Meet Sanjay, EVP of Safety & Logistics and Country Head of Parexel India leading With Heart™, head and gut instinct

"It’s the amazing people at Parexel that allow you to get across the hurdles whatever level it might be, with a very strong, smiling, and positive attitude. They are all about 'making it happen.'"

Explore the dynamic leadership of Sanjay Vyas, EVP - Safety & Logistics and Country Head of India. Join him as he highlights the rich diversity of India and shares the inner workings of Parexel's largest country. Experience the dedication and expertise of his team firsthand. Discover how Sanjay's leadership style, characterized by passion, collaboration, and ethical practices, inspires those around him. 

• Please introduce yourself, and why you chose Parexel?

Hi, I am Sanjay Vyas and I am managing a dual role as an Executive Vice President - Safety & Logistics and Country Head of India.

I joined Parexel in January 2016, as it was a great opportunity for me to manage global Profit & Loss or Global Clinical & Supplies (P&L). Also, I lead and manage the upstream of the Drug Development process and leverage my experience that I had learned in the downstream of the Life sciences supply chain. Another reason was the people I met, their knowledge, passion, and dedication impressed me greatly.

• What would you like people to know about your job or department?

Many don’t realize the beautiful diversity that exists in India. It has 22 different languages, 5200 dialects, and 28 states – it’s almost like 28 different countries in one. An interesting fact is, that India is the largest country in the Parexel world, with 5400+ people, which represents 25% of Parexel’s global population. Parexel India's headcount is larger than the UK, Japan, China, and Germany's headcount combined.

• How would you describe what it’s like to work at Parexel?

Working at Parexel is not for the faint-hearted and I say this in an optimistic manner. This is an organization that consistently challenges your status quo and the amount of knowledge available to grasp is also unbelievable. If you are someone who wants to consistently listen, learn, and lead, then Parexel is the place to be.

• How would you describe what it’s like working with your colleagues?

Just one word … It's 'awesome', and the reason I say that is because we have such amazing intellectuals amongst us who are always eager to help you learn and cross over challenges. It’s all about 'owning the problem and owning the solution' which leads to a very strong collaborative and cohesive working environment while interacting with my colleagues.

• How would you describe your leadership style?

In terms of leadership style, I find it fascinating how the two roles I manage differ yet share some commonalities. I believe that passion and enthusiasm are vital elements of my leadership approach. Additionally, I strive to be a team player and foster a highly collaborative environment. I believe in exhibiting positive leadership skills that involve a balanced decision-making process, incorporating both logical analysis (using your head), emotional intelligence (using your heart), and intuition (using your gut instinct). Upholding a strong commitment to ethics and compliance is equally important, as it demonstrates our company's integrity and reliability.

• What does Parexel’s mission mean to you?

I have never felt more connected to Parexel’s mission than now with our patient-centric approach and keeping the patient at the heart of every decision we make. It really makes me proud to work for an organization where the mission speaks of what we live and breathe as a part of our daily life. It truly reflects the essence of the work we do, by contributing to making a difference to patients' lives with quality at the top of our minds.

Additionally, there is a positive culture of change that truly represents the culture of respect with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion, which is felt in your daily interaction with our peers and leaders. And lastly, the “ownership” culture is truly represented with the empowerment and accountability being reflected across all levels.

• One of Parexel’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP) attributes is offering our employees the ability to embrace flexibility or balance work with your personal life. How have you experienced this at Parexel?

Even though not always possible, yes, I have experienced a decent work-life balance especially knowing the fact that I can plan my time and work schedule based on my productive output and not just with the amount of time I spent working. With the flexibility of traveling and working from home has allowed me to spend some good quality time with my girls.

• What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

I love adventure sports and am an outdoor person, plus I am a big movie buff. When I am not at work, I love to spend my time outdoors with my two girls and my better half, engaging myself in watching movies and doing sports like sky diving, jet-skiing, biking, etc. My family are big foodies and we love to explore different cuisines on our weekends.

©Photos by Sanjay Vyas

Do you want to work with Sanjay and his colleagues? Take a look for suitable opportunities at the "Features Jobs" lists for roles within the Clinical Trial Supplies & Logistics team or roles in India. 

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