A dynamic healthcare marketing leader, she is recognized for driving transformative change while fostering innovation. With a commitment to patient-centered strategies, Carla Abou Zeid has successfully led organizations through complex transitions, showcasing her visionary leadership in the healthcare industry. Her dual focus on business growth and environmental stewardship exemplifies her approach to addressing modern healthcare challenges.

Her ability to lead with purpose, collaborate effectively, and nurture talent has made Carla an inspiring figure, transforming how companies in healthcare embrace innovation. As the Marketing Director at Roche Diagnostics, Carla continues to drive impactful solutions that align with Roche’s mission to enhance diagnostic efficiency and improve patient outcomes.

In an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur Review, Carla discusses leadership, innovation, and her journey of building teams that create lasting change. 

What are some important facets of your life and professional journey?

Leadership has been a defining element of my professional journey. I’m passionate about identifying and nurturing future leaders, and I take pride in empowering others through coaching and mentorship. Women in leadership is particularly important to me, especially in this region where challenges are different for women in executive roles.

Beyond my professional work, philanthropy has been a significant part of my life. My involvement with humanitarian projects through Lions Clubs has helped me maintain balance between my professional ambitions and my personal commitment to giving back to society.

Tell us about your professional journey as a marketer specializing in the healthcare sector. What have been some of the most crucial junctures throughout your extensive journey?

I started as a medical representative in Lebanon, a role that is aligned with my medical sciences background. However, I quickly realized that business acumen was key to advancing my career, which led me to pursue an MBA from a renowned school ESA (Ecole supérieure des affaires) that was a turning point for me, equipping me with management, marketing, and finance skills. I then stepped out of my comfort zone, relocating to Dubai with Boehringer Ingelheim, where I led marketing for the NEMEA region. This role exposed me to diverse cultures and regulations, particularly as a woman in a leading position. 

Introduce us to your role as the CMO, what are the key responsibilities you shoulder?

As Marketing Director at Roche Diagnostics Middle East, my focus is on leading the company’s transformation towards being more patient-centric. I aim to drive innovation partnerships, promote value-based healthcare, and empower future leaders within the organization. My key responsibilities include setting strategic goals, aligning resources, and developing capabilities across the team to ensure Roche’s continued contribution to quality diagnostics and healthcare outcomes.                                    

In your opinion, what are some of the most critical challenges you encounter in your current role? What steps do you undertake to overcome these roadblocks?

Leading transformation in any company is always challenging. Breaking down silos and ensuring smooth communication across departments can be difficult. To over come this, I focus on three core strategies: First, ensuring clear, consistent communication with all stakeholders about the goals of the transformation. Second, raising awareness about the importance of marketing’s role in driving business growth. Finally, defining clear roles and responsibilities within the marketing team to encourage cross-functional collaboration.

This approach has allowed me to lead major transitions within the company while building a strong, high-performing marketing team that works in synergy with other functions.

Tell us about your major focus areas in terms of driving growth as a senior marketing leader.

My primary focus is defining clear objectives that align with our overall company strategy. This includes ensuring that our efforts are more patient- and customer-focused. Rather than emphasizing only the commercial side of healthcare, we’ve adopted a disease management approach by mapping the patient journey and addressing unmet healthcare needs. This enables us to meet customer expectations more effectively and deliver solutions that benefit patients while driving business growth.

Throw light on the most significant professional milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey. What has your success mantra been over the years?

One of the key milestones in my career has been staying close to our customers and understanding their needs firsthand. This hands-on approach has allowed me to build trust and strengthen our market understanding. Another milestone is my people-oriented approach. I deeply value the human element in business, and I always prioritize listening to and supporting my colleagues.

My success mantra has been maintaining a learning attitude throughout my career. I consistently seek growth opportunities and aim to avoid stagnation by embracing challenges and leveraging my network to create lasting impact.

How do you foresee the global marketing landscape evolving in the near future? Which industry trends will influence the world of marketing, going forward?

The global marketing landscape is shifting rapidly towards digital transformation and ecosystem driven strategies. AI, data analytics, and personalized marketing experiences will play a key role in shaping future marketing efforts. Industry leaders are already moving beyond traditional methods and creating customer ecosystems that provide long-term value. The integration of digital solutions and a focus on sustainability will continue to be major drivers of change.