Carmen's
Sanofi Journey

A son’s rare diagnosis, a renewed mission

Carmen María Escamilla is Head of Customer Care in Supply Chain, based in Mexico. She discusses how personal experience with her son's rare genetic disorder helped shape her 11-year pharmaceutical career journey and why ensuring medicine availability has become her mission.

After nearly nine years working at Tupperware, what attracted you to join Sanofi in 2014?

The main pull was that it was a pharmaceutical company – this was my primary motivation. I came from Tupperware, which produces plastic products, and before that, I worked in the automotive industry. Moving to pharmaceuticals represented something more meaningful – we work for the patient and bring health to people.

Working for a multinational company was also appealing. Though the transition was challenging, going from an industry where decisions are made quickly to one where every choice impacts lives, I was ready for this significant change.

Was there a personal reason behind your desire to work specifically in pharmaceuticals?

Yes, my son Gonzalo, born 12 years ago – so a year before I moved to Sanofi – has Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. At the time, we needed access to specialized testing and treatments that depended on pharmaceutical innovation and availability. The experience opened by eyes to how vital timely access to medicine can be.

As a parent, I’ve lived what it means to rely on specific medications or diagnostic tools for their child. So, when I work to ensure that our products reach patients, I know the real-world impact this has - on families like mine. That's what gives meaning to working in healthcare.

How did Sanofi support you as an employee with a child who has special needs?

Sanofi has been tremendously supportive through its Enfants de Sanofi program, a nonprofit that provides moral, financial, and material assistance to employees with children in need of health, social, or educational support. And it means a lot.

More recently, Sanofi launched a Cancer and Work program that supports not only employees with serious illnesses but also those caring for family members with such conditions. Just knowing that your employer understands the challenges of caring for a child with special needs makes a significant difference. These initiatives make Sanofi special to me and influenced my decision to build my career here.

Your career at Sanofi has evolved through five different roles in less than 11 years. How has the company supported your growth?

Sanofi has been like a trampoline for my career growth. In my last employer, I spent nine years in essentially the same position. When I joined Sanofi as Material Supply Head, I was promoted to Supply Chain Head after just a year and a half – a significant leap that changed my life.

I was selected for this role over many other candidates, which gave me immense confidence that I had done something right in my short time here. It expanded my responsibilities from just planning to include production, distribution, warehousing, and import/export operations. I also joined the senior leadership team, reporting directly to the site director, which gave me access to strategic information and projects.

The company has consistently provided opportunities to develop new skills, whether through international travel, exposure to senior management, or leading complex projects. Each role has brought new challenges that have helped me grow professionally.

What was your most significant career challenge at Sanofi?

Transitioning from manufacturing to the commercial side during the pandemic was particularly challenging. In manufacturing, everything follows defined processes with clear steps. In commercial operations, there are more ambiguities and political considerations.

My team also changed from five mostly operational people to twelve administrative managers. Leading managers requires different skills – they challenge you and don't accept everything at face value. Their expectations are higher, so you need stronger leadership and coaching abilities.

Managing all this via Zoom during the pandemic made it even more difficult. Building relationships virtually at this time required a different approach to leadership. Despite these challenges, the experience taught me valuable lessons about adaptability and communication.

As Head of Customer Care, what does your current role involve?

My team ensures that all orders received are delivered on time and complete. We're almost the last link in the supply chain process, which makes our work fast-paced and operationally intensive. We must make rapid decisions and collaborate with numerous departments including finance, commercial, cash, and fiscal teams.

When I started this role, I had to learn quickly since my team members were already experts in their areas. That was challenging, but it pushed me to absorb information rapidly while supporting the team.

Recently, we implemented a global restructuring initiative that changed almost everything about how we work. I'm proud that we managed this transformation by maintaining transparent communication throughout the process, putting the right people in the right positions, and helping team members feel that their work matters.

After nearly 11 years, what keeps you at Sanofi?

Beyond our ambition to build a healthier, more resilient world - and my personal connection to it... Sanofi genuinely cares about its people and their career development. The company provides growth opportunities and creates a positive work environment, giving employees the tools they need to advance their careers. Even with the rapid pace of change in our industry, Sanofi's commitment to its people remains consistent.

Every day, I'm reminded that our work ensures medications reach the people who need them – families like mine.

Our purpose, combined with Sanofi's supportive culture, makes it a place where I can continue to grow and make a meaningful difference.