What does a career marked by continuous growth look like? For Elbert Man, Executive Director, China Innovative Medicines Business Unit Head and General Manager of Hong Kong, BMS, it is marked by dynamic roles across multiple continents. Having begun his career as a consultant in the pharmaceutical industry, Elbert went on to roles in regional marketing and regional strategy, eventually growing into his current role as general manager. He took time out of his busy day to give us a glimpse into his exciting career trajectory, why playing the violin plays a vital role in sustaining work-life balance, and three personal tips for excelling in the BMS China and Asia Cluster.
At the intersection of exploration and international connections
A zest for building international relationships and an adventurous spirit have taken Elbert from the United States to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and beyond. When he joined BMS three years ago, he relocated to Taipei and became General Manager of BMS Taiwan. In 2023, he returned to Mainland China and Hong Kong to hold the roles of both China Innovative Medicines Business Unit Head and General Manager of Hong Kong, where he contributes his passion to transform patients’ lives through science across different markets.
While Elbert acknowledges that moving comes with a certain degree of trepidation, he encourages candidates who seek mobility to embrace the unknown. “A new location and new circumstances always bring a set of uncertainties,” said Elbert. “Yet they can be a catalyst for growth that will pay off. My advice is to enjoy the uncertainty. Based on my experiences, it will bring you some wonderful surprises.”
Work and life in harmony
No matter where he is located, Elbert believes that work-life balance is critical to his health and well-being. One of the ways he finds such balance is by playing the violin. “Music is a universal language,” said Elbert. “I began playing in Hong Kong when I was young, and I took my love of violin with me to the University of Michigan, where I played with fellow students,” he remarked. “Music has given me a common ground in any location.” As a general manger Elbert champions work-life balance for the teams that he manages as well, encouraging them to spend time with their families, take up new hobbies, and explore the regions in which they live.
BMS China and Asia Cluster: Opportunity for growth abounds
BMS has had a presence in the China and Asia Cluster region for decades across different cities, including Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, and Singapore. Because Elbert wears two hats in his roles as general manager and business unit head, he has his fingers on the pulse of the immense opportunities for talented candidates in the region.
“Just as we prepare carefully for new product launches, we are intentional about opportunities for our people to continually develop,” said Elbert. While he is always eager to meet with prospective talent, he also follows the regional and cultural practice of “promoting from within.” Doing so nurtures the growth of his direct and indirect reports, and helps to ensure that he paves the way for their internal mobility and agility.
One way that employees can realize such upward mobility is to take on stretch assignments. “We prioritize cross-border, cross-market development, as we want people to develop and aspire to bigger roles,” said Elbert. Describing such an opportunity as a “tour of duty,” Elbert noted that it revolves around assuming an additional role or responsibility in conjunction with one’s current role. “A tour of duty may consist of a sales representative assuming a marketing role,” said Elbert, “or a market access specialists expanding coverage from location to multiple locations, or from one location to an entire region. It’s a way to learn, grow, and move up.”
Elbert’s three tips for excelling in the BMS China and Asia Cluster
- Be clear about your goals: Elbert advises candidates to get intentional about their aspirations and share them – both during the interview process and once hired. For example, if a candidate or employee wants the opportunity to work in another location, they should be clear about it. “That way, the hiring manager or your director can think about how your goals align with company needs.”
- Act early: Throughout the course of a career, life changes and stages occur naturally. Elbert strongly encourages candidates to seize opportunities early in their careers, before putting down permanent roots or starting a family. “You typically have more flexibility earlier in your career,” said Elbert, “giving you more time to explore new functions and roles, and navigate your path forward.”
- Cultivate a strong track record: Elbert believes that the strongest candidates are those who clearly possess the characteristics, traits, and skills that will bring mutual value and benefit to an organization. He encourages any candidate to maintain a track record marked by growth and to share how their previous experiences will help to strengthen the company and position it for continued success.
Why role-playing can bolster interview success
In addition to sharing tips for prospective candidates, Elbert also encourages those who are interviewing to leverage the practice of role play. “In China and Asia Cluster, we almost always face a challenging issue, one that requires careful consideration,” remarked Elbert. “That’s where I find role-playing to be helpful. It’s a good litmus test of a candidate’s knowledge of market challenges and opportunities, and is a way to demonstrate their critical thinking skills,” said Elbert.
“We don’t expect people to recite from a playbook. Instead, we are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the ability to think independently, come up with new solutions, and be versatile in their execution of those solutions,” said. Elbert. “Ultimately, we are looking for candidates who share our level of energy and want to bring that energy to growing their careers.”
AI Music – "The Sounds of Cells"
Performance by Elbert Man, Executive Director, China Innovative Medicines Business Unit Head and General Manager of Hong Kong with musicians from Shanghai Conservatory of Music. An innovative use of data sonification technology and AI musical composition to represent the transformation process of cells in the human body from health to sickness then recovery through innovative treatment. It’s a fitting combination of science and art exploring sounds from the universe inside the human body representing that this is where transformations happen.
