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Women in Leadership Profiles
Name: Clare Hague
Role: Senior Director, Head of Market Access for Haematology in Europe, Middle East & Africa.
Company: Janssen
A bit about you
I love traveling to different countries and experiencing diverse cultures, climates, landscapes, food and drink. My studies and job have allowed me to spend time in Spain, Switzerland, the US and the UK which has been great. I have two teenage children that have also experienced being brought up in different countries, which has really helped them develop confidence and resilience, as well as allowing them to try out new things – skiing, SUP boarding, swimming in open water, fondue! as well as becoming fluent in French and German.
What is it like working in your company?
Janssen is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Beerse, Belgium and owned by Johnson & Johnson. It has a very friendly, collaborative culture, where different people in different roles and countries work together in small teams, to bring innovative new treatments to patients. It is also a high-performing company, where you need to focus and think strategically. It is company that cares about people – the patients it serves, the communities it works in and its employees.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? I find both business studies and economics interesting, and health care too – and health economics combines the two. There is also a shortage of health economists in the world. Pursuing a career in this area has opened up opportunities for me to work in well-paid positions within the UK and oversees and in different sectors (the National Health Service, Universities, Consulting and Pharmaceutical Industry).
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? To be a health economist, I needed a post-graduate masters degree in economics or relevant health science discipline, where a PhD was desirable (not essential). My current position requires at least 15 years of relevant experience. I studied International Business & Spanish at Sheffield Hallam University and did a PhD in Health Economics at the University of Sheffield. I had worked in the NHS, in academia, in health care consulting and other pharmaceutical companies before joining Janssen in my present role 3 years ago.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? I enjoy the strong sense of purpose (of getting innovative medicines to patients who have life-threatening blood cancers) and working as part of a close-knit international team.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? When I was started out in my career, I did encounter sexism and ageism in the workplace. It was sometimes difficult to be taken seriously as a young female. I am really pleased to say however that much has changed in this respect since that time. It’s important to be happy at work to thrive, and so choose your career and organizations carefully – ones that align with your core values i.e. what matters to you matters to your profession/organization too.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? Research has shown that companies with strong female representation in leadership positions perform better than those without. We need to be the change we want to see in the world, and have the confidence to step forward for senior positions.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? Investing in a university education is really important for this type of career and gaining skills and knowledge that are in short supply will ensure you are never out of work. It’s also important to pursue a career that you think you will enjoy and find interesting, where you wake up every day and feel excited by the day ahead!
