Episode 56: Leading Through Change: Lessons in Courage and Lasting Impact

Change is inevitable. The leaders who create lasting impactare the ones who choose to lead through it with intention and purpose.Episode 56 of Real Time with WLP welcomes BritaLerohl, SVP, Strategy and Innovation at McKesson Canada, who reflects on the lessons that have shaped her approach to leading through transformation.In conversation with Dorothy Czylyski, Brita speaks tohow she turns uncertainty into opportunity and the practices that help leaders remain grounded and intentional during times of rapid change. Drawing from experience across industries that have influenced her leadership style, shealso shares valuable insights on how to embrace bold decisions.As we explore Leading Through Change: Lessons in Courageand Lasting Impact, we're reminded that true leadership isn't defined by avoiding change, it's about being the beacon of light to inspire others through it. We invite you to take a few minutes to listen to this thoughtful and insightful conversation.Check out all our episodes at https://www.womenleadersinpharma.com/podcasts, or subscribe and listen through your favourite podcastplatform.Bio of Brita Lerohl:Brita LerohlSenior Vice President,Strategy and Innovation, McKesson Canada Brita is the Senior Vice President,Strategy and Innovation at McKesson Canada. In this role,Brita is responsible for overseeing McKesson Canada’s corporate strategy across our pharma distribution, specialty and retail portfolios and driving innovation to best support evolving customer and partner needs. She is also thehead of Change Management and Communications for McKesson Canada, responsible for stakeholders' engagement and communications. Brita joins us with a wealth of experienceand an impressive track record in strategic leadership and business transformation. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Marketing for North America at Brink's USA, where she led the reimagining of the North American commercial Go-to-Market strategy, salesoperations, and marketing efforts. ‌Brita holds a Master of Business Administration with Distinction from the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business. She’s a recognized thought leader, known for her innovative mindset, ability to see the big picture, execute focused strategies, and deliver results.

Podcast Episode 55 of Real Time with WLP explores the power of allyship and how intentional sponsorship can create meaningful opportunities for women in the workplace. We are thrilled to welcome Guy Payette, SVP and President of GlobalPharmaceutical Services at Cencora (Innomar), and recipient of the 2025 Shine Bright Allyship Award. In conversation with Jessica Lovett, Guy shares impactful examples from his own career where sponsorship was more than symbolic, it helped drive visibility, career advancement, and leadership opportunities for women. Together, they discuss the allyship “starter-kit” needed for leaders and highlight how authentic allyship can help ensure women remain at the forefront of innovation, including emerging AI pathways that are transforming our industry.Bio of Guy Payette:Guy Payette serves as SVP & President of Global Pharmaceutical Services at Cencora, a leading global pharmaceutical solutions organization dedicated to improving patient outcomes. In this role, Guy oversees a talented team across North America and Europe, delivering innovative and tailored solutions that help pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device manufacturers unlock the full potential of their products. Cencora’s comprehensive capabilities enable its partners to navigate the complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and bring vital therapies topatients worldwide. Guy’s leadership journey began in 2001 when he founded Innomar Strategies to revolutionize howspecialty medicines are accessed in Canada. By creating the country’s first fully integrated service model for specialty pharmaceutical manufacturers, Guy established Innomar as the leader in patient support programs, pharmaceuticaldistribution, and Canada’s largest network of ISO-certified infusion and injection clinics. With over 30 dedicated years in the pharmaceutical industry, including senior roles in sales, market access, marketing, and government relations, Guy is widely recognized as anexpert in the specialty pharmaceutical commercialization journey. His deep understanding of the healthcare ecosystem, combined with his commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation, has made him a trusted advisor to policymakers,industry stakeholders, and global partners. Throughout his career, Guy has remained passionate about improving patient access, advancing healthcare solutions, and creating healthier futures for patients, colleagues, and communities.

