Being in the C-suite is a high-pressure job with long hours, board responsibilities, and intense scrutiny. But what is it like to be a top executive when you’re off the clock?
Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
Today, we meet Doina Ionescu, general manager of the healthcare division at Merck.
Raised in Romania, the 56-year-old joined the Fortune 500 pharmaceutical giant, Merck, after being personally impacted by the 1986 Chernobyl power station disaster.
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Merck’s ranking on the Fortune 500
In 1998, her father, along with others in their village, passed away from cancer after experiencing radiation exposure from Chernobyl.
“On his deathbed, he urged me to move away from nuclear physics, a moment that reshaped my journey,” she recalled to Fortune. “I re-entered academia, working on a PhD in physical chemistry, joining Merck shortly after that.”
Ionescu’s been quietly scaling its ranks since. Promotion after promotion has taken her from a project manager to one of the company’s most senior leaders. Today, she’s a managing director of U.K. and Ireland at the pharma giant.
Looking back, while Gen Z grads snub their degrees as a waste of time and money, she tells Fortune that her Master’s in Nuclear Physics, PhD in Physical Chemistry, and an Executive MBA to add to the list of qualifications were her best investments yet.
The finances
Fortune: What’s been the best investment you’ve ever bought?
My MBA was definitely my best investment; it is something that no matter what happens in your personal or professional life, nobody can take away from you. Long after I finished the course, I am still relying on that experience and learning. It has fundamentally changed me as a person and clearly shaped my approach to leadership and personal development.
And the worst?
I don’t tend to look back and think of things in terms of bad investments. Everything I have ever invested in with a positive mindset has benefited me in one way or another!
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Never focus on the money; focus on personal development and the contribution you bring to your work, your team and your career. In my experience, if you guide yourself in this way, the finances will follow. When you do get your rewards, though, always save rainy and sunny days.
What’s the one subscription you can’t live without?
It would have to be iCloud—I really need somewhere to store all my memories! Other than that, there are a couple of financial news outlets that I couldn’t possibly comment on here!
Where’s your go-to wristwatch from?
It’s a vintage Omega that belonged to my father-in-law. He passed away many years ago, but he would be very happy to know I am wearing it.
The necessities
How do you get your daily coffee fix?
I make my own coffee, white and without sugar. In the office, we have our coffee machine in the kitchen, but I prefer the one I have at home.
“Never focus on the money; focus on personal development and the contribution you bring to your work, your team and your career.”
Doina Ionescu, general manager for healthcare, Merck
What about eating on the go?
My favourite place to get lunch is actually my office canteen; we have a wonderful chef who creates interesting and varied dishes each week! Our office canteen is also a fantastic place for me to catch up with different members of the team about everything outside of work, so I enjoy the social aspect. Other than that, I make my own lunch at home, and if I have a business meeting, I go to the Ivy Kensington, which is not far from me.
Where do you buy groceries?
Normally from Waitrose! It is convenient for me and has good choices.
Where do you shop for your work wardrobe?
I usually don’t; I haven’t bought clothes in ages. If I do ever need to get something nice and branded, however, I will go to Bicester Village to hunt a bargain. Over time in my career, I have gone from wearing business suits to dresses to silk shirts, but one thing that has definitely changed is that I have given up wearing heels.
The treats
How do you unwind from the top job?
I recently bought all the books written by the Bronte sisters to reread. They have a wonderful effect on me, taking me back to something of a timeless period. I also like to refresh my French, which can help me switch off and turn my mind away from the daily job. I’m a big fan of Duolingo because of its competitive element! During my last holiday, my daily objective was to be at the top of the Duolingo leaderboard.
What’s the best bonus treat you’ve bought yourself?
I usually put any bonuses away to save for something sensible, but if I had to pick the best purchase I have made previously, it would be a pair of Cartier earrings. They were a one-off treat for me, and I was drawn to the classic, clean look they had.
Take us on holiday with you, what’s next on your vacation list?
I have just been on holiday in France, where I have a flat, but for my next trip, although it’s a way away, it could be Thailand or Vietnam. I haven’t made my mind up! I also go to visit my mother’s countryside home in Romania each year; it’s the one place on earth where I regain my energy and ground myself. Life is very settled there, so I love it.
Fortune wants to hear from leaders on what their “Good Life” looks like. Get in touch: orianna.royle@fortune.com
