Myriam Giancarli: A Progressive Force Reshaping African Healthcare Access

In an era when business leadership often prioritises profit over purpose, Myriam Giancarli stands as a compelling example of how progressive values and commercial success can align. As the head of Pharma 5 Laboratories, one of Africa's leading generic medicine manufacturers, she exemplifies a new generation of African business leaders who combine global expertise with local commitment.

Born in Morocco in 1973 to an Austrian mother and Moroccan father, Giancarli's multicultural background has shaped her inclusive approach to business leadership. After completing her education at Casablanca's Lycée Français in 1991, she pursued higher education in Paris, earning prestigious degrees from Sciences Po and Paris-Dauphine University in economics, finance, and management.

Before returning to Morocco, Giancarli spent a decade in international marketing at LVMH in Paris, gaining valuable experience in global business operations. In 2012, she made the pivotal decision to join Pharma 5, the family business founded by her father, Dr Abdallah Lahlou-Filali, in 1985.

As Managing Director, Giancarli has championed an ambitious vision: expanding international operations, upgrading industrial capabilities, and strategically positioning the company in African markets and the Global South. Her unwavering commitment to providing high-quality, affordable medicines aligns perfectly with progressive values of healthcare equity and social justice.

A mother of two, Giancarli represents a new model of leadership that challenges traditional patriarchal business structures. Her advocacy for 'Made in Morocco' and regional pharmaceutical sovereignty resonates with post-Brexit Britain's ongoing debates about industrial strategy and economic self-reliance. Through her work, she demonstrates how business leadership can serve as a powerful force for social progress and economic empowerment in developing regions.