Lindari Nol-Morin, executive director, US Compliance, for Quebec-headquartered Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. “Experiencing my father’s life-long battle with aplastic anemia, and seeing how the right medications and treatment enabled him to live a normal life despite numerous hospital trips, made me want to work in healthcare to better the lives of consumers and patients,” she explains.

 

With a bachelor’s of science in chemistry from Carlton University in Ottawa, Canada and an MBA from Seton Hall University, Nol-Morin believes she was fortunate to have worked in many areas of the industry, including quality assurance, policy, managed markets, and compliance, both in the US and Europe.

 

“My European experiences provided me with in-depth insight into international policies, a particular benefit for working at Valeant (www.valeant.com), a multi-national company with more than 18,000 employees worldwide and US headquarters in Bridgewater, NJ,” says Nol-Morin, who is based in NJ.“Valeant is a progressive, exciting place to work – a place where opportunities abound for new and current employees and where the belief is that the company’s success coincides with employee achievement of personal and professional goals.”

 

Called by a recruiter five years ago while working as a consultant, Nol- Morin was hesitant to switch careers. “I loved working as a consultant and was loath to join any company – that is until I met with the chief compliance officer at Valeant,” she relates. Impressed with the company, she agreed to oversee US compliance operations before joining the company permanently after a year. “I love the ‘craziness’ of the job. There is never a dull moment, especially with the acquisition of many companies from different healthcare-related industries. I thoroughly enjoy having the opportunity to learn, expand my knowledge, and grow professionally,” she says.

 

Although she consistently faces challenges with the constant acquisitions of companies, Nol-Morin is well equal to the task. “It is imperative that new employees adhere to and comply with policies and procedures, regulatory requirements, and Valeant’s culture of speed, action, and decision making,” she states. “Because the company is a lean organization, prioritization is critical, making cross-functional work within a team environment an essential skill to master.”

 

For Nol-Morin, a broad industry background made for a particularly smooth transition from consultant to employee. For those considering work in the field of compliance, she cautions that a wide breathe of experience is important for amassing a vast understanding of the different roles and responsibilities found in various departments. No matter the choice of sector within a company, however, she comments, “It is essential to love what you do. Do it well and it won’t be just a job.”

 

As for Nol-Morin, Valeant affords her the opportunity to work in more than one area of compliance and to take on the various responsibilities found in each. “That makes my job both interesting and enjoyable,” says Nol-Morin, who sees the field of compliance within the pharmaceutical/healthcare arena growing significantly. Valeant, too, she mentions, is always looking for new employees to become part of the success of the company. In addition to compliance, positions can be found in research & development, sales, marketing, finance, and IT, among others.