With that in mind, Martin says he tries to ensure those who come to BDH are the type to thrive in such an environment. "To fit in here, I like to say that you have to be a missionary and not a mercenary, you need to understand that it's not just about individual expertise or ego; it's about how the collective succeeds. We look to hire extremely smart people, but at the same time, they have to be people who can put their egos aside, start from the first principles, be part of a team, building on each other's knowledge and expertise to create something new. As leader of the team, it is a continuous priority to foster a high energy, positive, working atmosphere and having fun together."
When they do, Martin notes, "anything is possible," and in the short time he's led the division he's already seen a string of successes that bode well for the future. "We have so many groundbreaking projects going on, such a broad portfolio of initiatives, and the amazing thing is how we're making progress and accelerating our momentum collectively."
The work has been challenging, he admits, but he knew that it would be when he took the job. "My personality is not one that stops at challenges; the harder it gets, the more motivated I am to make it happen. So, I really believe, as the saying goes, that the obstacles you face become the way. Digital transformation in the life sciences isn't easy, yet it has potential to have a meaningful impact on healthcare and that's really the reason why I'm here."
"If we're going to break through and do things in digital health that have never been done before, there is no better place than Biogen to make it happen."