Claudia Lindemann

What was your professional background before joining London Business School?

I studied chemical biology at undergraduate level, followed by a masters in pharmaceutical science, and then completed a PhD at Oxford in vaccine research and development. From there, I went on to work at a small company in Germany, BioNTech, where I worked as a toxicologist, assessing the potential side effects of new drugs. BioNTech, of course, went on to launch the first Covid-19 vaccine with Pfizer. It was an amazing, humbling and daunting experience, and seeing the effects of the pandemic was a huge motivation for us to keep going. While many people felt hopeless, I thought, “I can do something here.” We worked seven days a week, around the clock. Looking back, it feels surreal. Since then, I have progressed from my toxicology role to associate director, and now to director of non-clinical safety.

What first sparked your interest in London Business School?

My career so far has exposed me to so much of the drug development process, which has been incredibly enriching. But I have always been keen to learn more, and I realised that I wanted to understand the pharmaceutical business more broadly. I want to help shape my company in a more strategic role, and in the long term I would like to use my scientific knowledge to work with biotech startups as a non-executive director. I realised I needed to learn more about business to make all of this a reality. I went to an event at London Business School, immediately connected with the attendees and faculty, and knew it was the right place to pursue my Executive MBA.

What has been the most valuable takeaway from the programme so far, and how have you been able to apply it directly in your workplace?

One thing that has stood out for me is the coaching I have received on leadership communication. People have always seen me as a fixer, and I felt I needed to have the right advice ready. Now I am realising that as a leader, your greatest strength is helping people figure out solutions for themselves, because that is what real growth looks like. I am also learning a lot about interpreting company financials. I can now open an annual report, analyse it, and engage in in-depth conversations with my finance colleagues.

My biggest surprise…

I expected it to some extent, but the incredible pool of talented people you meet here has still surprised me. There is such a strong sense of energy in the lecture hall, and the onboarding week was mind-blowing. I was waking up at 5am every day, ready to go. I have realised that a big part of the programme is about bringing people together, understanding their perspectives, and sometimes reconsidering your own way of thinking. Many people have made an impression on me, but in particular I have been inspired by a classmate, Noura, an engineer from Saudi Arabia who was the first woman to join her company.

What’s the best piece of advice you received from someone within the LBS community?

There have been many, but one that really stayed with me came from our Economics professor, David P Myatt. He said that when you are dealing with data, especially complex data, it is fine to get it about 80 per cent right. Perfectionism can actually get in the way, because you try to make sense of something down to the very last detail when you may not need to. What matters more is using the right underlying assumptions and getting close to the right answer. That is something I am trying to apply by stepping back from perfectionism and focusing more on the bigger picture.

What are your top three tips for prospective students considering the Executive MBA?

First, if you really want to do it, commit fully and make the most of the experience. It is a significant time investment, but it is worth it. Second, a large part of the learning comes from networking, so step away from your inbox when you can and make time for events and conversations. If you are not fully immersed, you may miss out. Third, the Executive MBA is not only for people who have their next step clearly mapped out. If you have the beginnings of an idea but are unsure what comes next, the programme can help you gain a new perspective.

If you had to describe your experience at London Business School so far in three words, what would they be?

Exhilarating, inspiring and rewarding. It is exhilarating to be surrounded by so many driven yet down-to-earth people, and inspiring because the people around you constantly challenge your perspective. It is also rewarding. You put a lot into the experience, but you get just as much back.