Professor Brian D. Smith

Supporting strategists in the life sciences

Who I am

I research, teach and write about strategising in pharma and medtech and I help you to strategise and execute better than your competitors.

As a thought leader, I’ve published hundreds of articles and books. In two decades in the industry as a scientist and marketer, then two decades as an academic, author and advisor, I’ve helped hundreds of life science companies to achieve their goals.

If you share my fascination with strategy in the life sciences, let’s chat.

Who I am

I research, teach and write about strategising in pharma and medtech and I help you to strategise and execute better than your competitors.

As a thought leader, I’ve published hundreds of articles and books. In two decades in the industry as a scientist and marketer, then two decades as an academic, author and advisor, I’ve helped hundreds of life science companies to achieve their goals.

If you share my fascination with strategy in the life sciences, let’s chat.

How I can help you

Creating strong strategy

Your job is to create and execute strong strategy.

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Validating your strategy

You need to know that your strategy will work.

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Anticipating the market

You must anticipate your market, not react to it.

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Mentoring strategists

Strong strategists must grow and develop.

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Aligning strategy and culture

Your culture must amplify your strategy.

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Creating market insight

Strong strategists know what their competitors don’t.

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Training cross-functional teams

Strategizing is a team game.

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Enhancing your meetings

Meetings and conferences must add value.

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Creating value beyond the product

Your product is only a fraction of the value you create.

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Transforming your business model

Your business model must fit your market environment and goals.

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My published work

Browse my hundreds of articles, about strategy in the life sciences and ask for any you want.
Or click on any of curated collections below.

Cross-functional implementation

Strategy without execution is just a fantasy. These articles cover the human side of strategy execution through cross-functional teams.

Leadership in
the life sciences

The life sciences industry is not like any other. These articles explain how its leaders adapt to their unique context.

Becoming a
strategy expert

True strategy expertise is rare. These articles cover the three things you must master to achieve it.

Making strong strategies

Strategy is simple but not easy. These articles define what strong strategies look like and how they are made.

Industry evolution

The life sciences industry is a complex, adaptive ecosystem. These articles explain its evolution and how to manage your own.

Strategy’s human side

Strategy is a social process. These articles explain the cultural and behavioural issues that can strangle or supercharge your strategy.

Cross-functional implementation

Strategy without execution is just a fantasy. These articles cover the human side of strategy execution through cross-functional teams.

Becoming a
strategy expert

True strategy expertise is rare. These articles cover the three things you must master to achieve it.

Industry evolution

The life sciences industry is a complex, adaptive ecosystem. These articles explain its evolution and how to manage your own.

Leadership in
the life sciences

The life sciences industry is not like any other. These articles explain how its leaders adapt to their unique context.

Making strong strategies

Strategy is simple but not easy. These articles define what strong strategies look like and how they are made.

Strategy’s human side

Strategy is a social process. These articles explain the cultural and behavioural issues that can strangle or supercharge your strategy.

My book seminars

My online book seminars let your team learn quickly and easily from my industry-specific research. Each seminar:
Summarises one book’s key points | Includes discussion | Take only 2 hours | Includes signed books
If you want your team to understand your industry better, let’s chat.

My latest work


2023.09.17.

Discoveries @25

Free, invitation-only webinar series

Twenty-five years ago, after twenty years in the industry, I began an academic odyssey to understand how strategy is made and realised. Three hundred articles and eight books later, here’s what I found, in five webinars for pharma and medtech strategists.

Request details and invitation.


2023.09.01.


Bridge of Sighs

It is better to understand commercial caution than to criticise it

Senior leaders and investors in the life science industry often seem too cautious about doing things differently. This evolutionary explanation of why that is will help you manage their risk aversion and commit to innovation.

Request the PDF. Watch the YouTube video. Listen to the podcast.


2023.06.18.


Choosing Capabilities

Before you change your business model, choose your new one

Business model transformation means changing your capabileome, your complete and complementary set of capabilities. In this, the second in a series of four articles, I guide you through what your future business model implies for what capabilities you need to discard, keep and build.

Request the PDF. Watch the YouTube video. Listen to the podcast.


2023.06.09.


Glocalisation Change

Adapting global strategies to local markets

What’s the point of local affiliates? Are they only HQ’s local servants, or do they – can they – really add value? In this article, I share how the most astute firms have learned the answers to those questions.

Request the PDF. Watch the YouTube video. Listen to the podcast.

Contact me

If you share my fascination with the life sciences industry and how pharma and medtech strategies and business models are evolving, then I'd love to chat.

You don't need to fill in a form, speak to an assistant or give me your life story.

Just click here.

Your mail will come directly to me and I'll reply with times when I'm free.

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