Meet Laith

I applied to AstraZeneca’s LUMINI Graduate Programme following the completion of my Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden. As an engineer, my educational background has equipped me with the skills to innovate and problem-solve, but I looked forward to a career that would allow me to channel my expertise into making a tangible impact on people's health and well-being.

While I did not have prior experience in the pharmaceutical industry, I considered this to be the beginning of a transformative journey. AstraZeneca’s LUMINI Graduate Programme offered a unique opportunity for me to immerse myself in diverse roles, gain hands-on experience, and gain a holistic understanding of the pharmaceutical sector. This represented not just a career path, but a journey of personal growth and a chance to make a meaningful impact on people's lives.

During my first placement, I worked as a Packaging Material Engineer. Here I supported Respiratory production site by taking responsibility for packaging material technical matters. This included evaluating new materials, driving change through technical trials, and addressing deviations on existing materials in production and incoming packaging materials. I also led a pre-study for pre-inserted packaging leaflet in cartoons.

I had a chance to work as a Business Developer as part of my second placement. In this role, I was part of the section leadership team that was responsible for formulation process of Tagrisso, Calquence and Forxiga. I was mainly involved in a capacity improvement project for Forxiga, where we identified bottlenecks and implemented solutions to increase capacity by upgrading existing machines and optimizing the production flow.

My last placement gave me the opportunity to work as a Supply Chain & Network Strategy Finance Analyst. During this time, I improved a cost estimation simulator that demonstrates how different costs vary depending on changes in production volumes. I also conducted P&L analysis during multiple budget cycles by assessing how changes in production volumes impact the P&L across all global sites. Did also support MTP budgeting cycle through daily hypercare issue resolution and PowerBi analysis.

I finished the LUMINI Graduate Programme in September 2023 I am currently working as a Finance Business Partner with AstraZeneca in Södertälje, Sweden. The role encompasses various responsibilities, including business strategy support, financial performance management and continuous improvement. It involves collaborating with the business to drive informed decision-making, ensuring accurate forecasts, optimizing resource allocation, and enhancing financial processes. Additionally, it focuses on coaching to improve financial planning and business cases.

AstraZeneca's strong emphasis on fostering an inclusive work environment, commitment to environmental sustainability, and excellence in healthcare aligns perfectly with my own values and aspirations. Moreover, the prospect of contributing to a company where patients are the number one priority is a source of tremendous motivation. This is a place where I believe I can flourish both professionally and personally.

My journey with AstraZeneca has just commenced, and I'm thrilled to be part of a diverse and supportive community of individuals working collectively to enhance healthcare outcomes worldwide. This marks the inception of my journey towards creating a positive influence on people's lives, and I look forward to the rewarding path that lies ahead.