the Covid-19 vaccine.
The successful collaboration between the Thai government and Pfizer under Ms Seifert's leadership resulted in an agreement to purchase 20 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 mRNA vaccine in July and, subsequently, an additional 10 million in August. The vaccines are expected to be delivered within the fourth quarter of this year.
Ms Seifert, who oversaw the agreements, said Pfizer is "excited about the first deliveries of the PfizerBioNTech Covid-19 vaccines that will be entering the Thai market shortly. "We expect to see the impact of those vaccines that were purchased by the government throughout the 4th quarter of 2021 and beyond".
Improving the Thai population's access to quality healthcare services and medicines has been the basis of Pfizer's plan since its establishment in the kingdom over six decades ago.
"Such goal will be achieved by continuing to launch innovative medicines in Thailand, achieving reimbursement in the public health care system and enabling more affordable drug access for patients who need them," the 25-year-tenure Pfizer veteran said.
Deborah Seifert, Pfizer country manager for Thailand and Indochina.
CORPORATE CULTURE AND CORE VALUES ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO SUCCESS
Pfizer's success today is driven by its healthy culture and four core values -- Courage, Excellence, Equity, and Joy that have prepared them and allowed them to make it happen.
Their courage to be decisive and to think big has played a critical role to their accomplishment as such a mindset is what made the company able to make the impossible possible. Their excellence in science, in collaboration and in the execution of bringing breakthroughs that change patients' lives are the hope of patients.
Joy for them is not only to have fun but also taking pride in what they are doing that brings a tremendous amount of good to humanity and changes people's lives for the best.
AGILE LEADERSHIP IN TIMES OF CRISIS
Ms Seifert recalled getting appointed to be the new country manager for Thailand and Indochina in the spring of 2020 while she was working and living in New York City. During that period, the US became a new epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic and saw cases skyrocketing in major cities from coast to coast.
Meanwhile, the outbreak of the virus situation in Southeast Asia, and particularly in Thailand was manageable.
"I couldn't foresee that we'd be in this situation when I signed up for this," Ms Seifert said. "But I feel like it's a great honour to lead an organisation that is helping to be part of the solution for the pandemic at the same time as delivering our products to patients under extraordinary conditions."
While supporting a firm during trying times is part of the responsibilities of executives, the coronavirus pandemic poses challenges like no other in recent times.
Ms Seifert said Pfizer Thailand swiftly and strategically changed its operations to prioritise the safety of employees and customers. Hence, the staff has been in a work-from-home situation for the better part of this year throughout the whole organisation.
"Our representatives in the field are used to having day-to-day personal interactions with healthcare professionals. That has reverted to a remote working situation. We've had to become much more enabled by digital technology, like everyone."
In terms of management, the country manager for Thailand and Indochina described her leadership style as "setting a vision and then allowing enough space for others to achieve their goals and collectively Pfizer's goals".
One approach that she took to holistically understand Thailand was to listen to her teams and "rely on the expertise of others and those who have worked and lived in Thailand for some time, but also to bring your external point of view".
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Pfizer has always had a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The US drugmaker was ranked as 21 on Forbes' 2021 'America's Best Employers For Diversity' list and as number 43 on Forbes' 2021 'Best Employers for Women' list.
Ms Seifert made the company's history by being the second woman to hold the country manager position for Thailand and Indochina since Pfizer Thailand was established over half a century ago.
Moreover, she serves as a lead for Pfizer's Diversity and Inclusion Council in Asia as well.
"I have to say, among my peers who are Pfizer country managers in other parts of Asia, there are several women in these roles and I'm honoured to be among them as part of Pfizer leadership," she said.
Ms Seifert advised that placing women in leadership roles would simply not be enough as they must be properly equipped and ready for those positions. Hence, cultivating leadership development and creating opportunities for more women are necessary steps.