Global Stages and Goldfish Crackers

That’s What Innovation Looks Like at Kedrion

By Erietta Katsou

For Dmitry Simkhovich, Global Head of Business Intelligence at Kedrion, innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about people, purpose, and impact.

He brought that perspective to Georgetown University’s MBA School, where he served as a keynote speaker for the session: “The Future of Healthcare: Where Innovation, Investment, and Policy Converge.”

I sat down with Dmitry to hear how the session unfolded. He didn’t talk about spotlights or titles. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity to bring Kedrion’s voice into a room full of future healthcare and business leaders and highlight the company’s commitment to rare and ultra-rare diseases.

How did the opportunity come about? Tyler, a member of Dmitry’s team and a Georgetown alum, has stayed in close touch with faculty at the MBA program. Over time, in conversations about innovation, data, and where healthcare is headed, Dmitry’s name kept coming up. “Tyler had been talking about me a lot to them,” Dmitry says. “They saw my background and thought it was interesting—even though they haven’t typically featured companies outside the top 25 pharma.” 

What piqued their interest was the mix of responsibilities Dmitry carries. “They liked how my role sits at the intersection of innovation, data, performance, strategy, and pricing,” he explains. “Tyler also hyped me up as ‘the smartest person he knows – I think he was just trying to oversell it.” he said with a chuckle.

In the end, the program saw an opportunity: someone who could speak to AI, business intelligence, and rare diseases all at once. “They told me they hadn’t really featured someone with my background before and thought it would add to the dynamic of the conversation.” 

How did that make you feel? “I was humbled. It’s always rewarding to share insights, but it also pushes you to reflect on what really matters in the work we do.” 

How did you prepare for your keynote speech? “I was fortunate to have guidance from my mentor and boss, Bob Rossilli, Chief Commercial Officer, who played a key role in helping me prepare for the event. His reputation as a thought leader in our industry made his support especially impactful and meaningful.” 

When you think about AI at Kedrion, what does it actually look like in practice? Can you share a real-world example? Dmitry summed up his approach in a single, clear line: “AI is simply a smarter way of solving problems.” For Kedrion, AI is not an experiment or a buzzword; it’s embedded into day-to-day operations. “We’ve deployed AI Agents that take on repetitive tasks, surface actionable insights, and even trigger actions when signals demand it faster than anyone can do.” The impact is especially visible in the field. “By reducing time spent on administrative tasks, our teams can focus on what truly matters—ensuring patients receive timely access to therapies.” Dmitry explains. “The real advantage is speed to action.” 

What’s one misconception about AI in pharma that you’d love to clear up? Dmitry was especially eager to tackle one misconception he hears often: the fear that AI will replace human judgment in pharma. “In reality, AI augments decision-making. It’s a tool, not a substitute for expertise or empathy.” At Kedrion, that distinction isn’t theoretical; it’s part of how teams work every day. Advanced analytics discover patterns sooner and understand complexity faster, but people still sit at the center of Kedrion.

What’s one trend you think people are underestimating right now? When the conversation shifted from technology to people, Dmitry’s posture straightened. “As AI expands, the people who will thrive are those who can stay authentic, maintain strong relationships, and collaborate effectively,” he says. “I believe that soft skills will become an even more valuable skill as people rely on AI for more critical thinking exercises. As future generations grow up relying on AI for problem-solving, soft skills may become less instinctive, making genuine human connection something that must be intentionally cultivated.” 

In pharma, what dynamic do you see playing out as AI adoption accelerates? “In the short term, it may feel like a zero-sum game. The competitive edge will go to organizations that evolve faster and deploy real use cases,” he notes. But the deeper change will be inside organizations themselves. “As we contextualize behaviors of high performers and uncover those unwritten edges, AI will lift many others who embrace these changes,” he explains. “That could unlock even more potential for top performers, elevate teams higher and accelerate the curve for new people. The name of the game isn’t just about speed; it’s about adaptability.” 

After being part of this panel, what’s one takeaway you’ll carry forward in your own work? One of Dmitry’s biggest personal takeaways from the Georgetown experience is the importance of inspiring others. “We still need to make sure we inspire others,” he says. “It feels good to have people look up to your journey and ask for advice—and we need to continue to pay that forward.” 

During the session at Georgetown’s MBA program, Dmitry shared Kedrion’s mission of developing and commercializing therapies for rare and ultra-rare conditions, the ones most companies overlook because the patient populations are smaller; the response was powerful. That perfectly aligns with Georgetown’s values of giving back. “For me, that reinforces that what we do isn’t just business; it aligns with a greater purpose for humanity. Innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about impact.” 

And just for fun—what’s your go-to way to unwind after a big event like this? After the keynote and panel discussions, Dmitry’s focus returned to where it always does. Home. “I went home to my beautiful family of five and three dogs,” he says, with a prideful smile and reached for his phone to share some pictures.

“I spent the weekend at Costco cleaning up goldfish crackers my daughter threw all over the aisle, cheered at my son’s last soccer game,

and ended the evenings dancing to AC/DC with my kids—because they refuse to go to bed until we rock out to ‘Highway to Hell.’” 

“Pure chaos, pure joy.” 

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From keynote stages to bedtime rock concerts, Dmitry’s story captures what innovation at Kedrion truly looks like: AI in full production, human skills at the center, and a mission anchored in making a meaningful difference for patients. Moments like these, inside and outside the workplace, show how our people embody Kedrion’s values every day, turning our mission into action and ensuring that therapeutic progress always stays connected to the patients it is meant to serve.