Abasi Ene-Obong

"I would not describe myself as an innovator. I think I am doing the work that needs to be done. If I am an innovator, perhaps it’s because I faced this challenge head-on and was persistent as well as fortunate in timing. I am lucky that our work is making an impact."

"I see the impact of genomics increasing across all scientific disciplines, and that is a great thing! Healthcare will get increasingly personalised, and treatments will get very specific to disease subtypes – this is already happening. Genomics will also accelerate the pace of development of such treatments. One more thing, I believe genomics will show us over time just how connected yet different we are, and that will have a significant social and cultural impact."

"Each environment has its unique set of challenges and opportunities, nationally, regionally, and globally. Across borders, one of the major obstacles, and at the same time a big opportunity, is that of disparities in healthcare. Disparities in healthcare are propagated where there is a lack of funding innovation into healthcare. Wealthy regions of the world have developed their healthcare environments significantly more than poorer regions; and even within some regions – wealthy or not – funding for healthcare infrastructure, let alone innovation, is disproportionally distributed and/or mismanaged. This has become the status quo for how our healthcare environments have developed, but this is now unsustainable in today’s globalised world, where an event in one part of the world can shut down all systems across the globe."

"The only sustainable model for healthcare innovation looks in equal parts at rich and poor regions, regardless of ethnic or cultural lines. This also means healthcare must become more collaborative. My only fear is history repeating itself, where the strong “prey” on the weak. Today’s generation of leaders must seek to do things differently, particularly in the healthcare space, to ensure there is a win-win mindset as an acceleration of technology and funding creates more value."

"Innovation is being driven by all stakeholders. However, I do think the voice we hear the least is that of the patients. In an ideal world, the drive for innovation should come significantly from the patients. In the end, Pharma, Providers, Payers and Doctors really work for the patient. And I believe now and increasingly into the future that the patient will have a stronger share of voice in driving innovation. With the increase of social media, accessibility to information, and patient advocacy groups, patients are demanding better care and better services. And, as I spoke about earlier, healthcare and treatment is becoming more and more personalised, which means whether an individual patient vocalises their needs or not, their genetics certainly will; and that has a profound influence on driving innovation upon pharma, providers, payers, and physicians."

"I think very positively. It should not take a pandemic to align stakeholders and drive innovation at a scale not typically seen before. Maybe thinking about how we can all work to prevent the next pandemic can keep us all aligned"

"I don’t know, but I know I don’t know it all! I believe the entrepreneurship journey is one of discovery. Always stay learning and never think you know everything. Be open to change. Allow growth to happen, and don’t fight it. Find joy and happiness in the little things. And enjoy the work you do!"

"It is an honour. I think the Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts is taking a holistic approach to problem-solving and innovation by ensuring that a truly global and diverse group of leaders come together to work on global challenges. I believe that it’s within that diversity, my fellow Catalysts and I will provide the needed solutions, which is humbling. Where I come from (and I know this is the case in other places), we all really want to make an impact and make our parents proud. Mine told me they were after the announcement."

"A Life in War and Peace” by Kofi Annan. I know this is not the typical business book, but I spent the first 20 years of my life in Africa, and in my teens, I watched a man who looked like me and spoke like me lead other world leaders through major geopolitical events. Kofi Annan made me believe that where I was born and the opportunities [or lack of] I had would only be limiting if I let it and could be an advantage. “Interventions” is his memoir."