Hi, my name is…
…Daniel. I was born in Switzerland but spent my formative years in Canada, the United States and Australia. I completed my PhD in chemistry at the University of Melbourne, after which I moved to the University of Basel for my postdoc. I always knew that I wanted to work in an industry that makes significant contributions to society, and joining Roche has not only been professionally enriching but it has also been extremely gratifying for me personally. I joined the Business Perspectives Program and have learned a great deal since then, moving from the commercial business to the world of research and development. The broad experience Roche can offer its employees has kept me continuously learning and developing.
My typical day at work is…
…diverse. I am currently the General Manager of Roche Diagnostics Norway. In this role, I am responsible for leading this organisation full of extremely talented, passionate and committed people in bringing Roche Diagnostic solutions to customers across Norway. My day-to-day activities consist of working with the management team to ensure that we not only achieve our financial goals but also support our customers to the best of our ability and achieve our internal goals of bringing our solutions to our customers.
The location I am working at is…
…Oslo, where I live about 20 minutes from the office. Both Roche Pharma and Roche Diagnostics are represented at the Roche office, where 150 employees work in an open-space, activity-based office set-up. Everyone can sit at a different desk in a different area and just plug in. There are no closed offices.
My work helps Roche to …
…make our solutions available across Norway. We are enabling our customers to manage their diagnostic testing in the most effective and efficient manner, which in turn has a direct impact on their patients. We have seen how our total lab automation solutions have revolutionised the approach to diagnostics, especially in remote locations in the country. Seeing these stories in real life fuels the passion of our entire Roche team in Norway.
Roche as an employer is…
… a fantastic employer in many different areas, in my experience. The company offers ongoing development opportunities in many different areas, cultures, and countries. It is even more rewarding if you are open to being mobile as these are the opportunities I have found to be most challenging and rewarding. Despite its large size, Roche still feels like a family-owned company. Colleagues are always open, and willing and able to help, and the “One Roche” team spirit is ever present. Roche also gives young talents opportunities, which has enriched my journey along the way. Finding people who mentor, sponsor and support is very important and this supportive environment has enabled me to grow and develop much faster than I even imagined.
What's the best advice you ever received in your career, and who did you get it from?
Do what you love and it will open doors. When contemplating your next step, do what you are passionate about rather than what you think is best for your career. Life is too short to spend a few years doing something you don’t love just to get a step ahead. When faced with the decision, always pick the job that will give you the most satisfaction and that you are most passionate about. If you do this, you will do a fantastic job and people will notice, and even more career development opportunities will open up.
What can you say about career development at Roche?
I have been very interested in seeing the world and this has opened many more opportunities. I have enjoyed the last ten years with Roche immensely as they have taken me from Switzerland to the United States, Austria, Russia, India, back to the United States and now to Norway. The journey has been great. I feel truly blessed to have had such a broad range of experience and been able to develop personally and professionally, and advance my career with the support of many people who believe in me and trust me, all in an industry where we are positively impacting lives.