Heather Bresch

I hope to be viewed and judged first and foremost by my accomplishments and capabilities as a leader - regardless of my gender.

The most important characteristic that has allowed me to succeed is confidence. I have always been comfortable in my own skin, and even when I was just starting out in my career, had the strength and self-assurance to ask tough questions and push for answers.

I'd like to believe that achieving a leadership position is all about competency, capability and ambition, so I try not to distinguish between the sexes when it comes to giving career advice.

My great-grandfather started in the coal mines, and my great grandmother made 10 pounds of bread every Saturday morning that we delivered to the neighbors. It was always about giving back. These kinds of things drive me to make a difference.

I'm not in public service, nor do I ever plan to be, but I give back in my own way.

Political service is important because it's about helping others help themselves. That was engrained in me from a young child.

When I hear things like 'unpatriotic,' I just chalk it up to a lot of political rhetoric.

My experiences with gender bias are probably the norm. What I found was that expectations of women were simply lower, and this resulted in being overlooked for certain opportunities.

Being a woman leader is secondary to me - and should be to others.

We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines at the pharmacy counter.

The pricing of a pharmaceutical product is opaque and frustrating, especially for patients.

Life's messy.