PEP Talks: Building teams, trust, and transparency

Special Guest: Rebecca Vermeulen, VP, Global Patient Networks, Roche

This episode features a conversation between host Emma Sutcliffe and Rebecca Vermeulen.

Moving from pharmacy into medical affairs, Rebecca built key capabilities at Roche – including MSL teams, publications, call centres, and a global patient partnership team. Both she and Emma emphasise choosing purpose-driven roles over linear CV-building.

Emma and Rebecca discuss how the PEPS community and ISPEP are complementary, non-competing organisations working to raise industry standards. They also highlight vulnerability and openness regarding neurodiversity as essential tools to build psychological safety, noting that leaders should give teams the space to fail, grow, and lean on industry peers during setbacks.

Sponsored by Gilead