This month’s Real Time with WLP podcast topic explores women’s health equity and how we support women to live, not just longer but, healthier lives. We are joined by Lori Casselman, Founder & CEO of June Health, a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience across corporate health strategy, insurance, and emerging health technologies.   This episode: Longer Lives, Poorer Health: Rethinking Women’s Health Equity  brings an important and underexplored conversation to the forefront.   In conversation with Virginia Fairbank, Lori reveals why women tend to live longer yet experience poorer health outcomes, where these gaps show up most across a woman’s life, and how both individuals and organizations can better advocate for change.    As we reflect on how we can create more equitable, informed, and supportive environments for women’s health, we invite you to take a few minutes and listen to this actionable conversation. LORI CASSELMAN BIO: Lori Casselman is the Founder & CEO of June Health. She is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of corporate health strategy, insurance, and emerging health technologies. She has held executive leadership roles and has worked closely with digital health startups and global companies across North America. Committed to community building & supporting women in business, Lori is active in her philanthropic work, and has been on the boards of several impactful organizationsLori has been recognized as “Canada’s Top Thought Leaders” through the Benefits Canada Top Performers program and has been an invited speaker at over 100+ industry conferences and events globally. Most recently, she has focused her work on closing the health equity gap by building June Health, a company modernizing women’s health through technology to provide more timely access to quality care. 

This month’s Real Time with WLP podcast topic is focused on AI and how leaders can show up and embrace AI as a tool to support their teams. We are joined by Dr. Carol Parker Walsh, who is a human development expert and organizational strategist, and founder of Carol Parker Walsh ConsultingGroup, focused on cultivating People-Forward Leadership™.  This episode: How AI Can Amplify Your Ability to Be a People-Forward Leader is one that marries technology and leadership.In conversation with Jessica Lovett, Carol addresses common fears teams have and the impact seen on organizational culture when leaders leverage AI and canstill maintain trust and human connection.  As we reflect on how we can create a transformative yet people-forward approach to leadership and AI, we inviteyou to take a few minutes and listen to this informative conversation.About Dr. Carol Parker WalshDr. Carol Parker Walsh, JD, PhD, is an award-winning human development expert and organizational strategist, and founder of Carol Parker Walsh Consulting Group, a leadership development firm that helps organizations cultivate People-Forward Leadership™ and high-performing teams. With over 30 years of experience as an attorney, senior executive, professor, and dean, she brings transformative insight to human and organizational development.Dr. Parker Walsh holds two master's degrees in human development and organizational leadership, a JD in employment law, a PhD in human and organizational systems, and certificates in management development from Harvard University and Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business and AI Leadership from Stanford University. As a master-certified and ICF PCC certified executive coach, she empowers leaders to build trust, alignment, and adaptive cultures that drive sustainable performance.

In this month’s episode of Real Time with WLP, we are joined by Maria DiIorio, Partner at bMod and RXCHAINGE.  Maria brings both executive insight and lived experience to a powerful conversation about leadership, ambition, and caregiving. We explore The Sandwich Generation Impact- Redefining Leadership while caring for Family.  Maria shares how this dual responsibility reshaped her definition of success, challenged her at pivotal moments as a leader, and ultimately influenced how she sets boundaries, shows up for her teams, and navigates competing demands. We examine the critical role workplaces must play in creating environments that recognize both performance and personal responsibilities. More about Maria:Maria Di Iorio is a seasoned healthcare marketing leaderwith more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry across both client and agency environments. As a Partner at bMod and RXCHAINGE, she plays a central role in shaping strategic direction and client engagement forCanada’s most respected full-service healthcare agencies.Maria’s expertise spans brand strategy, integrated campaignplanning, training, and launch execution. She is known for blending creative thinking with strategic rigor to help clients navigate increasingly complex commercial, medical and digital landscapes.Throughout her career, Maria has guided multi-channelinitiatives that advance client objectives while maintaining a sharp focus on stakeholder insights , patient needs and  behavioural impact. Her leadership is grounded in strong relationship-building and a commitment to excellence. 

