We’re looking forward to introducing you to Heather Ross. Check out our conversation below.
Heather, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
We’ve all seen it: someone who seems to have it all together, but you know they’re probably dealing with something you can’t see. So much of our struggles are things we just don’t talk about. They’re often hidden right beneath the surface, especially when it comes to our emotional well-being.
Take mental and emotional health, for example. On the outside, someone might look perfectly fine—maybe they’re always smiling or seem successful—but on the inside, they could be fighting a quiet, difficult battle.
A lot of people deal with loneliness, even when they’re surrounded by others. In a world full of social media feeds showing curated, perfect lives, it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who doesn’t have a large group of friends or a vibrant social life. That feeling of being left out can be incredibly isolating.
Then there’s the constant feeling of being overwhelmed. The pressure to be productive and “on” all the time can lead to a quiet, constant hum of anxiety. It’s that feeling of always being behind, like your to-do list is a mile long and you’re never going to catch up.
And maybe the biggest silent struggle is the feeling of being “not enough.” This comes from a harsh inner critic that tells you no matter what you achieve, you’re still falling short. It’s the secret feeling that you’re an inadequate parent, a fraud at your job, or not a good enough partner, even when all the evidence points the other way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I’m Heather Ross, an experienced executive with a proven track record of driving impact for national accounts. I am currently a Principal National Account Executive at Genentech in South San Francisco, California. My work focuses on navigating complex B2B strategies within the healthcare and retail sectors, and I’m currently collaborating with mid-size PBMs, market innovators, and industry disruptors like Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drug Company and Navitus
What makes my work unique is my deep experience in both the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with over 20 years in pharma and 10 years in biotech. A significant part of my story involves shaping patient-centric strategies to enhance outcomes, lower costs, and improve the quality of care. For example, I led a team that exceeded $500M+ in diabetes franchise sales. I also worked to ensure seamless patient access to Genentech products by resolving complex coverage issues
Beyond my professional work, I’m passionate about community and giving back. I’m involved in a variety of organizations, including serving as a Board Member for the Greater Frisco Chapter of Jack and Jill, the American Cancer Society, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. I also co-chair The African Americans of Biotechnology ERG at Genentech and co-founded Alcon’s first ERG, Women Innovating Now (WIN), and am passionate about supporting STEM education initiatives and mentorship programs. I believe in leveraging my leadership and experience not just to drive business growth, but also to create meaningful change at home with our 3 littles and in the community
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
It was my dad. Not in the way you’d think, with big speeches or a dramatic moment. It was in the quiet spaces. When I was a kid, struggling with a math problem, he wouldn’t just give me the answer. He’d sit with me, patiently, and when I finally got it, he’d look at me and say, “See? I knew you had it in you.”
When I was a teenager, lost and unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, he didn’t pressure me. Instead, he would just bring me books or articles about things he thought I’d find interesting—sports columns, design, architecture, art. He saw a creative spirit in me that I was too busy hiding to recognize myself. He never told me what to be, but he showed me what I was. He saw the person I was meant to become, not the one I was trying to pretend to be. And because he saw it, I eventually learned to see it too.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me the true meaning of resilience. Success, with its easy victories and smooth sailing, revealed to me, what I was good at. It built my confidence, sure, but it was a shallow, fragile kind of confidence, like a house built on sand. The first strong wind could have toppled it.
Suffering was that wind. It tore down everything I thought I knew about myself and forced me to rebuild. I learned what it felt like to fail, to lose, and to build again. And in that humbling, I discovered a strength I never knew I had. It was the ability to get up after being knocked down, not because I was guaranteed to win, but because I had to. It taught me empathy for others’ struggles, a compassion that success, in its isolating bubble, could never foster. Success shows you the top of the mountain, but suffering teaches you how to climb. It taught me to appreciate the smallest victories and to have a profound gratitude for the human spirit’s capacity to endure.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably laugh and say that what truly matters to me is creating a sense of home, no matter where I am. It’s the carefully chosen book on a nightstand, the thoughtfully curated playlist for a rainy afternoon, the way the light hits a room at a certain time of day, the simple, quiet details are so meaningful to me and how I show up for others.
They’d tell you that my love language is cooking. Not just the act of it, but the ritual of bringing people together around a table. For me, a well-made meal isn’t just about food; it’s about showing care and creating a moment where people can feel seen and nourished.
And more than anything, they’d say what matters most to me is connection. Not the loud, boisterous kind, but the deep, meaningful conversations that unfold late at night. The moments where we can be completely vulnerable with each other, without pretense. They’d say that I am a keeper of stories and a discerning observer, and that what I value above all else is the trust we’ve built, one small, true moment at a time.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had only 10 years left to live, I would stop obsessing over the future. Instead, I would live in the present and appreciate every moment for what it is.
I would stop worrying about the proverbial “striving,” whether that’s in my career, my lifestyle, or my personal achievements.
I would stop spending time with people and in places that drain my energy and don’t bring joy into my or my family’s life. My focus would be on nurturing the relationships that truly matter—family and a small circle of close friends.
I would stop procrastinating on the things I’ve always wanted to do—travel to new places, learn a new skill, pursue a creative passion and tell those who matter most – how much I truly love them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: heather_sade
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-ross37/
- Facebook: Heather Ross
Image Credits
Blossom & Bowties Fundraising Event : Heather Ross Chair – Greater Frisco Chapter of Jack and Jill
