A Conversation with Medical Affairs Leader Olivia Kager

OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions, hosted by Linda Traylor, VP of Medical Excellence at Acceleration Point, is inspired by The Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss. Each episode follows a consistent set of reflective questions designed to uncover the mindsets, habits, and leadership lessons of exceptional Medical Affairs leaders.

In this episode, Linda talks with Olivia Kager (Global Commercial Lead, Hemato-Oncology at Kyowa Kirin) about a career she describes as "a story of accidents": crossing from medicine into patient services, into medical affairs, into commercial, back to medical as head of medical for the DACH region, and now into global commercial for a pipeline product. That back-and-forth gave her something most single-track careers don't: fluency in both worlds, and a clear-eyed view of what it actually takes for medical affairs to be treated as a strategic partner rather than a supporting function. If you're building a career in Medical Affairs and wondering whether an unconventional path is a liability, this conversation is one to return to.

Key Takeaways:

• Careers rarely move in a straight line, and that's the point. Olivia's path across medical affairs, commercial, and back again taught her that what looks like a detour often becomes the bridge that makes a leader more effective in either function.
• A seat at the table means nothing without accountability. Medical affairs earns strategic influence by taking ownership of outcomes, not by waiting to be told what to deliver.
• Success should be measured by outcomes, not activity. Advisory board counts and publication numbers matter less than whether an insight actually changed a decision or closed an evidence gap.
• Courage is a skill you practice, not a trait you're born with. Repeated exposure to uncomfortable moments, not personality, is what builds a leader's tolerance for risk.
• Values have to match the work, or the mismatch will show. Grounding decisions in personal values protects authenticity and prevents the quiet burnout that comes from constant tension.
• Small, unhurried habits protect judgment. Olivia credits a paper notebook, not a dashboard, with giving her the space to think clearly before reacting.

Books and Resources Mentioned

How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, recommended by Olivia Kager: names the specific habits, like underclaiming achievement and waiting to be noticed, that hold women back from advancing, while giving them agency to change them.

Dare to Lead by Brené Brown, recommended by Olivia Kager: makes the case that courage and vulnerability are the foundation of strong leadership rather than opposites of it.

Emotional Agility by Susan David, recommended by Olivia Kager: reframes courage as "fear walking," the ability to keep moving forward without waiting for fear to disappear first.

The Curiosity Shop (podcast) by Brené Brown and Adam Grant, recommended by Linda Traylor: honest, unscripted conversations that Olivia flagged as a favorite of hers too.

About Our Guest

Olivia Kager is Global Commercial Lead, Hemato-Oncology at Kyowa Kirin. Her career spans over a decade across medical affairs and commercial roles in oncology, rare disease, and immunology, including serving as head of medical for the DACH region before returning to a global commercial role for a pipeline product. She is active in gender equity work within the life sciences and coaches emerging leaders on courage, values, and career navigation.

Connect with Olivia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-kager-0158a55b/

FAQ

What mindset shift does Olivia Kager say had the biggest impact on her career?
Moving from thinking of medical affairs as a supporting function to treating it as a strategic partner, paired with taking personal accountability for that role rather than waiting to be asked what to deliver.

How does Olivia Kager define success in medical affairs today?
By outcomes rather than activity: changes in clinical practice, improved patient access, closed evidence gaps, and enhanced scientific trust, rather than counts of advisory boards or publications.

What does Olivia Kager see as medical affairs' biggest barrier to strategic influence?
Mindset, not budget, technology, or regulation. She argues the function has to stop asking for a seat at the table and start acting like it already owns one.

What role does Olivia Kager think AI will play in medical affairs?
"Hybrid intelligence," where AI handles data processing while humans provide judgment, trust-building, and ethical accountability, with purpose and a clear strategic question guiding every implementation.

What personal habit does Olivia Kager credit with improving her decision-making?
Writing by hand in a paper notebook. She says the physical slowdown of handwriting, unlike typing, forces genuine reflection before she reacts to a difficult decision.

About OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions Podcast

OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions Podcast delivers engaging conversations with Medical Affairs and Field Medical leaders on the power of mentorship and coaching. Hosted by Linda Traylor, each podcast uncovers practical strategies, personal stories, and lessons to inspire and prepare the next generation of medical leaders.

OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel. Listen on:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTXapuvAJzWZdDrMJFj-3FDz42Z3uJYAu
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/onpoint-the-mentor-sessions/id1884316384
• Spotify: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/8cquOM3Mg1b

Curious how this applies to your organization? Let's talk: https://www.accelerationpoint.com/contact/