MBiotech 2015 › Danielle Portnik
Bio
Danielle is an established Canadian leader that has also taken on important work on the international stage. She joined Emergent in May 2023 as the Senior Director, Commercial & Acting Country Head (as of August 2023) where leads the Canadian organization to maximize impact across Canada and the communities it aims to serve. Prior to joining Emergent, Danielle leapt into the diagnostics space to diversify and broaden her perspective as the Regional Business Director for International with Ambry Genetics where she led the international business development strategy for Ambry’s precision medicine offering in the Americas, Europe and ANZEA. She has also held numerous roles across the pharmaceutical space in product management, marketing and sales oversight, medical affairs and account management and has led strategy and execution for drug and medical device portfolios. Her strong business-clinical background, passion and drive have curated innovative, high impact programs and healthcare partnerships. She has been recognized by both local and global colleagues for her leadership, unique strategies and outstanding business growth, and by national and international organizations for her contributions to excellence in the field. She was nominated in 2023 for Acquisition International’s 2023 Most Influential Businesswomen Award and WXN’s Top 100 for her work. Danielle is also a leader in the healthcare inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) space. She is Co-Founder and Chair of Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Canada, Co-Chair of the Equity and Diversity Collaborative (EDC) and Steering Committee member of the Inclusive Life Sciences Collaboration (ILSC) where the HBA and collaborator organizations curate opportunities for the advancement of IDEA in the business of healthcare. In 2021, she was awarded the Leadership, Excellence and Dedication Award, highest honour an HBA leader can receive, for her impact across the Canada Region and dedication to the HBA mission. In 2022, her Region was awarded the Regional Excellence Award for excellence in operations and driving growth, visibility and impact. In 2023, Danielle was honoured with the Phil Diamond Award for Community Service with her induction into the Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame, and the EDC was a Gold Award Winner in the Economic Equity and Inclusion Category for Excellence in Economic Development by the International Economic Development Council. Danielle is also a mentor and speaker at Mississauga’s IDEA innovation hub and the Ryerson Science Discovery Zone incubator aimed at fostering entrepreneurial ventures, serial speaker at corporate, national and local events, and has contributed editorials to several life science magazines. She holds a Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation with and has been published by the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL), and holds Master of Biotechnology and Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto.
How did your experience in the MBiotech program contribute to your career success?
The MBiotech program gave me the business and clinical foundations to be successful in the industry, the opportunity to network early and the internship to get 'my foot in the door' and establish my passion and value for this industry and our work for patients.
What are some of the key skills and knowledge you acquired during the MBiotech program that are still valuable to you today?
Financial, economic and marketing acumen to tie to science knowledge.
What advice would you give to current MBiotech students or recent graduates who are entering the job market?
Build your network and community early - and build it meaningfully - you get out what you put in. Also never be afraid to take risks and step outside of your comfort zone - innovation and impact don't happen on their own - be the accelerant!
Are there any memorable or transformative experiences from your time in the MBiotech program that you would like to share?
The opportunity to work with GE on a marketing program to enhance market uptake of one of their technologies and the opportunity to have an internship at a healthcare company that really cemented the bridge between business and clinical knowledge and potential, and paved the way for future success.
Any major accomplishment/achievement/award you would like to share with us?
Recent induction into the Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame.