Beatriz Perez Sanz, Head of Field Medical, has been able to grow her career in the U.S. driven by a passion for science, patient care, and a love for new challenges.

I grew up in Spain, from a very scientific family, so I’ve always been passionate about science and taking care of people. I’m a hematologist by training, and worked in the medical system in Spain, but it’s hard to develop professionally in that system and there’s a lot of burnout, so I couldn’t see doing that job for the rest of my life. When I met the man who became my husband, he suggested I might try the pharmaceutical industry, which seemed like a risk, but I’m a curious person and I love doing different things.

I became a medical scientific liaison (MSL), which is about building strong relationships and educating physicians, having meaningful conversations about the science behind our medications. It was also an opportunity to develop a business mindset along with a scientific approach. I felt I could reach out to more people than in a clinical practice, and impact hundreds to even millions of patients around the world. 

My first job as an MSL was with another company that was very competitive and sales-oriented. It wasn’t about the science, more about the revenue. Then I heard about Roche, Genentech’s parent company, which a friend thought might be more fulfilling for me. When I interviewed, it seemed to live up to its motto, “doing now what patients need next.” I made a lateral move—it wasn’t about growing professionally or getting a bigger salary, it was about working for a place with values that aligned with mine. Because all of us have a purpose in life, and for me it’s doing what’s best for the patients.

When the opportunity came up at Genentech to be the head of field medical, leading the Medical field team and fostering relationships. I was once again up for the challenge.  While I was once focused on hematology and oncology, now I’m expanding my perspective to many other areas, such as ophthalmology and neuroscience, and it’s amazing to see how we can broaden our impact on patients’ lives.

It was daunting to move to Genentech, because I’m an immigrant, and I don’t speak the language perfectly, but I always have an “I can do” approach. I’m very grateful that I felt welcomed and supported from the very beginning, which is something I hope to give back. One of the things I’ve done along my journey is encourage women to advocate for themselves and gain confidence that we can do what we’re passionate about doing. Women need to support other women so that we aren’t questioning ourselves about what we are capable of doing. I’m also part of VIDA, Genentech’s Hispanic community. Being part of this employee resource group has enabled me to engage with other Spanish-speaking employees, though as a European, my background and my challenges have been very different from many who have emigrated from Latin America. But we can all support each other in different ways as allies.

Another challenge I faced moving to Genentech was that my husband’s company is in Spain and Genentech is based in South San Francisco. As a couple, we needed to figure out how we could both grow and develop in our professional lives without sacrificing our personal lives. When I told Genentech I couldn’t live in San Francisco because it wouldn’t allow us to have balance in our lives, I thought they’d say, “Sorry, you need to be at home base, that’s where the job is.” Instead, they helped come up with a middle ground, where once a month I go to San Francisco but the rest of the time I’m in Miami, where my husband can also easily travel for his work. Genentech was open and supportive about making the situation work for us.

That’s something that anchors me to this company: its sense of fairness. We trust the people we work with, and we invest in them. We work tirelessly to create a culture that enables employees to thrive as their authentic selves. That’s one of the reasons I can imagine myself being at Genentech forever, because I love the culture, where people trust each other, work together, back each other up and give others opportunities to develop. People also have a passion for doing what’s best for the patients, even if it’s not always the best for business. That’s one of the most important values you can have in a company—thinking about others before you. I’m also in an environment where there are plenty of challenges to come, which excites me. I love a challenge.