Ideas with Impact
UNB Faculty of Management

Experiential learning at UNB’s faculty of management provides students with invaluable insights into leadership, exemplified by the recent visit of alumnus Habib Dable, Biotech Executive, and former CEO of Acceleron Pharma. As the 2023-2024 Executive-in-Residence with the faculty of management, Dable spent time on campus to engage students, sharing his experiences and dispensing invaluable wisdom along the way.

After completing the BBA (’91) and MBA (’94) at UNB, Dable joined Bayer as a pharmaceutical representative and advanced over time to the position of President of Bayer’s U.S. Pharmaceuticals. In 2016 he joined Acceleron Pharma as President and CEO and steered the company towards innovation and commercialization, culminating in a lucrative acquisition by Merck & Co. in 2021, generating over $10B in shareholder value.

During his tenure as Executive-in-Residence, Dable shared valuable wisdom with students, with a particular emphasis on the essence of leadership. “Ultimately, leadership is the ability to lead decision making when you’re not in the room.” This requires a focus on cultivating a culture grounded in trust, transparency, and authentic communication, as well as a future-oriented perspective.

Dable underscored the importance of integrity as the cornerstone of leadership, highlighting its enduring value, especially during challenging times. “Integrity is your greatest asset. It takes years to build but can be crushed in a second.” He recounted how maintaining integrity facilitated Acceleron's successful transition to Merck amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, a testament to the power of ethical leadership.

Authenticity is another tenet of Dable’s leadership philosophy. Drawing from his personal experiences of working with his entrepreneurial father, he advocated for humility and authentic communication.

His emphasis on authenticity resonated with students like Saifullah Hakimi, a first year BBA student, who said “His focus on credibility, authenticity, trust and communication was an inspiration for aspiring leaders.”

Furthermore, Dable stressed the importance of learning from failures and investing in the future. “Most drugs don’t make it to market. The first thing you need to do if you’re going to survive is learn from failure.” In his case, he learned to look ahead and around corners. “The side effect of one drug can be an end game for another purpose. As Wayne Gretzky said, ‘‘Don’t go where the puck is, go where it’s headed.’ Get into the habit of understanding the needs of the world and where your skills will contribute, not just on where the jobs are today.” It was this way of thinking that propelled his team to take one of Acceleron’s successful products to market.

Dable's accolades, including recognition by Institutional Investor Magazine and Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, attest to his exemplary leadership acumen. Since his tenure at Acceleron, he continues to contribute to the biotech industry through board memberships and mentorship, embodying the spirit of giving back. He is currently board chair of Aerovate Therapeutics, Inc. and is also a member of the Gerson Lehrman Group where he offers mentorship to CEOs.

In recognition of his achievements, the faculty of management honoured Dable with the Alumni Certificate of Achievement, cementing his legacy on the Alumni Wall of Fame.

Dable's transformative leadership is an inspiration for future leaders, emphasizing the significance of integrity, foresight, and authenticity in navigating the complexities of modern leadership. Through experiential learning initiatives like his residency at UNB, students gain invaluable insights that transcend traditional education, shaping them into ethical and visionary leaders of tomorrow.

Photo: As the 2023-2024 Executive-in-Residence with UNB’s Faculty of Management, Habib Dable (Biotech Executive and Former CEO of Acceleron Pharma) spent time on campus mentoring students.

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Media contact: Liz Lemon-Mitchell