Marianne De Backer, one of the most influential Belgians in pharma land, is Ghent University’s alumnus of the year 2024. Starting from a solid scientific base as an engineer and PhD in Biotechnology, she has built an exceptional career in pharma, not limited by boundaries or a glass ceiling. Her involvement in the alumni chapter U.S. West also illustrates her attachment to and loyalty to our university.
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If someone tells you that you are too ambitious, you are good to go.
Marianne De Backer, top CEO and Ghent University alumnus of the year 2024
About Marianne De Backer
Marianne De Backer studied and obtained her PhD at Ghent University (Biotechnology) and she built an impressive international career in the pharmaceutical sector – 28 years at Janssen Pharmaceutica/Johnson & Johnson, 3 years at Bayer and now as CEO of Vir Biotechnology (Silicon Valley, US), a biotech company developing immunity-boosting drugs.
She also closed more than 200 deals worth billions of dollars, making a lot of drugs accessible to the general public. Marianne believes in the interaction between universities and companies as a trigger of progress.
From her position, she also encourages female talent: ‘I am in a position where I can make a difference. I encourage female talent to develop and seize opportunities. I myself had great mentors – both men and women – who on the one hand set the bar high, but at the same time gave me every opportunity. (…) Today, there is already improved gender equality at all levels of the organisation. The more diverse the thinking in your team, the stronger you are as a company. That requires an unbiased view of talent.’
Even though Marianne lives and works in the US, she keeps in touch with former fellow students: ‘They have spread all over the world. It is my network for life. Besides these informal contacts, I am a founding member of Ghent University’s Alumni Chapter West Coast. Through this formal structure, you stay connected to the university, and vice versa.’
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