Organizational Leadership in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals
BCMB 7160
3 hours
Organizational Leadership in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals
Course Description
This course examines the unique leadership opportunities and challenges that arise in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Students will integrate industry-specific leadership theories, regulatory and geopolitical landscapes, innovation management, and strategic organizational practices, preparing them for leadership roles in these dynamic and complex sectors.
Athena Title
Organizational Leadership
Prerequisite
Admission to UGA Graduate School
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will develop a deep understanding of the classic and contemporary leadership theories in the context of pharma/biotech organizations.
Students will identify and develop skills needed to lead cross-functional, multicultural teams, and global teams, across both internal organization and with outside partners.
Students will explain the regulatory, ethical, geopolitical and compliance challenges that inform and drive the decision-making processes.
Students will examine innovation and product differentiation strategies in highly competitive and regulated environments to address significant unmet clinical needs.
Students will develop strategic thinking for sustainable growth and competitive advantage, balancing scientific risk, capital requirements and commercial potential.
Students will understand the capital intensity of therapeutics discovery and development and communicate the scientific “reason to believe” to the financial community.
Students will assess individual leadership competencies, including but limited to meeting management, decision-making and conflict resolution, to create a professional leadership growth plan to meet the industry workforce’s needs.
Topical Outline
1 Pharma & Biotech Workforce and its Evolving Leadership Needs Balancing Cultural Diversity in Achieving Corporate Goals
2 Leadership Theories: Application in Regulated Industries
3 Organizational Structure: R&D, Manufacturing, and Commercial Operations
4 Regulatory Environment: Compliance, Risk, Global Standards, and ethical challenges
5 Leading Innovation: Product Development, Digitalization, and AI
6 Strategic Leadership
7 Developing, Retaining, and Leading High-Performing Teams leadership
8 Inclusive Leadership in Pharma/Biotech
9 Leading Change and Organizational Transformation
10 Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Pharma/Biotech
11 Stakeholder Engagement and Relationships Building: Investors, Regulators, Patients, and Partners
12 Crisis Leadership: Regulatory Actions, Supply Chain Disruptions, Recalls, and Public Health Emergencies
