Ani Sinha: Driving Commercial Transformation in the Age of AI

In this episode, host Jasmeet Sawhney engages with Anindita (Ani) Sinha, a visionary leader in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. As Vice President of Commercial Operations at Shionogi U.S., Ani brings a wealth of experience in analytics, market research, and field management. She shares her inspiring transition from academia to pharma leadership, offering actionable advice on harnessing data, driving commercial success, and navigating change with the aid of AI and technology. Her passion for building cohesive teams and aligning them to a common truth makes this a must-listen for anyone aiming to shape the future of the industry.

 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (03:15) Explains shift from academia to pharma, driven by a love for problem-solving 

• (06:00) Pioneering analytics in market access, empowering data-driven decisions 

• (11:42) External data trends in the pharma industry, emphasizing the need to ingest and analyze data

• (15:48) Discussion of commercial organizations evolving and of the utilization of AI 

• (22:17) Importance of change management and Agile methodology

• (26:18) Knowing team strengths and advising upcoming and senior leadership 

• (32:51) How to continue learning and balance both personal and professional time

• (39:22) Jasmeet asks Anindita rapid-fire questions

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Align to a Common Truth: Ani emphasizes the importance of aligning teams across commercial operations, including analytics, market research, and field operations, to a shared, data-driven truth. Doing so enhances cohesion and drives effective strategy in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

• Leverage AI as a Tool: AI and technology should be used to solve specific problems, improving efficiency and insights in commercial functions, but only after clearly defining the goal. This ensures transformation is purposeful and impactful.

• Foster Curiosity and Drive Change: Building a culture of curiosity and effective change management helps teams adopt new data methods and leadership approaches. Nurturing this mindset prepares them for the evolving pharmaceutical landscape.

 

RESOURCE LINKS:

Podcast - Leading Minds

Jasmeet Sawhney - LinkedIn

Anindita (Ani) Sinha - Vice President @ Shionogi - LinkedIn

Shionogi - Website

 

BIOGRAPHIES:

YOUR HOST: 

Jasmeet Sawhney is a life sciences industry executive, marketing leader, and serial entrepreneur with deep roots in technology and data analytics. He is currently the global head of marketing at Axtria. Jasmeet has over 20 years of experience in life sciences and has helped build and scale three successful companies. He has received several company and individual awards, including Inc. 500, Deloitte Fast 500, Crain’s NY Fast 50, NJBiz Fast 50, Business of the Year, SmartCEO Future 50, Top CMO, Forty Under 40, and many more.

 

GUEST: 

Anindita Sinha is Vice President of Commercial Operations at Shionogi U.S., bringing 15 years of high-level expertise in pharmaceuticals and biotech. She is recognized for her strategic vision and ability to identify growth opportunities, boost operational efficiency, and lead business development and brand launches. Her track record includes executive roles in both large pharma and startups, driving revenue and building strong alignment among executive teams, stakeholders, and staff. Anindita is passionate about applying analytics to inform strategy and enable data-driven decisions, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and business results.