1. Real Chemistry has recently expanded into Zurich under your leadership. What strategic opportunities do you see in the Zurich–Munich corridor for healthcare innovation and collaboration?
Real Chemistry’s expansion into Zurich is part of our broader objective to help clients by scaling internationally while maintaining a local mindset. We are bringing our connected capabilities to one of Europe’s most influential hotspots, sitting at the intersection of science, innovation and investment. This convergence is ideal for collaboration and enables us to help even more healthcare innovators translate complex science into real-world impact.
2. Munich and Zurich are both emerging as important hubs for life sciences and health technology. What makes these ecosystems uniquely positioned to shape the future of healthcare in Europe?
These hubs are primed for bringing to life bold scientific ideas, thanks in part to its unique infrastructure of investment and local talent. Combine this with their connectivity across Europe, and we have an ecosystem that gives us the scale and agility to help shape the future of healthcare innovation through cross-border collaboration.
3. Your recent meet-ups have focused on AI, robotics, and generative systems. Which of these technologies do you believe will have the biggest practical impact on healthcare organisations over the next three to five years?
AI, robotics and generative systems are converging, so the greatest impact comes from working together, not in isolation. That said, AI is in its mass adoption phase, so it will likely lead in the short-term due to its ability to unlock insights and drive relevant engagement at scale. But the real opportunity will be in using AI responsibly to connect science, people and outcomes.
4. As healthcare becomes increasingly data-driven, how can organisations balance innovation with trust, transparency, and patient-centricity?
In healthcare, innovation only works if it is trusted, so transparency, privacy and patient benefit must be integral to the process from day one. The organisations that will come out on top are the ones that successfully pair innovation with accountability – and communicate it clearly.
5. The role of communications in healthcare is evolving rapidly. How is Real Chemistry adapting to support pharmaceutical, biotech, and medtech companies in this changing environment?
Communications in healthcare is no longer a nice-to-have – it’s a critical growth driver. We are bringing together data, creativity and scientific expertise to help clients engage the right audiences, in the right way and at the right time. That means more integrated, personalised, and measurable communications across the entire healthcare life cycle.
6. AI-powered tools and agentic workflows are transforming the way teams operate. How do you see these technologies reshaping healthcare marketing, medical affairs, and stakeholder engagement?
AI can help us create even more relevant, meaningful engagement. In marketing and medical affairs, that means better insights and smarter content. But while it can help teams move faster, the real value isn’t always speed – it's in freeing up people to refocus their energy on strategy, science and human connection.
7. What are some of the biggest challenges healthcare organisations face when trying to adopt digital transformation initiatives at scale?
The real challenge is usually an internal communications one. Teams are too often encouraged to embrace technology through top-down directives to “use AI”, “build things”, or start “vibe coding” without the vital context of what we’re trying to achieve or AI's true potential. The key to success is in helping people understand the impact and meaning behind the change, rather than treating it as a purely technology adoption issue.
8. Patient expectations are changing rapidly. How can healthcare companies move beyond transactional engagement to build more meaningful and lasting relationships with patients?
When it comes to engagement, patients have long expected the same experience in healthcare that they have in other areas of their lives. AI is accelerating this expectation even further by providing instant answers. We are in an instant attention economy. Even as people watch TV on one screen, they are ‘double-screening’ by also looking at their phones, which do a multitude of things. Which means the noise that we now have to cut through to meet patient expectations is only growing. To be honest, I think patients expect companies to give them what AI gives them – answers, solutions, quickly. But we have to be more trusted and credible. With patients, for me, it’s always rooted in need and behaviour: What do they need to know? How can we reach them in a way that aligns with how they already behave? This is how you build trust – by continuously meeting people where they are.
9. Collaboration across industry, technology, and care providers is a major theme of this event. What does a truly connected healthcare ecosystem look like to you?
A truly connected healthcare ecosystem is one where patients experience a seamless journey across providers, systems, and services. Data, technology, and people work together to close gaps in care, ensuring the right support reaches the right patient at the right time.
10. Europe’s healthcare landscape is evolving through regulatory shifts, market access changes, and digital acceleration. How should organisations prepare for this next phase of transformation?
Even with AI this next phase is anything but simple, so organisations should plan for more complexity, not less. Yes, that means investing in digital capabilities, staying close to regulatory/market access changes and adjusting strategies accordingly. But most importantly, we need to involve the right people who can help unpick complexity and turn it into clarity.
11. From your experience working across international markets, what lessons can European healthcare leaders learn from innovation happening globally?
Innovation travels, but it lands differently in each market. Although global speed and ambition are continuing to grow in importance, the best leaders will be those who ground themselves in local systems and patient behaviours to inform innovation.
12. As Real Chemistry continues expanding its presence in Europe, what trends are you most closely watching in the life sciences and healthcare communications space?
Of course, the convergence of AI, data and communications is something we’re all watching closely, and I’m also tracking changing expectations among patients and healthcare professionals. There are also policy and regulatory concerns around AI that will potentially impact how people can and should use AI to gather information and create things – and navigating that is where it will really get interesting for us as an industry.
13. Many organisations are experimenting with generative AI, but few have scaled it successfully. What separates successful adopters from those still struggling to realise value?
Successful adopters focus on output (in our case, improved patient outcomes), not just the technology itself. So rather than providing the tools and leaving the outcomes to chance, they invest in governance, training and change management to embed AI into workflows. But most organisations are still thinking too small – the real transformation will come from pushing past the fear and asking ‘what if?
14. Finally, what excites you most about bringing healthcare leaders together through initiatives like the Zurich and Munich meet-ups, and what conversations do you hope attendees leave thinking about?
What excites me most is bringing together people from across healthcare who wouldn't normally be in the same room. Those conversations and real-life moments often spark the most interesting ideas, partnerships and perspectives. Our collective expertise and also collective passion for what we do can be used more boldly and responsibly to improve healthcare.
