Situational Background

Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca’s long-serving CEO, is a science-led, steady communicator who pairs ambition with evidence. He champions rigorous standards, patient focus, and transparent trade-offs, keeping teams aligned on what truly helps people. Distinctive for seriousness of purpose without theatre, he shows how clarity, humility, and earned confidence scale across complex work. (Wikipedia)

Practical Leadership Principles

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1) Evidence before ego.

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Let data and patient impact guide pace and claims.

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Behaviours to model:

• Pre-declare success and stop rules.
• Share methods, not just results.
• Change course publicly when facts change.

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2) Steady ambition.

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Think long-term, deliver in increments.

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Behaviours to model:

• Set decade aims; mark quarterly proofs.
• Protect one long-horizon investment each cycle.
• Celebrate measured progress.

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3) Respectful candour.

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Speak plainly; invite challenge.

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Behaviours to model:

• Start reviews with risks and mitigations.
• Ask a sceptic to critique the plan.
• Thank those who surface issues early.

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Call to action

Write a one-page decision note with success metrics, risks, and a stop rule—then share it for critique before proceeding.