I am Yvette Miata Petersen, Corporate Vice President, Head of Strategy, Portfolio, Operations, and Communications, Research and Early Development at Novo Nordisk. I hold an Honors Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a PhD in Science from the Royal Veterinary University in Denmark. I have 20+ years global experience in both Biotech (Zealand Pharma) and large Pharma (Roche and Novartis) in scientific, strategic and operational roles of increasing responsibility. I am passionate about muscle training (weightlifting) and enjoy reading fiction whenever possible.

I have resided in Denmark for a total of 13 years, divided into two periods. Initially, I relocated to Denmark in 1997 to pursue my PhD at the Royal Veterinary University. This move also allowed me to be closer to my Danish boyfriend, with whom I had maintained a long-distance relationship for nearly four years. In 2010, my husband and I, along with our family, moved to Switzerland to gain international professional experience. After spending 13 years in Switzerland, we returned to Denmark about a year ago.

I relocated to Denmark the first time from Toronto, Canada. The transition presented several challenges. Firstly, I moved from a multicultural environment to a predominantly homogeneous society with a single primary language and culture. Initially, I felt a sense of discomfort and isolation, as I perceived people staring at me and speaking negatively about me. This feeling was exacerbated by my lack of understanding of the language. Despite these challenges, I remained in Denmark, largely due to the incredible support and strength provided by my boyfriend, and the significant progress in my scientific research. Denmark’s educational support system is exceptional. I was fortunate to receive a PhD financial scholarship, which provided me with a monthly salary, allowing me to focus on my PhD without the distraction of a part-time job.

A wise decision I made shortly after arriving in Denmark was to learn Danish. I enrolled in an intensive, daily language class for six months, which gave me the confidence to communicate and navigate Danish society. Interestingly, I discovered that conversations around me were not always about me but often mundane topics. My initial years in Denmark were marked by intense personal growth, resilience, and the development of tenacity. During this time, I also formed some of my closest friendships, which continue to be a significant part of my life today.

What is your greatest achievement and/or career highlight? Why?

My greatest professional achievement is my recent promotion to my current role. This is a position I have aspired to for the past five years, as it combines scientific and operational excellence, two areas I am deeply passionate about. While the achievement itself is remarkable, I have also taken time to reflect on and celebrate the career path, hard work, tears, and laughter, as well as the decisions, both big and small, that have brought me here.

My greatest private achievement is nurturing, together with my husband, four wonderful and loving young adults, each with their own unique dreams, goals, and views on life.