Luca Cziráky: You Don’t Need To Start In Biopharma To Thrive In It

I used to work in police admin - now I help prevent what took my father

Luca Cziráky, Medical Omnichannel Agile Project Manager in Budapest, shares how a non-traditional career path, which included working in the Hungarian police force, university procurement, and digital marketing, led to a role where personal loss transformed into a professional purpose.

"I wasn't even born when my father, Gyula, passed away from a heart attack," I often say when people ask what drew me to work in cardiovascular medicine. "So, working with these products now feels like coming full circle: I'm helping to prevent the same events that took him from my family."

We have an inhibitor that can reduce cardiovascular risk by lowering cholesterol levels, essentially helping prevent heart attacks. It's an unexpected connection for someone whose career journey began in the Hungarian police administration, wound through university procurement, and somehow led to pharmaceutical project management.

Today, as Medical Omnichannel Agile Project Manager based in Budapest, I manage our product content strategy across five countries: Israel, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, and Greece. It's a role that combines everything I loved about my previous experiences while serving a purpose I never expected to find so personally meaningful. 

You don’t need to start in biopharma to thrive in it

After finishing school, I postponed further studies and started working for the Hungarian police department, supporting lawyers in their legal office. It was primarily administrative work with some minor project management responsibilities, but it taught me how to navigate complex systems.

From there, I moved to Semmelweis University, Hungary's largest medical university, where I worked in procurement for hospital renovations. This role was my first real exposure to healthcare professionals and project management on a larger scale, giving me my first glimpse into how healthcare systems operate.

The experience sparked something. I realized I loved project management and wanted an international career. I began studying marketing and commerce at Budapest University of Economics and Business, focusing on courses taught in English.

When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, I left my university role and spent several months wondering what came next. That's when I discovered the Sanofi internship opportunity that would completely reshape my career.

We need other perspectives to drive digital transformation

I began my career at Sanofi as a trainee for the Hungarian medical team in December 2021. My boss was the medical lead for Central European Multi-Country Organizations (MCOs), which immediately exposed me to work beyond Hungary.

We then assembled a new department, the Medical Omnichannel Hub, for the Central European MCO. Suddenly, I wasn't dedicated to Hungary anymore; I was focusing on medical omnichannel communication for the entire region. My role involved project management, digital transformation, and capability building.

This was when omnichannel communication in medical contexts was much less mature than it is today. We were pioneers, translating digital marketing concepts into medical communication strategies. I was helping to build the future of how we engage with healthcare professionals.

The work was fascinating because I didn't have a traditional medical background. I'm not a pharmacist or a clinician. But that outside perspective was exactly what the team needed for digital transformation.

When Sanofi began a business transformation, this was my chance to transition from medical to marketing. The Content Lead position was ideal: it scaled up everything I loved, incorporating more creativity, data-driven analytics, and strategic process work. And it made me think of my dad.

The support I received was incredible. My previous managers and colleagues genuinely encouraged my development. That's when I truly understood Sanofi's commitment to growing talent across functions.

Our Budapest Hub is where cross-cultural careers take off

Working in Budapest's Hub has been incredibly enriching. The multicultural environment means I'm constantly exposed to different communication and working styles. I’ve learned a lot working with some colleagues who tend to be very direct: they say exactly what they mean than what someone from Central Europe can be used to (I joke that we tend to circle around points). 

But that diversity makes the work better. I love working with people who are different, and think differently than I do. 

Working across five countries with diverse healthcare systems and cultural contexts has significantly accelerated my professional development. Each country presents unique challenges for positioning cardiovascular therapies. 

My advice for anyone from a non-traditional background to biopharma: don't be afraid to try, even if you think you lack the necessary medical background. If you care about digital innovation, marketing, or project management, these capabilities can be developed and applied in pharma contexts.

Sanofi has been incredibly supportive of my development, filling knowledge gaps, and providing resources to grow. You can't lose by trying, and you can only win by taking the chance.

My long-term goal is to transition into a global role eventually, but I'm thrilled to have this MCO position, which will allow me to work across multiple countries. Working on therapies that prevent cardiovascular events means I'm part of something bigger than myself. 

Every project contributes to helping patients live healthier lives. And knowing that this work might prevent other families from experiencing what mine did with my father’s passing makes every challenge worth solving.