Leading Cross-Functional Pharma Teams with Ian Wilcox and Megan Marshall
A Podcast About Leadership · 2025-10-01 · 50 min
Episode notes
In pharma, the barrier to progress isn’t usually the science—it’s how well leaders align brilliant, functionally deep experts to move an asset forward together. In this candid conversation, AIIR Consulting CEO Jonathan Kirschner sits down with Ian Wilcox (AIIR Advisory Board member; former Global Head of Life Sciences at HayGroup; executive advisor and investor) and Megan Marshall (Managing Partner, AIIR Consulting) to unpack what it really takes to lead in matrixed cross-functional teams—from early research through clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, medical affairs, and commercial. Drawing on decades in the industry, Jonathan, Megan, and Ian explore why influence (not authority) is the #1 leadership skill in life sciences, why self-awareness is its essential counterpart, and how leaders make the identity shift from subject-matter expert to enterprise leader. Key takeaways: Influence beats authority. In life sciences, the #1 leadership skill is influencing across disciplines; self-awareness is the essential counterpart that makes influence land. From SME to enterprise leader.