Stefanie Nickel

Sandoz, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion

Born and raised in Germany, Stefanie Nickel consciously experienced the breadth and depth of diversity for the first time during a high-school year in the U.S. at age sixteen. Building on her interest in science and different cultures, she studied medicine in Germany, Austria, the United States and France, and started as a physician in the Department for Heart Surgery at the German Heart Center Munich. Struggling with the hierarchical structures and work climate in medicine, she sought to learn more about collaboration, leadership and business: Starting with strategy consulting at Bain & Company with the opportunity do an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management, via various marketing and sales roles at Amgen Germany, she joined Sandoz in 2014 as Global Director New Products and Portfolio Strategy. Having a “mid-life moment” of clarity that business peformance first and foremost is an outcome of how we interact on a human level, facilitated by her training to become a systemic personal and business coach, Stefanie transitioned into HR Strategy and Project Management before taking on her current role as Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion in December 2018, which she describes as a wonderful learning and impact opportunity.

Articles by Stefanie Nickel

From Science to Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion – My Journey at Sandoz

Sandoz's Global Head of D&I on her mid-career pivot from medicine, and why evidence-based management transforms inclusion work. See open roles at Sandoz.