Associate Vice President & Delivery Head | Norstella India
Kiranmayee Pucha oversees a diverse team of over 100 professionals, including engineers, architects, program managers, and delivery heads, who collectively drive Norstella’s market access solutions. Over the years, she has played a pivotal role in expanding the team from an initial two members to over 150, fostering a strong foundation for growth and collaboration across multiple projects.
Tell us a little bit more about your role.
My main focus is on overseeing all products within market access, known as Managed Markets Insights & Technology (MMIT) at Norstella.
This involves balancing people management with deliverables – coordinating across the team, keeping everything on track, and ensuring we’re moving forward smoothly. It’s both rewarding and challenging, with many moving parts and constant communication to ensure everyone has what they need to be successful in their roles.
How did you join the company? What in your background brought you to pharma?
I initially worked with Norstella as part of Enterprise Integration Technologies (EIT), which was one of Norstella’s vendors. I was among the first few people to join Agility, a company specializing in pharmaceutical data and market access solutions, where I contributed to various projects. Then, when Norstella acquired Agility, I transitioned from the vendor side to become part of Norstella full-time. It’s now been about four years since I made that shift and it’s been a great journey.
What are some of the larger projects you’re working on?
Currently, my main focus is on the commercial platform project as part of market access. It’s a significant project that requires attention to detail and team coordination. I’m also working on Norstella’s data platform, which is an umbrella for multiple smaller projects. Together, these are my main areas of focus.
What has been your career highlight to date?
When I first started with Norstella, we had a very small team – around four or five people. Over the past four years, that’s grown significantly. Now, we’re a team of over 100 here in India, specifically in technology, and I think that growth is a big highlight for me. To see how we’ve expanded and how we’re now able to support Norstella’s various needs really rewarding.
What would you tell someone just starting their career with Norstella?
Do your best, always. The more you do, the more you’ll get out of it. There are a lot of growth opportunities here, and it’s all about finding the right path, driving toward it, and making sure people see the work you’re doing. Visibility and a strong work ethic go hand-in-hand here.
Where do you see Norstella in the next year or two?
Norstella has ambitious plans for the coming years, especially as we consolidate our approach and stay aligned with market trends.
The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing major shifts due to advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), and the growing emphasis on real-world evidence (RWE) to inform decision-making and demonstrate product value.
Norstella is in a unique position to lead in these areas by providing comprehensive data solutions and insights that support AI and ML adoption, as well as leveraging RWE to improve market access and patient outcomes.
From a product engineering perspective, we’re continuously adapting to these trends, enhancing our processes, and accelerating our product delivery. I see Norstella as a true industry leader that is constantly advancing to meet the evolving needs of our clients.
Which Norstella principle resonates most with you?
Resilience and Mission First are the two that resonate with me the most. I think resilience is key in any field, but especially in ours. Being mission-focused reminds me to always align our work with the company’s bigger goals.
What do you like most about working at Norstella?
What I like most about working here is the freedom I have. There’s no strict boundary saying, ‘This isn’t your job’ or ‘This isn’t something you’re supposed to do.’ I’ve been given the space to speak up, share ideas, and take action. This freedom to contribute and explore has been what I like most about working here.
We’re looking for agile, growth-oriented team players who are passionate about client success and helping clients bring life-saving therapies to market quicker—and help patients in need.
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