The 2023 Rising Stars of the Profession: Erik Mooren

Erik is a Principal in Kearney's Healthcare practice. Based out of Tokyo, Erik has a decade of consulting experience and has advised leading pharma, MedTech, and biotech companies in Japan and the broader APAC region. His expertise covers topics at the forefront of innovation including R&D strategy and productivity, next-generation commercial models, and digital and organizational transformation. He is deeply passionate about co-creating solutions with clients and developing novel ways to bring medicine to more patients in need. Erik holds multiple leadership roles within Kearney, including co-leader of the life sciences R&D center of excellence in APAC. As part of Kearney's Global DEI leadership team, Erik strongly advocates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. Aspiring to be a trusted advisor in both multinational and Japanese boardrooms, Erik speaks Japanese in addition to English. He holds an MSc with distinction in International Business from Maastricht University and recently earned his black belt in judo.

What would you say has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

My ability to inspire junior consultants to go the extra mile. Consulting is a team sport and the best solutions are developed by diverse teams. I combine high expectations with a value-based, caring leadership style and as a result, I have seen my teams go above and beyond because they felt motivated to give their very best. Equally important to my career success has been the mentorship I have received from my mentors and seniors, who recognized my potential and gave me every possible opportunity to grow and showcase my work. Working in Kearney has provided me with an ecosystem of constant learning and progress.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

Opportunities to meet, work and understand people. Every person I interact with is a contributor to my continuous learning and career graph. For every client project I partner with, I am always amazed by the level of passion, intellect and talented individuals, inspiring me to work shoulder-to-shoulder with them to co-design the best solutions and practices. The profession also thrills me to create the "aha" moment with our clients when while we try to solve a problem. Both externally and internally, working in Kearney always had a positive impact on me.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

Being able to work on health care projects, which bring hope to the people associated with it, and support our client's business has always been my priority in this profession.

I was fortunate enough to be at the forefront of a project where a client hit a roadblock while working to develop a medicine for a rare disease for which no cure existed. A limited patient population and high uncertainty on drug pricing made it very difficult for our client to decide whether to pause or keep investing in the R&D program. I had the firsthand opportunity to work with patient advocacy groups to comprehend how many people were suffering from the disease, and in the process, we learned more about the daily struggles they were going through. With these findings, we build a rigorously tested business case and gave our client the confidence to continue investing in the project, eventually bringing hope to these patients that soon they may be able to participate in clinical trials

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most brilliant minds across the globe. My mentors always had an outstanding sense of wisdom, and the learning never stopped; that's when one of my seniors once said- "If you don't have a plan, you become part of somebody else's plan." This has stayed with me my whole career and impacted me beyond work, helping to carve out my actions and how I want to lead and deliver.

Consulting offers many exciting opportunities, but it is equally important to think about your own life goals & chart your path. This critical thinking instigates the way you deal with any problem, the legacy you want to create, and seek what drives you to achieve your goals beyond expectations.

What does this recognition mean to you?

Looking at the dynamic talent around me, I'm absolutely honored to have earned this recognition and feel like I am standing on the shoulders of giants. It's gratifying to be valued and recognized for your contributions and hard work. Such recognition acts as an enabler, motivating me to do more, achieve more and be more. As I progress in my career, I hope to be a role model for the next generation of leaders.