An entrepreneur at the intersection of disruption, passion, and innovation, Sandra Forero

A professional services and technology firm founded in 1983, ZS helps companies around the world develop and deliver products and services that drive customer value and company results. Using deep industry expertise, cutting-edge analytics, technology, and strategy, the firm creates solutions that work in real-world scenarios. The impact of ZS can be seen in industries ranging from healthcare to high-tech to financial services. 

ZS, founded in 1983, is a global professional services and technology firm that partners with companies to drive customer value and business results. With deep industry expertise and cutting-edge analytics, technology, and strategy, ZS develops real-world solutions across various industries, including healthcare and financial services.

 

The firm specializes in data, analytics, and technology, delivering integrated solutions that drive growth. ZAIDYN™ by ZS is a cloud-native platform that helps life sciences organizations digitally transform and improve customer engagement, analytics, and clinical capabilities. Sandra Forero, ZS's Chief Operating Officer, focuses on driving client impact and innovation, talent strategy, and diversity initiatives. 

With expertise in data, analytics, and technology, Sandra has worked with top biopharmaceutical organizations to enhance decision-making capabilities. Recognized as one of the Top 25 Consultants by Consulting Magazine, Sandra brings over 20 years of experience in supporting commercial leaders with strategic and organizational issues.

Sandra, an MBA graduate from the University of Virginia, emphasizes the importance of innovation and team improvement in her leadership role at ZS. She values long-term client relationships by consistently innovating and transforming solutions, despite potentially cannibalizing her team's work. 

Sandra credits her success to the skilled teams at ZS, emphasizing the mentorship that taught her the significance of investing in her team. Early in her career, she learned to make her voice heard by speaking up in meetings instead of waiting for the right moment. 

This transformation from being reserved to vocal has helped her succeed in various aspects of work and life. Sandra's approach of prioritizing team growth, understanding their needs, and encouraging open communication has shaped her leadership style, making her a successful and respected leader at ZS.

Sandra discusses her journey of finding balance, starting as a young married analyst with children. Her 25 years of experience taught her to set boundaries, manage expectations, be present, and not be too hard on herself. At ZS, innovation is a key competency that is evaluated in performance reviews. Sandra emphasizes the importance of having a focus and mindset for transformational innovation. 

ZS utilizes an innovation enablement process to identify and develop big ideas through venture teams operating like start-ups. The company's industry expertise allows it to offer solutions tailored to clients' evolving needs, with ZAIDYN™ being an integrated platform solution designed to meet these demands. 

Sandra highlights ZS's use of disruptive technologies like AI, machine learning, automation, and big data, which have played a crucial role in developing products for intelligent decision-making and transforming analytics into a technology and AI-driven field.

Sandra emphasizes the importance of staying ahead in disruptive technologies and reducing the data and analytics literacy gap. Leaders must not only enable experimentation but also have mechanisms in place to scale innovations and drive transformation. 

ZS has the opportunity to explore edge analytics, blockchain, and quantum computing. Forrester predicts the need for new chief trust officers and bias bounties in 2022 to eliminate discrimination in AI systems. Trust is crucial for leadership, and leaders must ensure the trustworthiness of AI in the future. Transformational leaders must inspire with a vision, let go of fear, and drive personal and organizational transformation. Fear of change, failure, and loss must be overcome to be truly transformational.

correspondent by: