Episode 20: As a leader you need your people - because it‘s about them, not the work, with Charmaine Gittleson

Leadership Amplified by Dr Karen Morley

'As a leader you need your people - because it‘s about them, not the work.' Just some of the wise words from Dr Charmaine Gittleson. Charmaine is a non-executive director in the biotechnology sector. She is a member of the boards of Antisense Therapeutics; George Health and Bayon Therapeutics and she also consults in Clinical Development strategies. Charmaine has extensive global experience as a pharmaceutical physician and enterprise leader; her final corporate role was as Chief Medical Officer for CSL Behring. As Charmaine reflected back on her early leadership influences, she noted that what was most formative for her was what spoke to her values. Her two key values are respect for others and care for one another. Initially she let go of a lot of her creative, intuitive self, but refound it in her strategic work. She reflects on her recent career move onto boards and has some good advice for others, particularly women, wanting to make that transition: identify your transferable skills (you have them!), put your hand up, develop your financial acuity, and develop your ‘how would the CEO think about the organisation’ mindset.