Celebrating Teva’s 2025 HBA Rising Star and Luminary Honorees

For nearly a decade, Teva has proudly partnered with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) to champion the growth and advancement of women in our organization. Through the prestigious HBA Rising Star and Luminary Program, we recognize standout leaders who inspire, mentor, and drive meaningful impact in healthcare.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Jamie Zona, Senior Manager, Commercial Training and Elizabeth Rody, VP, Global Clinical Operations – Generics to learn more about their career journeys. From career-defining moments to the impact of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) on their professional growth, both Jamie and Elizabeth share their insights, experiences, and what this recognition means to them.

Can you share your journey in the healthcare industry—what led you to this field, and how did you become involved with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association?

Jamie: When I first learned about the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA), I was inspired by their purpose and mission.

I became involved because some inspiring leaders on my team were already part of the organization. They shared how important the HBA was for professional advancement and development, which motivated me to join. I then became active in my local chapter and served on the programming committee. This experience allowed me to connect with other women leaders in the healthcare industry beyond my own company. Learning from others has broadened my perspective on effective leadership.

This opportunity also enabled me to host programs for the members of HBA. It was incredibly rewarding to organize sessions to support the personal and professional growth of others within the organization.

Elizabeth: Being the daughter of a nurse, I knew from a young age that I was interested in healthcare & science. I studied Biology and Chemistry with initial aspirations of going into research at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. However, following a summer position working for a pre-clinical Contract Research Organization that provided services to pharmaceutical companies, I became interested in learning more about the drug development process and the impacts on our healthcare industry. My journey with Teva started in the autumn of 2002 as a contract employee in Analytical Research & Development. It was a great first exposure to working in R&D at a pharmaceutical company. With an interest in broadening my experience in R&D, two years later I accepted a position in clinical supporting bioequivalence studies for Teva’s generic portfolio. I learned quickly that clinical was where I was meant to be & supporting generics by actively participating in product development in a fast-paced environment provided me with the best of both worlds: science & operations. I’ve continued to support generics but have also had the opportunity to be involved in Biosimilars and Innovative Medicines development. I now lead GCO Generics, a global team that supports clinical strategy & operations for Teva’s global generic & biosimilar programs and operational support for early phase healthy volunteer studies for innovative medicines. My interaction with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association started with this nomination & I look forward to discussions with other women in the industry. I am truly honored to represent Teva as this year’s HBA Luminary!

At Teva, We Are All In for Better Health. How do you embody this commitment in your role, and how do you inspire those around you to do the same?

Jamie: I embody the commitment of being all in for better health everyday. As sales trainer, I keep the patient top of mind with everything that I do. When I am training a new hire class, I always work to ensure the sales representatives understand all the important safety information about our products so they can accurately, confidently educate doctors. I am passionate about this as it is my way to help ensure the right patient gets the right medication. I am all in for the patients we help on a daily basis. 

I inspire other training professionals around me by reminding them why being a trainer is so important. We train hundreds of sales representatives, and we can have a lasting impact on the way they present information about Teva products. 

Elizabeth: The number of patients that take Teva medications daily is always at the forefront of my mind, and it drives our mission within GCO Generics. Within my team we are focused on ensuring quality and compliance in our clinical studies with the “Right First Time” mindset. Providing quality studies for our submissions allows us to accelerate delivery of high-quality, affordable medicines to patients. At the forefront of my mind & it drives our mission within GCO Generics. Within my team we are focused on ensuring quality & compliance in our clinical studies with the “Right First Time” mindset. Providing quality studies for our submissions allows us to accelerate delivery of high-quality, affordable medicines to patients.

HBA emphasizes the importance of mentorship in advancing women in healthcare. Can you share a lesson from a mentor that has influenced your leadership style and how you now mentor others to inspire the next generation?

Jamie: A valuable lesson I learned is the importance of growth and resilience. This helped me recognize that with every experience, there’s an opportunity to make incremental improvements. This perspective has inspired me to continually think of ways to refine processes and strive for better outcomes with each initiative we undertake. I have since embraced this mindset and made it a part of my leadership style.

Elizabeth: When I reflect on past mentors in my life & career, the most important lessons and growth came from individuals who trusted me with important tasks – giving me a sense of responsibility and ownership. Whether it was simply a high school job where I was responsible for ensuring that the day’s cash was tallied & the business locked up for the night to the start of my career in pharma. In the early days of my career, at a time when workload was high & resources tight, my manager entrusted me with taking the lead on managing studies, performing on-site study monitoring & conducting vendor inspections. While I still had much to learn, being “thrown into the fire” provided me with opportunities to take decisions & ownership of the task with the knowledge that I had constant support from my manager whenever necessary. This environment of trust & respect is one that I foster within my team today. I think communication & active listening is key to building a high-performing team so having regulator interactions with the team and holding periodic skip level meetings is valuable. As a manager, I strive to maintain the right balance between being supportive while also granting individuals the freedom to be empowered to take decisions. In addition to mentorship within my GCO Generics organization, participation in Teva’s mentoring program as a mentor has been an incredibly valuable experience for me as it’s allowed me to build connections with colleagues & share my personal experiences to help guide others within the organization.

The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association recognizes leaders who create meaningful and lasting impact. How are you committed to inspiring and motivating the next generation of healthcare leaders?

Jamie: I am committed to inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders by helping people recognize their own strengths and helping them to reach their fullest potential.  

Elizabeth: I believe that the future of healthcare relies on strong leaders who demonstrate humility, empathy, and effective communication & collaboration. I’m committed to mentorship of young professionals within the industry and students via Teva’s internship program. Being open & honest to share my own experiences is important, including past mistakes which are often the greatest opportunities to learn. As a leader, I think the strongest impact comes from leading by example and creating an environment where individuals can develop and make a real contribution to the organization. Demonstrating these values via mentorship can have a positive influence on shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders for a bright future.