More Than a Summer Job: How Interns at Sanofi Are Building Futures
When you think of an internship, you might picture spreadsheets, coffee runs, and a few polite nods in the hallway. But at Sanofi, internships are something else entirely. Here, early talent isn’t just welcomed – they’re empowered. Whether you're a future scientist, strategist, or storyteller, Sanofi’s Early Careers program is designed to help you grow, connect, and discover where your passions meet purpose.
And while the work matters, so do the people. Because sometimes, the most valuable part of an internship isn’t just what you do – it’s who you meet.
For George Richards and Ashley Pajares, their summer intern experiences reflect the depth, diversity, and impact of Sanofi’s internship program. Their stories are different, but they share a common thread: a sense of belonging, purpose, and possibility.
George Richards: From Gene Therapy to Global Strategy
George Richards didn’t take the traditional path to a commercial internship. With a background in biology and a thesis on viral gene therapies, he spent five years in biotech startups before pursuing his MBA at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. Now, as part of Sanofi’s Commercial Leadership Development Program (CLDP) in Cambridge, MA, he’s translating his scientific roots into strategic impact.
George and the rest of the CLDP interns pose during a National Intern Day event run by Sanofi
“I knew I wanted to be in rare disease,” George says. “But I also realized that understanding the science wasn’t enough. I needed to understand the market, the patient need, and how to bring innovation to life in a sustainable way.”
This summer, George joined the Customer-Facing Capabilities team within Sanofi’s Go To Market Capabilities function, working on global projects that harmonize incentive compensation & field deployment strategies across markets. It’s a far cry from the lab bench, but exactly the kind of challenge he was looking for.
“I wanted to see the other side of pharma – the business side,” he explains. “This internship gave me a front-row seat to how we structure our sales forces, how we think about brand strategy, and how we support our teams to succeed.”
But for George, the real value has been the people. From spontaneous chats at the office gym to one-on-one meetings with senior leaders, he’s found a culture that’s open, collaborative, and deeply invested in early talent.
“Everyone I’ve met has been willing to share their story, their advice, their time,” he says. “It’s not just about the project – it’s about the relationships. That’s what’s going to stay with me.”
Ashley Pajares: Bringing Patient Voices – and Her Own – Into the Room
For Ashley Pajares, this internship is personal. A public health student at Montclair State University and the daughter of immigrants, Ashley brings a unique perspective to her role on the Patient Insights and Behavioral Sciences team within R&D in the Morristown, NJ office.
“I’ve lived the gaps in healthcare access,” she says. “So being able to bring that lived experience into my work means everything to me.”
Ashley’s summer has been packed with meaningful projects that pull through diverse patient narratives into different R&D action plans. But what has stood out most is how deeply Sanofi integrates patient voices into its work.
“We’re not just talking to patients – we’re listening to them,” she says. “We’re asking why they might not seek help, what they go through after a diagnosis, and how we can do better.”
Ashley joins interns from the Morristown, NJ and Swiftwater, PA offices to package 8,000 meals in a corporate social responsibility event that will help fight global food insecurity
That commitment to empathy and inclusion has deeply resonated with Ashley, both personally and professionally. Through her work, she’s been able to share the meaningful impact Sanofi is making in patients’ lives with her community, helping others see the human side of pharmaceutical innovation. It’s a story she says she’s proud to tell, and one that reflects the values she sees every day in her team and across the company.
And like George, Ashley has found that the connections she’s made are just as impactful as the work itself. “I’ve had over 40 meetings with people across the company,” she says. “And not once have I felt like ‘just the intern.’ People listen. They care. They want to help you grow.”
A Launchpad for What’s Next
Whether it’s through a structured rotational program like CLDP or a first-ever internship experience, Sanofi’s Early Careers program is more than a stepping stone – it’s a launchpad. It’s where future leaders meet mentors, where ideas meet action, and where passion meets purpose.
Because at Sanofi, internships aren’t just about what you do. They’re about who you become.
