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    Zhike Lei & Marcus Schindler on exploration and purpose at Novo Nordisk

    December 8, 2025 • by Zhike Lei in I by IMD Podcasts • Podcast availablePodcast available

    IMD’s Zhike Lei talks with Marcus Schindler on driving innovation at Novo Nordisk, balancing delivery and discovery, and preparing R&D teams for AI....

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    In this episode, IMD Professor Zhike Lei speaks with Marcus Schindler, the former head of Novo Nordisk’s R&D operation, about driving innovation through transformation.

     

    Schindler reveals his journey is defined by “exploration” and details how he balances the need for immediate delivery with long-term discovery, stressing that success requires doing both.

    Novo Nordisk’s strong, patient-focused purpose attracts global talent, and Schindler explains the strategy behind establishing R&D hubs in places like Boston to leverage external innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. R&D teams, he says, need to prepare for the age of AI by becoming “bi-lingual” in both science and digital skills, and concludes that trust and a compelling value story are the currency for leading a transformative organization.

    Expert

    Marcus Schindler

    Former Executive Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer, Novo Nordisk

    Marcus Schindler is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Novo Nordisk, where he led more than 2,500 scientists across the company’s global research and early development organization. During his seven-year tenure, he helped expand Novo Nordisk’s innovation footprint, drive scientific rigor, and shape the company’s strategic shift toward new therapies and emerging technologies. A passionate advocate for purpose-driven leadership, Schindler champions curiosity, integrity, and the development of future-ready scientific talent.

    Authors

    Zhike Lei

    Zhike Lei

    Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior, IMD

    Zhike Lei is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior. She is an award-winning organizational scholar and an expert on psychological safety, team dynamics, organizational learning, error management, and patient safety. Lei studies how organizations, teams, and employees adapt and learn in complex, time-pressured, consequence-laden environments. As a global management educator, she has taught executives and PhD, DBA, EMBA, and MBA candidates, as well as undergraduates, and has won numerous teaching awards and recognitions.

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