Career Supplement | The View From The Top

More than one path can lead to a job as head of R&D at a pharmaceutical company. Some scientists arrive from academia or medicine, while others work their way up from within the industry. Yet only a handful of men and women will make it to the top. What does it take to get there, and what's it like once you do?

The Scientist interviewed four pharma R&D chiefs to find out. The consensus: Top-down, centralized management is on its way out, and solid scientific credentials and business savvy are key to success in R&D leadership – along with a willingness to work very, very hard. And it's just as important to know when to call it quits as it is to push ahead.

John LaMattina (JL): There are fundamental skill sets that one can find in texts – good oral and written communication skills, being visionary, etc. However, a ...