Healthcare Businesswomen's Association

Leadership That Lasts: A 2025 HBA Luminary's Perspective on Leadership and Legacy

Asma Ali Headshot & WOTY Photo

Written by Asma Ali, Head of US Established Products, Sanofi 

I am deeply honored to be named this year's HBA Luminary from Sanofi! 

My purpose has always been clear: to improve lives through healthcare innovation and access. As a community and specialty pharmacist, I've had the privilege of helping women navigate healthcare challenges while caring for themselves and their families. Today at Sanofi, I'm proud to work alongside incredible colleagues who share this commitment to healthcare equity and access for all. 

This mission is more critical than ever. Recent research shows significant healthcare cost disparities affecting working women, and an increasing caregiving burden as our population ages. These realities drive my passion to create meaningful change in our industry. 

This recognition from Sanofi and being part of the HBA Woman of the Year (WOTY) event has reinforced some key leadership insights: 

  1. Value what you bring and never apologize for your authentic self!
  2. Reshema Kemps-Polanco, our 2025 HBA Woman of the Year, reminded us that progress is rarely linear. Don't be afraid to stretch yourself laterally.
  3. Reshema also gave great advice about career growth and advised us to seek diverse leadership experiences including special assignments, P&L management, mentoring, turnarounds, and launches which all contribute to a well-rounded leader. 

This year's STAR, Rebecca Vermuelen, addressed a question that resonated deeply with me: "How do you think about the right talent to put in place during challenging periods?" Her insight about the "glass wall" and not needing to be perfect all the time struck a chord. We're all juggling so much, and it's time we step out from behind the facade of perfection - that glass wall that separates us from authentic leadership. Jim Weiss, this year’s Honorable Mentor, explained that the next generation of leaders will have completely different skills and it won’t be their previous experiences that make them the right person for the role but rather their ability to lean into ambiguity and solve unique problems. 

I will close by echoing the words of our Woman of the Year, Reshema Kemps-Polanco, who shared a powerful message that resonated loudly with me: 

"You are enough! Believe in what others see in you and what you can become...How you work through headwinds says a lot about your character and leadership." 

Thank you to Sanofi and the HBA for this incredible recognition. Congratulations to all this year’s Rising Stars and Luminaries! 

.