Published on 26/04/2021

Doing your job in a great way is one possibility to carve out a career. But for an increasing number of people this seems too little. They want to change the status quo, disrupt conventional ways to do business and make the world a better place. While this may sound lofty and somewhat cheesy, it is exactly what many colleagues at Novartis are seeking to achieve, especially when it comes to improving the company’s environmental footprint.

Among the associates who for years have been aiming for a big impact is Markus Lehni, a long-time veteran of Novartis who has managed four large reforestation projects, helping plant some 15 million trees. The same inspiration is driving Caroline Keller, who together with her Basel colleagues built the Green Team, which now serves as a change platform to improve the carbon footprint of Novartis, among other things.

And our colleagues in R&D, too, are no less ambitious. The teams around Alexander Marziale and Christophe Freslon are trying to reimagine drug discovery, using fewer raw materials and toxic solutions to develop new therapies by shrinking the complex and instrument-heavy R&D process.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Spector and Gu Feng are setting their sights on the future, thinking about which diseases could emerge once climate change accelerates and makes life on earth more difficult for millions of people.

“Striving for a digital lab in which software solutions accelerate finding is just one way I am trying to help Novartis to reduce waste and resources and make a positive environmental impact. Everyone can make a difference and I believe small changes can really add up, especially when those small changes multiply over a large organization.”

“We as a company are committed to positively impact the life of patients. Being able to do this in a more sustainable fashion by using state-of-the-art technology in drug discovery, allowing us to use precious resources responsibly, is a privilege but also a motivation to question and adjust my own way of living.”

“Malaria prevalence is mainly driven by the climate and this deadly disease particularly affects children under five years of age in endemic areas. We are looking into innovative approaches including artificial intelligence to curb the impact of this horrific disease.”

“Climate change is expanding the range of vectors of tropical disease and aggravating public health around the globe. I am proud to contribute toward the development of the therapeutics that help to mitigate the hardship for affected communities everywhere.”

“I love hiking in nature, admiring wildlife and plants. It is also where I recharge my batteries, so it is natural for me to protect what I love! I also wish that the next generations can enjoy the beauty of nature.”

“My young daughter loves science. Her delight in the wonders of the natural world over the next half century will hang on the state of our planet, and all signs suggest that climate will be a major influencer. I hope we can all pull together to address it.”

“Guiding Novartis to be a leader in environmental sustainability has always been my ambition since I became engaged with Novartis 15 years ago, first as Global Head Environment and Energy and now as Environmental Sustainability Coach and Advisor. What I expected from the company as a professional, I equally keep doing as an individual.”