With the introduction of its new medium-term management plan, Santen set out a clear vision for how we will grow and deliver value to more patients worldwide. A core part of this plan is strengthening how we support and develop our people.
To explore how Santen’s talent approach is evolving, three Corporate Officers, Yoko Saiki, Chief Human Resources Officer; Marianthi Psaha, Head of EMEA Business; and Reza Haque, Head of Ophthalmology Innovation Center, shared their perspectives on what it means to grow together as an organization.
Participants
Yoko Saiki
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
Marianthi Psaha
Head of EMEA Business
Reza Haque
Head of Ophthalmology Innovation Center
People Make the Difference
Santen’s approach to eye care is grounded in understanding what patients truly need. This can only happen through people who are curious, skilled, and committed to making a difference.
Our people strategy highlights three competencies we are focusing on:
• A deep understanding of Santen’s unique approach to create value for patients
• A willingness to learn and demonstrate expertise throughout their work
• A commitment to results and creating meaningful impact.
To enable this, Santen aims to create an environment where these competencies can thrive – supporting colleagues to grow as leaders who take ownership in Santen’s commitment to excellence, ensuring our talents feel valued in their work, and building an organization that fosters collaboration.
For Yoko Saiki, this is central to Santen’s future direction: “People are not merely a resource for executing a strategy—they are the strategy. I firmly believe that how we develop our people, how we enable them to perform at their best, and how we collaborate to tackle challenges together will determine Santen’s future.”
Potential and Expertise
For Marianthi Psaha, Santen’s profile as a mid-sized company has a unique advantage:
“Rather than focusing on specialized roles with narrow scopes, our people work across boundaries, create internal and external connections, and thrive by achieving together. For that reason, we look not only for expertise, but also for the potential to grow.”
From an R&D perspective, Reza Haque highlights the depth of expertise required in ophthalmology.
“Understanding eye diseases is complex,” he says. “We need people with deep scientific knowledge. Retaining this talent while also helping them grow as leaders must go hand in hand.”
Setting the Path for Growth
At Santen, career development is a shared effort. Managers and the Human Resources teams provide guidance, but individuals must also shape their own paths.
“People have different aspirations,” says Haque. “Some want to lead teams, others want to deepen their scientific focus. Our role is to help them understand the routes available to them.”
Marianthi notes that Santen’s way of working naturally supports growth opportunities:
“Cross-functional collaboration gives colleagues a chance to stretch, learn, and prepare for the next step. At the same time, each person plays an active role in shaping their own journey. People must own their careers, seek opportunities, and position themselves for success.”
Employees as Partners to Shape Santen’s Future
Aligning how we develop people with our growth strategy is essential for Santen’s progress.
“We must look ahead and think about what the organization will need five years from now,” says Marianthi. “Human Resources is a key partner in preparing for that future, through development programs, hiring for potential, and strengthening our capabilities. We view employees as partners who not only contribute today but also join us in shaping Santen’s future.”
Yoko Saiki sees this as a direct expression of Santen’s core value, Achieve Together.
“I believe strongly in the potential of our colleagues,” she says. “When people, leaders, and teams work together toward a shared purpose, we can create the future we aim for and reach the goals of Santen’s FY2025-2029 Medium-Term Management Plan.”
Helping People Thrive
Santen remains committed to providing an environment where people feel supported, valued, and able to do their best work. Flexible and healthy ways of working, strong collaboration across functions and regions, and a sense of shared purpose help colleagues grow, individually and collectively.
Because when our people thrive, we strengthen our ability to deliver meaningful solutions for patients.
Short answer questions
We asked participants the following questions:
1. What makes you passionate about your work?
2. What has helped you develop your skills in your career?
3. What are the characteristics of Santen employees who make a difference?
- What inspires me most is the ability to make a difference in people’s lives and health. I also find great purpose in building strong teams, creating an environment where people feel trusted and empowered to grow and succeed.
- Working with people who challenged me and believed in me. I have grown the most in environments where I received honest feedback and was trusted with responsibility before I felt fully prepared. That trust and support helped me stretch beyond what I thought was possible.
- A strong sense of purpose and commitment to patient care. People at Santen are willing to go beyond their roles to step in and make things happen. Combined with a mindset of growth, progress, and execution, this spirit will enable us to move forward together and make a real difference in eye health.
- What makes me passionate about working in ophthalmic pharma is the tangible, life-changing impact we can make on people’s quality of life. Vision is one of the most valued senses, and what we strive to do is not just treat the disease but also preserve independence, dignity, and quality of life through vision.
- My background as an ophthalmologist has been fundamental. Gathering the latest information and working with professionals in diverse fields has expanded my knowledge and taught me to see the bigger picture. I’ve also had the privilege of learning from experienced mentors—both in medicine and industry. Their insights helped me navigate career transitions, understand pharma’s inner workings, and develop leadership skills.
- Santen employees are deeply committed to improving the quality of life for people with vision-related conditions. As a company focused specifically on ophthalmology, Santen attracts and cultivates employees with deep scientific and clinical knowledge. While maintaining the ethical standards and transparency characteristic of Japanese companies, a culture that also embraces change and thinks globally has taken root.
- What drives me is the belief that our work can truly enrich people’s lives. At Santen, we help patients preserve their vision with our products. This means supporting them in maintaining their independence and quality of life—protecting what I would call their “visible future.” I take pride in being part of a team that delivers happiness to patients.
- Growth often comes from stepping into unfamiliar territory, and taking on the challenge together. I’ve been given the opportunity to take on challenges beyond borders—both geographical and functional. Working closely with diverse colleagues on complex issues has expanded my perspective and taught me that learning is not a solo journey.
- Curiosity, commitment, and a spirit of collaboration—these are the qualities I see in our people. Santen employees are eager to understand unmet needs, driven to make a real-world impact, and open to learning from one another across regions and roles.
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