Stephen Saad on building Aspen and leading through pressure

In this edition of The Executive Exchange, we sit down with Aspen Pharmacare CEO Stephen Saad, one of South Africa’s most influential and enduring business leaders.

Saad opens up about the leadership mindset required to build a global pharmaceutical powerhouse from an emerging-market base, what long-term value creation really looks like in a short-term world, and how decisive, calm leadership under pressure has shaped Aspen’s evolution.

Read: The only SA company to make it really big in Australia

From fostering culture and consistency across continents to cultivating resilience through setbacks, and the lessons he believes the next generation of leaders must carry forward, Saad offers a rare, unfiltered look into what it takes to lead at scale – without losing your centre.

Read:
Does Aspen’s manufacturing matter?
Good medicine – Aspen’s epic value unlock
Adcock Ingram shareholders overwhelmingly back R4.2bn Natco Pharma deal

Aspen share price

* For previous episodes of the Executive Exchange vodcast, click here or view on MoneywebTV on our YouTube channel.