Q&A with a Commercial Oncology lead at J&J 

Born and educated in Italy, now based in Australia with J&J, Ilaria F. describes her work in oncology in terms of mission and movement. “We're on a quest to be one step ahead of cancer," she says. "We're going to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers until we outpace the disease itself.” 

In this short Q&A, learn what’s unique, inspiring and surprising to Ilaria about working on our Commerical Oncology team, as well as a few practical hiring insights for when you’re ready to apply for roles at J&J. 

Q: What differentiates J&J’s approach to Commercial Oncology?   

A: In such a rapidly evolving landscape, agility is a big differentiator for J&J. We’re incredibly flexible and responsive, capable of quickly adapting to new challenges or information and then pivoting our strategies in turn.   

Q: What’s the most surprising thing you've discovered since joining J&J? 

A: There’s such a deeply felt curiosity here, and you can sense it across the organization, at all levels, from the top down. There’s a willingness to approach every conversation or challenge with an open mind and a genuine desire to learn. You can also see it manifested as a shared commitment never to settle for the status quo.  

Q: Are there specific qualities you look for when interviewing candidates?  

A: Listening deeply and demonstrating empathy are critically important, and they’re both central to the approach of our Commercial Oncology team.  

For example, we recognize that oncology patients, caregivers and clinicians face not only medical challenges, but everyday emotional and practical hurdles as well, which is why ensuring that every interaction is both informative and supportive is one of the ways we define success. But only by listening deeply and with empathy can we achieve goals like that.  

Q: What other qualities or capabilities should candidates be able to demonstrate?  

A: Our team operates as a tightly integrated, cross-functional unit, and innovation happens by leveraging our collective expertise. With that in mind, you have to be able to collaborate cross-functionally, because when patients are at the heart of your mission, you can’t afford to have silos on your team.