Pascale Witz

Pascale Witz has a master’s degree in molecular biology and started her career in a research lab—a pedigree far more common for a scientist than a business executive. But her career took off when she switched to the business side of pharmaceuticals, and she now heads Sanofi’s global divisions and strategic development—overseeing about $17 billion in revenue. In January 2016, after a company restructuring, she’ll be in charge of one of five global business units, overseeing Diabetes and Cardiovascular medicines. That division will include the cholesterol reducer Praluent, a potential blockbuster that was approved by the FDA in July. She’s also overseeing Sanofi’s partnership with Google’s life sciences team to advance new treatments for patients with diabetes, like contact lenses that monitor glucose levels. —Claire Groden