The Next Version

Dr Danie du Plessis

Mentoring, Coaching, Consulting

With 25 years’ experience in different parts of medical affairs including senior leadership roles, I have a wealth of knowledge to share with individuals in C-suite and Senior Management roles in Medical Affairs.  I also have experience in leadership mentoring for individuals in the banking and hotel industries.

Coaching is about helping individuals to explore answers within themselves by tapping into their own internal, existing resource and to become the next version of themselves. Awareness of the mind, body and feelings are critical components of this journey of self-discovery and self-development. In knowing ourselves, it becomes easier to identify the specific question/issue/developmental area at hand, to explore different options and to decide on action to the advantage of yourself as well as the business environment you work in. 

I have been part of numerous change management programs in many different parts of the medical function: medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, clinical operations, Medical Science Liaison organisations and different aspects of general organisational restructuring.  The starting point should always be to take time and identify the problem that needs to be resolved before getting into solution mode. Change for the sake of change takes energy and is unlikely to change any outcome. I can share my experiences with those who are looking to change the status quo. 

A happy and healthy employee is a productive employee.  Both employer and employee have a role to play.  Employers should advocate and provide the right environment for employees to bring their whole selves to work.  Employees should own their resilience and understand the different influences on resilience. We all need to learn how to manage our physiology, emotions and any problems we may be experiencing. We should do this with a positive mindset and appreciate the value of support systems with a clear awareness of our own purpose in life and what fulfilment would be for ourselves.  The role of the manager should not be underestimated in knowing and acknowledging possible warning signs of stress in their teams.  I include resilience in my coaching and mentoring sessions if needed and help raise awareness in different organisations.

After completing my medical studies and a Master’s Degree in Pharmacology in South Africa, I spent 3 years working in a primary care setting including my own private practice.  I joined the pharmaceutical industry in 1991 and held roles of increasing responsibility and leadership in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom ending with a team of 3000 people in my role as Senior Vice President and Head of Worldwide Medical Affairs at GlaxoSmithKline.  I completed an MBA in 2006.

I discovered my passion for people development early on in my career and have used a coaching approach to managing individuals and teams soon after joining the industry.  This coaching approach has been specifically helpful in managing change, which I have seen plenty of during my 25 years in a corporate setting. 

I have mentored a variety of people during different stages of their careers up to senior management level.  These conversations often included a consulting approach and due to my passion for employee health and well-being, I included conversations about this topic.

I am registered with the General Medical Council in the UK as well as the Health Professions Council of South Africa, on the Executive Leadership Committee of the Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS) and an affiliate member of the Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision (APECS).  I have a certificate in Systemic Team Coaching and is a qualified Resilience Practitioner using the Resilience Quotient Inventory (RQi) from https://www.thisisthrive.com.