Sascha Hanselmann on building authentic workspaces and championing LGBTQ+ inclusion

“Diversity and inclusion should be ingrained in a company’s core values rather than being simply an afterthought or a box to check off.” Sascha Hanselmann, Business Unit Head for Pharmaceuticals—Central Europe at Baxter International Inc., shared his personal journey of self-acceptance, the importance of community, and Baxter's commitment to keeping a safe and inclusive environment for all employees.

"My entrepreneurial mindset was moulded from an early age by my family. My parents, who were consistently ambitious, initiated a business focused on selling forklifts in 1990, and I frequently accompanied them during negotiations. This experience played a crucial role in shaping my initial perceptions of business and strategy. Despite originally aspiring to study medicine after school, I redirected my path towards industrial engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich. During my studies, I had the opportunity to intern at Hexal/Sandoz, where I gained valuable insights into how successful, large-scale organizations continuously seek opportunities to refine and optimise their processes.

In 2016, I took on the role of Head of Controlling for Sandoz UK. I revitalised the finance team there and was recognised with global team awards. This experience taught me the importance of building strong, motivated teams.

I joined Aspen Pharmaceuticals, a South African company, as Head of Finance for Germany, Austria & Switzerland. Two years later, I was allowed to take on the role of Commercial Lead. Transitioning from a numbers-driven finance role into a commercial leadership position was initially daunting. Still, it quickly became an incredibly empowering experience that allowed me to broaden my impact on the business. In 2024, I transitioned to Baxter, leading the Pharmaceuticals commercial business across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Throughout my career, my key strength has been challenging the status quo and fostering collaboration across departments to drive meaningful change."

Read the full interview with Sascha on Attitude.