Núria Duran Mestre: Inside Sanofi’s Graduate Program

Inside Sanofi’s Graduate Program that launches real careers.

Núria Duran Mestre, Vaccines Functional Expert at Sanofi in Barcelona, shares how her sister's decade-long career and a friend's recommendation led her to a graduate program networking challenge that revealed unexpected careers possibilities and launched her journey from biotechnology to digital supply chain innovation.

When my sister Laia started telling me about Sanofi nearly ten years ago, I thought she was just being enthusiastic about her new job. But as the years passed and she progressed to Global Digital Product Owner, her stories about the company’s culture, development opportunities, and genuine investment in people began to sound less like new job excitement and more like something worth investigating.

The tipping point came when I connected with a friend, Lidia on LinkedIn. She'd just completed Sanofi's Graduate Program (SGP) and was working as a Digital Business Analysis Lead in the omnichannel team. Hearing her talk about the level of responsibility she was given from day one really made me want to explore the opportunity further.

Years later, as a Vaccines Functional Expert implementing AI-powered supply chain solutions and Kinaxis planning software for vaccine production, I can confirm that everything Laia and Lidia told me was true.

When the reputation matches reality

The one-year SGP attracted me because it promised something most graduate programmes don't: real responsibility from day one. After completing my biotechnology degree at IQS Barcelona and gaining practical experience in food microbiology at Casa Mas and production improvement in a Catalan pharma multinational, I understood the difference between meaningful work and busy work.

Sanofi's approach was refreshingly different. When the recruitment team visited IQS Barcelona to explain the programme, they weren't offering the typical graduate experience of shadowing someone for months. Instead, they promised immediate contribution to real projects that mattered to the business and a journey where work meets purpose.

Within weeks of starting in October 2022, I was helping design and build AI-powered solutions for global supply chain stakeholders. The support structure made this possible. We had mentors, buddies, and talent activities designed to help us understand the organisation while contributing meaningfully to our teams.

But the programme went beyond day-to-day responsibilities. We were encouraged to embrace bold ideas and step into projects that challenged and inspired us. For example, my team focused on creating job opportunities for Paralympic athletes within Sanofi, linking our research to the company's sponsorship of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

We conducted interviews with sponsored athletes to understand how companies like Sanofi could provide career opportunities beyond competitive sport. This research was meaningful and had the potential to genuinely impact people's lives, demonstrating the company's commitment to values of inclusion and diversity.

Early on in the SGP, we were given a challenge: reach out to at least 15 people from different departments, countries and business units. Those conversations opened my eyes to possibilities I'd never considered and helped me understand where my interests in digital transformation could fit within the company.

My career progression at Sanofi has been both quick and filled with purpose. During SGP, I worked in Digital Analytics SC Planning, where I learned to define requirements and build solutions using the Agile methodology. At the same time, I completed a postgraduate degree in Digital Transformation at Universidad Europea, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience.

After SGP, I moved to become a Functional Expert for Suppliers and Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) Digital, where I spent nearly two years developing expertise in contract manufacturing organization solutions. This role taught me to perform GAP analyses, manage project documentation, and support digital strategy implementation across global teams.

As of May, as a Vaccines Functional Expert, I'm implementing new digital products, including Kinaxis planning software for vaccine production plants. It's challenging work that requires understanding both technical platforms and manufacturing business needs – exactly the kind of cross-functional expertise that makes careers at Sanofi so rewarding.

Culture that backs up the promises

What strikes me most about Sanofi's culture is how the organization embraces fresh perspectives while providing genuine support. My current team of three is part of a wider group of 10, and we are all excited and curious. Rather than seeing our relative inexperience as a limitation, the company views it as an asset. We approach problems differently, question assumptions, and bring new ideas to established processes. And we are heard.

The dual reporting structure demonstrates this support. I have one manager for technical guidance and another, Vanessa Estorach Cavaller, who serves as the Senior Lead for Digital Business Transformation in Digital Manufacturing and Supply, focusing on people and culture development. This means we're not just focused on immediate deliverables, but constantly thinking ahead: career growth, personal development, and how our current work aligns with our longer-term ambitions.

What motivates me most is the incredible freedom to innovate. When you have a good idea and present it properly, managers are committed to improvement and will support you in finding ways to make it happen. Sanofi helps you connect with different departments and make ambitious projects achievable.

This freedom proved crucial when I transitioned from pure biotechnology into digital supply chain work. The company doesn't expect you to know everything from the beginning. You are provided with the minimum requirements and then given space to test and find your own path. As long as you remain motivated and meet milestones, Sanofi will support your development journey.

My ambition now centres on digital product ownership and global implementation. I aim to develop solutions that genuinely enhance people's working lives while positively impacting patients worldwide. Having studied biotechnology, business management, and digital transformation, I understand scientific processes, business needs, and technological possibilities.

My experience as CMO of digital solutions and vaccine production provides me with insights into how global pharmaceutical supply chains actually operate. If opportunities arise where digital products intersect with scientific work, particularly in the areas of AI and research applications, I'd be thrilled to explore them.

The beauty of working at Sanofi is that these opportunities exist across the organization. Digital transformation is happening everywhere, and there's a genuine appetite for innovation that can impact patients globally.

Advice for future graduates

• Don't be afraid to make mistakes, I would say that to early graduates considering a career at Sanofi. Everyone understands that graduate programme participants are learning, and there's always someone ready to help when things go wrong. The culture supports experimentation and learning from failure.
  
  
• More importantly, embrace networking. Every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new or discover different ways of working. The networking challenge taught me that these relationships become invaluable as your career develops.
  
  
• Remember that your degree doesn't define your career path. I studied biotechnology but found my passion in digital supply chain work. The best companies help people discover where their interests and talents intersect with business needs.
  
  
• Finally, don't be intimidated by Sanofi's size. The company provides genuine room to discover yourself and new ways to make a difference. If you’re committed to learning, they facilitate ways for you to move and grow within the organization.

My sister Laia was right about Sanofi all along. It's a company that doesn't just promise development opportunities. Sanofi delivers them through meaningful work, genuine support, and the freedom to build whatever career excites you most.

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