Transforming Lives with Advanced Science

Rhonda Peebles is Vice-President & Head of US Dermatology at UCB Pharmaceuticals, where she leads the cross-functional commercial, sales, and marketing teams to establish a leadership position for UCB in the dermatology marketplace for existing and future brands. With over two decades of experience in healthcare, Rhonda possesses dynamic and results-oriented sales and marketing expertise, encompassing product launches, global strategic planning, and customer relationship management. She is passionate about uncovering solutions that help healthcare providers and their patients.

At UCB, people are at the heart of all that they do. This approach drives the company culture as they consider the person, not just the disease, and the people who care for them. Rhonda’s leadership style is exemplified by her ability to form strong relationships with stakeholders inside and outside UCB. “By bringing my external thinking internally, I am shaping the direction of our dermatology business at UCB so it’s more driven by relationship building with health care professionals, advocates, and patients than transactions,” she says.

Being a female in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is a passion for Rhonda as she has an environmental health science and toxicology background and had her Master's research published in the Archives of Toxicology. She wants more females in STEM to know that there are more opportunities for them beyond engineering and to consider opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry. “My academic background has been a critical foundation I’ve built upon that has enabled me to speak confidently about science with health care professionals throughout my career,” explains Rhonda. “I have learned the importance of always being visible in a room – no matter who else may be present. It can be easy for female leaders to sometimes become invisible in a male-dominated environment.” However, Rhonda’s mentor taught her the value of being visible, including how to sit at a table with leadership and ask questions. This instilled confidence in her on how to deliver confidently in a room and is a learning she strives to continually reinforce with her teams.

With a similar mindset, Rhonda guides her team members to advocate for their ideas and hard work. She believes in giving her team members the space to showcase their perspectives and ideas and not be micromanagers. For Rhonda, it’s critical to understand the thought process for a specific problem from the whole team rather than simply beginning with a proposed solution. Hence, she employs the concept of psychological safety with her team and encourages this safe-space environment that fosters the sharing of ideas and concerns, speaking up with questions, and admitting mistakes without fear of negative consequences. Advising every leader and executive, she says, “Success is not measured solely by one event or a destination, but by the numerous successes achieved as part of my journey. My best advice is to celebrate the small moments and treat everything as potential learning. If something happens and doesn’t go your way, you will handle it in a different way next time.”

Under the leadership of Rhonda, UCB is advancing as an industry leader in Dermatology that is transforming the lives of people with severe diseases. UCB is unwavering in its purpose of delivering moments that matter for people with severe diseases now and into the future. The people living with psoriatic disease and the everyday challenges they face because of their condition inspire Rhonda’s work and the team she leads. UCB is committed to addressing the unmet needs of people living with psoriatic disease and other immune-mediated inflammatory conditions while delivering sustainable value for UCB and society. “We continue to innovate in immunology through our efforts in digital transformation, our approach to data and real-world evidence and open innovation,” elucidates Rhonda.

In the near future, Rhonda wants to be an active board member, especially in the nonprofit healthcare sector. She believes her years of working in the pharmaceutical industry can help bring patient-facing organizations closer together with practicing physicians, so they are engaging directly in 1:1 opportunities to help improve their approach to patient care. As for the company, 2023 is an exciting time for UCB as they continue to build on their mission and serve thousands of people living with severe diseases each year. “For me, the future is bright with the potential to bring new treatments to underserved markets in psoriatic disease, to continue to partner closely with the dermatology community and to forge a path for the next frontier for people living with immunological diseases,” concludes Rhonda.