For decades, families affected by rare diseases have heard the same heartbreaking message: ‘There is no approved treatment yet.’ In 2026, that story is finally changing. From the first-ever approval for Menkes disease to a landmark FDA policy shift for gene therapies, the rare disease landscape is transforming at a pace never seen before. Here’s what you need to know.

Ask any Specialty Pharma leader what they want in their next executive hire and you’ll hear familiar themes: “fresh thinking,” “diverse perspectives,” “ability to challenge the status quo.” Then the search progresses, and a strong candidate gets rejected with a vague line: “They’re great, but I’m not sure they’re a culture fit.” In many organizations, that is where diverse, high‑potential leaders—especially those who don’t look, talk, or network like the current C‑suite—qui

On 23rd July, I’m officially launching Sharon Shields Consulting — a specialist consultancy focused on executive research, market mapping and talent intelligence for life sciences organisations across the UK, Europe and the US. I also partner with executive search consultancies who need deep, reliable research support for complex senior mandates.

Choosing where to set up in Europe is just the beginning. The real challenge — and the real competitive advantage — lies in finding, attracting, and retaining the right people in markets where the best talent has choices