Julien Willard, M.D., M.P.H., is a strategist in the health and pharmaceutical sector. He was trained as a pediatric eye surgeon and is an economist and management consultant. Willard is a Partner at IBM Consulting. He leads business, data and technology strategy work with biotech and pharmaceutical clients. Willard is the IBM’s advisor on drug discovery and clinical trials.
Dr. Willard has held several leadership roles in global institutions. He was a head of health policy at Oxfam GB and a senior economist at the World Bank. Later, he served as chief of staff at PwC’s Public Sector group. Before IBM, he led a technology strategy group at Accenture serving top pharmaceutical clients.
During his global career, Dr. Willard helped countries improve their healthcare systems. He worked with country leaders to support their journey to universal healthcare. Those leaders were from the US, UK, Germany, Africa, Middle East and Asia regions. He assisted health ministries in creating drug policies, public health programs, and addressing national drug challenges. He worked with the South Africa leaders to ensure a stable drug supply chain. He took part in aiding a public-private dialogue on HIV medicines in Africa.
Dr. Willard has written for Harvard Business Review, World Economic Forum, and World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund proceedings, and research journals like the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice.
Julien Willard received the World Bank President’s Excellence Award. He serves as a visiting professor at George Washington and Harvard Universities. He earlier represented Oxfam at G20 and the United Nations General Assembly. In 2024, he was a U.S. Ambassador to the World Business Angels’ forum on biotech investments.
Dr. Willard is a member of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, the American Economic Association.
Clients grappling with inflation and economic uncertainty have cut back on splashy consulting projects. The industry demands in-depth functional expertise, more 1:1 facetime with executives and shared risk.
My experience as a clinician and diplomat shaped these values that now guide which clients I work with and problems I solve.
I won't sugarcoat problems or dance around tough issues. I call on bullshit because if we are talking, we got here for a reason. Clear, direct communication builds trust faster than comfortable lies ever will.
I ruthlessly eliminate distractions that don't serve your goals. When everyone else chases shiny objects, we'll stay locked on what actually moves the needle.
I am an economist, I respect data and analysis. Opinions are interesting, data is compelling, results are everything. I ground every recommendation in facts, not wishful thinking or industry trends.
I recognize that your problem may have occurred before in your or other industry. But it is a valid and a complex problem.
The loudest voice rarely has the best answer. I listen first, speak second, and change course when evidence demands it. When I don't know something, you will be the first to hear it from me.
When I say I'll deliver something, consider it done. No excuses, no missed deadlines, no diminished quality under pressure.
Innovation doesn't mean throwing away what works. I build on your existing strengths while strategically challenging what needs to change.
