Fueling Innovation: 5 Essential Traits You Need to Lead at Teva R&D

5 Essential Traits You Need to Lead & Innovate at Teva R&D

What drives innovation in healthcare R&D? From innovating in the fields of neuroscience and immunology to providing complex generic medicines, biosimilars and pharmacy brands worldwide, our R&D organization is dedicated to bringing high-value treatments to patients worldwide.

As one of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies, we operate across 21 sites worldwide, leveraging advanced capabilities in antibody and device engineering while advancing formulation science in both innovative and generic medicines.

Guided by our Pivot to Growth strategy, Teva’s scientists and leaders focus on developing solutions that push innovation boundaries to improve patient outcomes. But what does it take to thrive in such a dynamic environment? We asked our experts and uncovered five essential traits that drive innovation and impact.

1. The purpose to drive meaningful change 

Purpose is the driving force behind meaningful innovation. It aligns individual efforts with a greater mission and sets the tone for creating breakthroughs that truly matter.

At Teva, everything we do is backed by our purpose: We are all in for better health. Our R&D teams bring this purpose to life every day, as they innovate to make a difference in the lives of the patients we serve. This sense of purpose is what fuels groundbreaking research and new treatments that make a real difference. 

“In drug development, you always have the patient in mind,” says Dr. Samhita Chakraborty, Head of Oncology Global Clinical Development. After experiencing personal loss, a profound sense of purpose was instilled in her, fueling her dedication to impactful research. “As a scientist, when you're trying to solve a problem, you're actually thinking about how to find a cure: how to fix a real problem that's out there in the world. Like me, other scientists are looking to see how they're making an impact with what they're doing. That's a huge piece of what leads somebody to be in R&D at Teva.”

Samhita Chakraborty, 
Head of Oncology Global Clinical Development

“In drug development, you always have the patient in mind. You're actually thinking about how to find a cure – how to fix a real problem that's out there in the world.”

2. The passion to keep pushing forward

At Teva, passion is more than a spark – it's what drives our teams to explore bold ideas and pursue breakthroughs. It translates into the curiosity to ask big questions, the motivation to find answers, and the excitement of contributing to something greater than ourselves. 

“The culture at Teva is amazing and you see a certain passion in the people that I find very inspiring and motivating. This keeps me coming to work every day,” shares Navdeep Boparai, Head of Global Statistics, Data Science, and Medical Writing. “I believe you need to be excited and have a can-do attitude about the work, and the ability to stay motivated about our shared purpose at Teva.” 

Navdeep Boparai, 
Head of Global Statistics, Data Science, and Medical Writing

“The culture at Teva is amazing and you see a certain passion in the people that I find very inspiring and motivating. This keeps me coming to work every day.”

3. The resilience to turn setbacks into progress

In R&D, setbacks are not just inevitable, they are essential. A promising idea can take years of rigorous work and still not make it through clinical trials. 

“Scientific discovery is filled with unknowns, but within every failure lies the seed of insight for the next attempt,” says Dr. Eran Harary, Global Head of Early Clinical Development. “What defines our teams at Teva is their resilience their ability to persevere when outcomes are uncertain. We don’t view setbacks as discouragements, but as opportunities to learn, refine, and grow. This mindset, of staying the course, learning quickly, and adapting with agility, is what drives innovation and leads to breakthroughs."

Dr. Eran Harary,
Global Head of Early Clinical Development

“This mindset, of staying the course, learning quickly, and adapting with agility, is what drives innovation and leads to breakthroughs.”

4. The ability to collaborate to make an impact

Collaboration multiplies innovation. At Teva, working across teams and disciplines is part of the culture. Scientists, engineers, and specialists bring different perspectives that help drive discoveries forward. 

Navdeep Boparai explains: "One of my favorite aspects of the job is coming into work and interacting with other stakeholders, learning about their viewpoints. Whether we’re discussing a study design or a clinical study report, there’s so much give and take – clinicians, statisticians, medical writers, regulatory experts, and data management teams all come together at the table. We have discussions, sometimes even arguments, but in the end, we create a product that we all stand by." 

This deep collaboration ensures that innovative ideas are refined from multiple perspectives and strengthened through collective expertise.

5. The humility to lead by listening

One of the most valued traits at Teva R&D is humility. ​Incorporating humility and active listening into leadership significantly enhances organizational performance. A Forbes survey of over 1,500 business professionals revealed that employees who feel heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work. Additionally, research indicates that humble leaders improve team performance and effectiveness. These findings underscore the importance of these traits in driving innovation and achieving superior outcomes.

“One of the things that stands out about the leaders in R&D at Teva is that despite being brilliant and inspiring, they are very down to earth and humble,” says Ranju Thomas, Head of Talent Acquisition & Mobility, India. “Their humility creates space for open dialogue, fosters trust, and brings teams together to focus on collective success.”

Ranju Thomas,
Head of Talent Acquisition & Mobility, India

”Despite being brilliant and inspiring, Teva’s R&D leaders are very down to earth and humble.”

Are you ready to be a trailblazer in healthcare? 

At Teva, our five essential traits – purpose, passion, resilience, collaboration, and humility – are more than just words. They’re the dynamic forces that drive our teams to solve real-world challenges, innovate, and redefine what’s possible. When these traits come together, they create a vibrant culture where breakthroughs aren’t just imagined, they’re achieved.  

If these qualities resonate with you, it might be your moment to join us in pushing the boundaries of healthcare.

NPS-ALL-NP-01606 - JULY 2025


Find out more:

  • The future of medicine is now: 8 ways Teva is accelerating healthcare innovation through AI, advanced devices, and global collaboration.
  • "I have learned more from ‘successful failures’ than clear-cut wins" – Navdeep Boparai, Head of Global Statistics, Data Science and Medical Writing (GSD), on leading a key department and using her experience to create real impact.
  • "Real progress comes not from extraordinary moments but from the everyday" – Placid Jover, Teva’s Chief Human Resources Officer, shares his insights since joining Teva.

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