Today, Iâm bringing you a past conversation thatâs packed with insight, energy, and career wisdomâmy chat with the brilliant John McKendry.
John McKendry is a senior healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical, medtech, and healthtech industries. He is passionate about business transformation and lifescience leadership.
Johnâs career arc is the stuff of Netflix series. From growing up in Canada to jumping headfirst into expat life in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore (with six household moves in 10 years!), John shares how saying yes to the unknown helped him grow professionally and personally. He also opens up about what happened when he left the corporate world to explore early-stage health techâspoiler: he didnât have a 10-point plan, but he did have curiosity and a self-imposed 18-month window.
We talk about:
⢠How to make bold international career moves (even with a family)
⢠The cultural agility required to lead teams across Asia
⢠John's personal leadership strategy for building trust, reducing attrition, and improving engagement
⢠Why he believes âsomeday is todayâ and how to create your own pivot moments
⢠The power of frustrated optimism and staying purpose-ledâeven when things get bureaucratic
⢠What it really takes to go from high-flying pharma exec to entrepreneur and back again
We also cover why Ice Ice Baby might be the ultimate karaoke song (especially in Asia), and how observing joy in remote Borneo villages totally reframed Johnâs view on happiness and success.
This oneâs a deep, thoughtful, and fun ride. If youâre at a career crossroads, dreaming about working overseas, or wondering whether to take that leapâthis oneâs for you.
Let me know what resonates, and Iâll catch you tomorrow.
âLeanne
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Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
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