If anyone’s considering running four events in four days and wondering if it’s a good strategy, I can tell you this: it depends on how much you like your sleep.
In my August recap, I mentioned that I was busy preparing four events on behalf of IKEM – and in September, it was time to deliver. And I did! But it took its toll.
Even if I was a bit (this month’s understatement) tired afterwards, I was also happy. The events turned out well, I learned new things, and I got lots of positive feedback (I love both!). My role in these events varied quite a bit, but can be summarised like this: I took care of the tasks that need to be done – whether it was facilitating discussion to create an open, inviting atmosphere, or making sure the coffee arrived on time.
My event-marathon started with two days wrapping up the Mistra TerraClean research programme. First, a hybrid technical dialogue on PFAS, and then the final conference in Stockholm with several keynote speakers. It was two really interesting days where I took lots of pictures for the programme reports and learned more about how smart materials can be used to clean air and water. I also picked up the need for smart regulation – and was reminded that “chemical-free” is still a surprisingly persistent myth.
Then it was time to shift focus back to the pharmaceutical industry and the ChemSkills project. First, I moderated an online European webinar. Then, a closed-door roundtable for IKEM’s member companies. The latter was a genuinely good afternoon with a great discussions, despite some serious and urgent content.
Sweden is used to pharma being a cash cow – but there are dark clouds. One key concern raised was that overseas owners increasingly choose to place new product launches in other countries. That matters, because it’s the new products that generate the greatest value.
The timing was particularly apt – the same week, several major pharmaceutical companies announced they were scaling back UK operations, partly due to NHS pricing pressures. It reinforced a key theme from our discussions: companies naturally gravitate toward markets where they can sustain the economics of developing new medicines – which are inherently expensive to bring to market.
I’m very happy that several participants followed up to say it was a valuable afternoon, and that a few IKEM colleagues found it helpful too. I’m particularly pleased that the format worked so well, as it validated the strategic approach I outlined in my 2023 project plan – a sustained series of discussions like this over the four-year programme could have generated substantial value for both IKEM and its members.
These monthly recaps also include pictures – and they show that I ended the month in France, giving a talk about how our view of history shifts depending on who writes it, using my latest book as a starting point. The event was a joint programme by Svenska kyrkan i Södra Frankrike och Monaco and Rivieraklubben. It was great meeting my readers, and I received kind praise for my previous books.
I also was gifted a bottle of their celebratory champagne, which I deemed suitable to open when I had handed in the 40-page report: Trends in the Pharmaceutical Industry Affecting Skills Needs using the information gained in two of the events.
Next month brings a new chapter, as I’ve now ended my time at IKEM. What’s next? That’s what I’ll be figuring out – after a well-deserved break catching up on some sleep.
These recaps are also published on LinkedIn and written with AI assistance. I had to shorten this one to make it fit on LinkedIn.
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