In this episode, we unpack the shock of unexpected job loss, the emotions that hit first, the surprises that followed, and how months of searching can quietly reshape your sense of identity and confidence. Listen as our guest, Cindy Woodcock, reflects on the most unexpected advice received along the way, and how it challenged perceptions about success, worth, and resilience.From navigating interviews to rethinking how organizations assess talent, this conversation offers hard-earned insight and hope.If you’ve ever faced career disruption or want a more honest conversation about work, age, and resilience, this one’s for you.Be sure to listen to the full episode to hear Cindy's experiencesAbout Cindy WoodcockCindy Woodcock is Program Lead, Communications at the Canadian Institute for Health Information. With nearly 30 years of experience in health care communications, she began her career in 1995 and spent 17 years in public relations before moving into an in-house communications role in the pharmaceutical sector, working in a highly regulated health environment.A long-time mental health advocate, she previously served eight years on the board of Families Affected by Mental Health Everywhere and led communications for a leadership mentoring program at WLP focused on connection, growth, and inclusion.

Epidsod 50 features some of our thought provoking past guests of 2025: Kristina Fusella, Lida Citroen, Shannon Keenan, Namita Khatri, Andrea Loewendorf, Gail Tatebe, Tonya Dickenson, Tessa Misiaszek, Jennifer Meehan, Michael Casia,Katy McFee and Litsa Spiridonakos.In this final podcast of the year, they share their tips on how women and allies can help protect their time, energy and relationships to be even more productive.

Listen to our conversation with Katy McFee, Founder and CEO of Insights to Action Coaching and Consulting. Katy breaks down the importance of shifting from reactivity to proactivity — and how moving beyond constant responsiveness is key to elevating your leadership and driving meaningful impact.Be sure to listen to the full episode to hear Katy’s insights on over-indexing, gaining visibility, and positioning yourself for real career progression.About Katy McFeeKaty McFee is a former executive (VP/EVP), Forty Under 40 recipient, and host of the More Women Promoted podcast.As a certified executive coach, she's helped hundreds of women transition to, and thrive in, senior leadership. Drawing from her own challenging path to the executive suite, Katy is dedicated to closing the gender gap by helping women step into senior roles with confidence and authenticity.Katy has been featured in Business Insider and has published multiple articles about women and leadership in Forbes.com as a contributor.

For this month’s podcast, we’re joined by Andrea Loewendorf, Head of Immunology Canada at UCB, who explores the transformative role of mentorship and sponsorship in a woman’s leadership journey.  She shares how mentorship has shaped her career, and why sponsorship in particular is a catalyst for breaking barriers in pharma.Tune in as Andrea reflects on the importance of communitynetworks (like WLP), offers practical advice for building meaningful professional relationships, and discusses how women can lift as they lead.About Andrea LoewendorfAndrea Loewendorf is an accomplished global leader with over two decades of experience in the biopharma industry. As the Head of Immunology Canada at UCB, she spearheads UCB’s immunology strategy, translating vision into field execution and driving positive impact on patients.With her extensive background, Andrea has successfullyorchestrated global product launches, consistently prioritizing patient needs and bringing groundbreaking therapies to market. Notably, she set the global commercial strategy for a recent launch and has spent the past six years leading market access teams in the U.S. and across the globe. Her strategic vision extends beyond traditional boundaries, encompassing innovative approaches to market access, digital transformation, and brand excellence. 

Episode 47 with Real Time with WLP dives into the future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Canada with Namita Khatri, Canadian Leader for DEI at Randstad. Namita shares her insightful perspectives on the current state of DEI in Canada, the strategies for meaningful outcomes during uncertain times, and how we can all contribute to ensure the sustainability of an inclusive workplace.Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation! About Namita Khatri Namita is a recognized leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within Canada's workforce solutions industry, with nearly 20 years of experience within the industry. As the Canadian Leader for DEI at Randstad, Namita leads both internal DEI strategy and programming as well as the external DEI consulting practice, helping organizations embed inclusive practices that drive business success.With a deep understanding of the intersection between DEI and business performance, Namita has successfully helped organizations decrease costs, increase profitability, and expand into new markets by integrating DEI into their corporate strategy. Her expertise in connecting DEI to tangible business outcomes has made her a sought-after speaker and advisor, having hosted numerous events and webinars on building the business case for DEI and positioning it as a key business driver.Her thought leadership extends to speaking engagements with UN Global Compact Canada, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI), Women in Governance, Financial Executives International (FEI) and various learning events, including workshops for Randstad’s clients across Canada.