If it is to be, it’s up to me
“Driving visions or individual ambitions as well as projects or goals in your business setting starts with your personal mindset. You have to be the first one to believe in your success. As a leader I have to act as a role model and show that we are all one team with one common goal which we can only reach with the right mindset.”
Head of Human Pharma Countries RCV at Boehringer Ingelheim
Dr. Mirela Liliana Ciocirlan graduated as a general practitioner from the University of Medicine in Romania. She chose to study in the field of medicine because of the high sense of purpose and the solid contribution she could bring to people’s lives. Her main interest in pharmaceuticals was one of the reasons to change her work environment and led her in the direction to work for a research-driven pharmaceutical company.
Career and mindset
Mirela Ciocirlan started her career at Boehringer Ingelheim as Marketing Manager in Romania in 2003. In 2009, she moved to Vienna where she worked in different functions in the Regional Center Vienna – overlooking more than 30 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Her agility and her commitment to the different roles and responsibilities she has shown since she started to work for Boehringer Ingelheim has paid off and her career has steadily progressed as she acquired broader management responsibilities.
“I am a positive person and passionate about my job. My colleagues know me as a fighter and spokesperson who follows words with actions. I listen and make decisions based on the input of every team member. For me, all success is based on people who feel that their work is appreciated and rewarded.” Mirela says. She further believes that the ingredients for success are the perfect combination of great people, a clear strategy and excellent products.
Empowering others
Besides her professional goals, Mirela Ciocirlan is dedicated to empowering other female employees, developing younger team members and lending a helping hand to other women on their career path with being part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s internal mentoring program. Her advice to young people embarking their career is to be open for new experiences and push themselves out of their own comfort zones for them to be able to grow with every challenge ahead.
Private background
Mirela herself grew up with strong female voices in her family. Her grandmother and mother raised her to become well prepared for her future professional life and a valuable person of society. She was equipped with courage, which in her opinion is the best ingredient to grow and unfold one’s full potential.
Being a mother of a 14-year old daughter herself, Mirela has to balance work and family life. She sees her career and family life tied together in a natural way and her husband was always a very strong person to rely on and who took a very active role on raising their daughter.
The most important thing Mirela learned during her career was to accept that she cannot be 100% perfect – not in business and also not as a mother. And she learned not to feel guilty about not being able to be with her family all the time. Today, her daughter is proud that her mom is a strong woman and she sees her as a role model for her future life.
Dr. Mirela Liliana Ciocirlan is Head of Human Pharma Countries RCV in Boehringer Ingelheim Regional Center Vienna, where she is responsible for the business in more than 30 countries hereof 18 countries with local representation offices.