As the sector compresses, strong leaders step forward
Healthcare and life sciences are in a cycle of compression and pivot. Uncertainty is high, but this moment offers leaders a crucial opportunity for extraordinary leaders to be strategic, stay visible, and take control of their next move.
A few months ago, a senior leader in biotech said something in a meeting that summed up many of us are feeling right now.
“The whole industry is holding its breath. Funding’s tight, teams are leaner, and yet… it feels like something new is about to break through.”
That feeling of tension, uncertainty, and possibility perfectly captures where much of healthcare and life sciences sits today.
After years of extraordinary growth, many organisations are now in a phase of compression. External pressures like geopolitical instability and regulatory shifts have forced teams to pause, reassess, and refocus.
For individuals managing their leadership career, this is a key time to remain strategic, measured, and in control.
A feeling of unease
Every year, there’s redundancies in the industry. It’s a normal part of the ebbs and flows of business and evolving needs. However, it feels like there are more restructures and redundancies right now than usual – and that’s not just a feeling. According to analysis from FierceBiotech, for example, biopharma layoffs rose 3% last year compared to 2023, and the numbers for 2025 look to be significant too.[1]
The world can feel understandably overwhelming and scary when the headlines focus on redundancies and restructuring.
Yet there’s a different way to look at this. We may be in a phase of compression, but we’re not at the end of the road. According to a Deloitte survey of 150 C-suite executives from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, biosimilar, and medical device manufacturing companies across the world, 75% are still optimistic.[2]
Because what comes next after compression is the pivot; the reorientation towards relevance, efficiency, and future readiness. And following that, inevitably, is growth.
Right now, most of the sector is balancing between those first two stages: compressing to stay resilient, pivoting to stay competitive.
Yet if you zoom out, it’s possible to see this as a necessary cycle of renewal. Compressing to focus, pivoting to innovate, and preparing for the next wave of growth that will redefine the future of care, science, and discovery.
For leaders, the key is mindset. Control what you can. Choose confidence over fear. Because this moment, while undoubtedly challenging, is the squeeze before the spring.
[1] https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/fierce-biotech-layoff-tracker-2025
[2] https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/life-sciences-and-health-care-industry-outlooks/2025-life-sciences-executive-outlook.html
How to stay in control
In the midst of this shift, it’s essential to remain in control of your career. There are plenty of ways to do this, but mostly it comes back to the basics.
- Build and nurture both mentors and sponsors. Mentors guide you, share perspective, and help you develop skills, while sponsors actively advocate for you, open doors, and create opportunities.
- Maintain a strong, reciprocal network. Stay in touch with peers, colleagues, and industry contacts, not just when you need something, but consistently over time. Offer your support, share insights, and celebrate others’ successes, because relationships thrive when they’re two-way. A robust network gives you access to advice, opportunities, and perspectives you might not get on your own, and it ensures that when you need support, people are invested in helping you succeed.
- Be exceptional in your role. Lift your head from the day-to-day tasks to understand the bigger picture, anticipate what’s needed, and position yourself as someone who consistently delivers value. By being both highly competent and strategically aware, you ensure you’re recognised as top talent and ready for the opportunities you want.
- Keep upskilling. Upskilling is the name of the game. For example, a survey[1] found 69% are investing in in digital fluency and AI upskilling in 2025, up from 51% in 2023. But this does not have to be one big overhaul. Continuously develop your skills, seek out learning opportunities, and stay curious about emerging trends in your field.
- Be aware of what’s coming in the industry. See between the lines, and around the corners to be ahead of the curve. This means keeping up to date with what’s happening in the broader world, not just what your company tells you. Do your own research – whether it’s the impact of the Most Favoured Nations policy on your area, or the latest trends in digital health, you owe it to yourself to be up to speed.
- Have a plan A, plan B and plan C. Being aware of what’s going on also helps you inform your plan. It’s like putting your puzzle pieces together and then stepping back to see the full pattern. Once you recognise the pattern, you can make a prediction about what might happen next. From there, you ask yourself: what do I need to do if that scenario unfolds? What’s my plan A, B, and C? And what do I need to do today to deliver for the customer?
- Tell your story through impact. Instead of recounting challenges or frustrations, focus on what you’ve achieved and the difference you’ve made. Share the outcomes you’ve delivered: how you’ve helped companies save money, generate revenue, or improve processes. Shift your mindset from ‘this is hard’ to ‘this is what I’ve accomplished’. When you can clearly demonstrate your impact, others can see your value and the tangible contributions you bring to the table.
[1] https://www.zs.com/insights/2025-survey-data-digital-ai
In times of uncertainty, the most important choice you can make is to stay proactive and deliberate. By building mentors and sponsors, nurturing your network, excelling in your role, and keeping an eye on what’s coming, you take control of your career rather than letting circumstances dictate it. The industry may be compressing now, but those who act strategically and with confidence will be the ones ready to pivot, innovate, and lead in the next phase of growth. Your career is yours to shape.
About Hunton Executive
Hunton Executive partners with healthcare and life sciences organisations to identify, develop, and appoint the next generation of leaders. We have a strong pool of top leadership talent across critical markets including Asia, Middle East, Australia, Europe and the US. Contact us for a confidential chat.