“Most companies claim to be patient-centric. The real question is—do they actually walk the talk? It has to drive how we decide, where we invest, and what we prioritize… not just appear in a slide deck.”
In this episode, I talked with Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch, Head of Oncology Europe and Canada at Daiichi Sankyo Europe, about what it really means to lead with empathy, perseverance, and purpose in today’s biopharma world. Markus shared how losing his father to cancer at 21 shaped his commitment to oncology — and why that experience still guides his decisions decades later.
After ten years in the hospital system, he faced a turning point: realizing that to help more patients, he’d have to step outside the clinic. That leap led him into industry at a time when ADCs were still an emerging idea — and he’s since built a career around transforming long-term scientific perseverance into patient impact.
Markus opened up about layoffs and restructuring, learning to lead through influence rather than authority, and why “patient-centricity” has to be more than a corporate phrase. He also shared how Daiichi Sankyo invests in nurses, why he values authenticity above experience in hiring, and how he handles tough conversations — including a live role-play on what to do when an employee asks for a promotion that isn’t possible.
(Find out more in the episode.)
Here’s What You’re In For
- Why Markus left clinical practice after 10 years — and the personal story behind it
- The biggest challenge moving from hospital to pharma
- How to lead through influence, not authority
- The hardest moment of his career — communicating layoffs with empathy
- Why honesty and transparency matter more than strategy in a crisis
- What patient-centricity really looks like inside Daiichi Sankyo
- How perseverance and ikigai fuel innovation
- The one interview question that reveals true character
- Why job swaps can be better than titles
- How to stay grounded while leading through change
Timestamps
03:00 – From hospital to industry — how his first pharma role came about
07:15 – Leading through influence instead of authority
08:10 – Guiding teams through restructuring
09:45 – How empathy and transparency define good leadership
12:10 – Patient-centric culture at Daiichi Sankyo
17:45 – Japanese lessons in ikigai
20:40 – Hiring authenticity
25:00 – Role-play: handling promotion requests and career plateaus
About Markus
Prof. Dr. med. Markus Kosch is Head of Oncology Europe & Canada at Daiichi Sankyo, with extensive leadership experience in oncology and global pharma. Before joining Daiichi Sankyo, he spent 16.5 years at Wyeth and Pfizer in senior roles. Trained as a physician, Markus worked for a decade treating cancer patients before moving into the pharmaceutical industry.
His early personal experience with cancer — losing his father at age 21 — shaped his commitment to patient-centric innovation. Known for connecting scientific excellence with responsibility and perseverance, he focuses on advancing breakthrough oncology therapies, particularly Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs). He is passionate about leadership, collaboration, and embedding patient needs at the center of every decision.
Connect with Markus
About Daiichi Sankyo Europe
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with European operations based in Munich, Germany. Focuses on oncology, cardiovascular, and rare diseases, with oncology as the strategic growth driver. Renowned for its proprietary ADC technology and late-stage oncology pipeline.
Collaborates with AstraZeneca on multiple ADCs including Enhertu and datopotamab deruxtecan. European business focuses on launching and expanding access to these therapies across the EU and Canada.
- Daiichi Sankyo Europe: https://www.daiichi-sankyo.eu/
- Pipeline: https://www.daiichisankyo.com/rd/pipeline/
About me
My name is Charles Spence and I lead Discera. After many years working in the life-science recruitment world, I decided to work for myself. Before doing recruitment, I graduated with a biomedical degree, have worked in hospitals (including translation work in Seoul, South Korea), and also spent a year working in diabetes research in Stockholm. After doing research and travel, a career in business and science felt the most appropriate.
In 2023, I decided to launch my firm - Discera Search. A firm committed to solving the biggest talent needs of early clinical stage SME biotechs on the East Coast and DACH.
Connect with me:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-spence-clinical/
- Website: https://www.discera-search.com/
Opinions and comments expressed by the guest do not represent the company and are fully their own.
