Eduardo Blan Draws Motivation From Opportunities to Make an Impact, Grow His Career

Q: What drew you to your field and how did you come to work at Gilead?

I have 20 years of experience working in pharmaceutical sales. In 2008, I began working in the hepatology and infectious diseases space, which was a rewarding experience and helped me form relationships with medical professionals in the area. I started at Gilead in 2015 as the company was beginning to introduce its curative treatments for hepatitis C in Brazil. With my background, it was an incredibly exciting time to join the company and play a role in this work.

Q: What makes you feel valued as an employee?

I really believe that Gilead cares about me and values my ideas and accomplishments. Gilead also supports your development. Personally, the company supported me in learning English to expand my career possibilities. I also appreciate that when new positions are made available, whenever possible, Gilead looks for opportunities to fill them with existing employees. This is all very motivating.

Q: What was your most memorable day at Gilead, and what made it special?

In 2017, I had the opportunity to visit our global headquarters in Foster City, California. It was a fascinating experience and so meaningful to learn more about the work of our scientific researchers to discover and develop innovative therapies. The trip gave me a better understanding of work happening across Gilead and made me feel more connected to the company’s mission.

Eduardo at Gilead’s global headquarters in Foster City, Calif.

Q: Tell us about a time you really felt the impact of your work.

I once gave a woman a ride home from the grocery store on a rainy day. As we talked, she told me she had been battling a disease for 30 years. Curious, I asked what the disease was, and it turned out to be hepatitis C, for which she had recently received treatment with one of our medicines! Many people in Brazil and around the world have been treated with our hepatitis C medicines, and I’m always proud of the impact we’ve had in this area. But it was incredible to hear firsthand, through a chance encounter, about the potential impact on this one woman’s life.

Q: Why is working at Gilead more than “just a job”?

Every day we have the opportunity to meet the needs of our communities and help people living with some of the world’s most serious diseases. So this is not just an occupation, but rather an opportunity to bring great value to society.