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Business Leaders Lecture with Ornella Barra

How to Grow a Business and Navigating Through Crisis

Ornella Barra
In conversation | Public lectures

Drawing on her extensive experience as an entrepreneur and leader in the healthcare industry, Ornella Barra will share valuable strategies for growing a business, fostering innovation and making key strategic decisions. She will also share practical insights on navigating crises, underscoring the importance of resilience and agility, with examples from her forty years of experience that propelled her to the top of a global healthcare company. This is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the most respected leaders in business on how to lead with foresight, adapt in challenging times and drive sustainable growth.

If the event is full and you would like to be added to the waiting list please email nbsmarketingteam@ntu.ac.uk

  • From: Tuesday 25 February 2025, 5.30 pm
  • To: Tuesday 25 February 2025, 7.30 pm
  • Location: Lecture Theatre 2, Newton Building, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 4BU
  • Booking deadline: Tuesday 25 February 2025, 5.00 pm
  • Download this event to your calendar
Past event

Event details

Timings

5.30 pm – 5.45 pm: arrival and registration

5.45 pm – 6.30 pm: Ornella's presentation and Q&A

6.30 pm – 7.00 pm: post-lecture drinks and canapés

About the speaker - Ornella Barra

Ornella Barra graduated from the University of Genoa with a degree in pharmacy and embarked on a career in the healthcare sector.  She started out as a pharmacist, first managing and then setting up her own pharmacy. In 1984 she founded the pharmaceutical wholesaler Di Pharma. In 1986, Di Pharma was taken over by Alleanza Salute Italia.

During the various mergers that led to the creation of Walgreens Boots Alliance in 2014, she has held several roles as member of the Boards of Directors of various companies (both listed and privately held) of the Group.

As Chief Operating Officer, International she oversees WBA’s businesses outside of the U.S., including Boots UK and other pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses in Europe, Latin America and Asia, as well as WBA’s pharmaceutical wholesale operation in Germany and the No7 Beauty Company. She is also Chair of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.

Ornella is a member of the Board of Directors of Cencora (formerly known as AmerisourceBergen) and sits on the Board of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers. She is an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham, School of Pharmacy, member of the Advisory Council of SDA School of Management, Bocconi University and member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for European Analysis and Policy of LUISS University.

Nottingham Business School Students

This event can count towards your CPD hours, if applicable to your Personal Development Goals. Attendance at the event will be monitored and the event organisers will provide confirmation of your attendance to the lecture and networking, as evidence for your portfolio. The booking confirmation email alone will not count as attending the event. Guest speaker slides will not typically be made available, therefore you are encouraged to take notes and reflections throughout the lecture to use within your portfolio.

Location details

Room/Building:

Lecture Theatre 2, Newton Building

Address:

Goldsmith Street
 Nottingham
 Nottinghamshire
 NG1 4BU
Past event

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