Inspiring women of Hikma - Meet Cristina Cagnazzi, Finance Director, Hikma Italy
London, 15 December 2025
In this series, we spotlight inspiring women at Hikma, sharing their career journeys and employee testimonials. Through insights, experiences, and leadership advice, they offer a powerful glimpse into life at Hikma and the values that drive their success.
Hear from Cristina Cagnazzi, Finance Director, Hikma Italy and learn more about her experience working at Hikma
Q: What first inspired you to pursue a career in finance?
A: As a child, I was fascinated by the doctors that I’d see on the TV. They seemed able to solve any problem, no matter how complex. The belief, that ‘every challenge has a solution’, stayed with me. Over time, I discovered that my own gift was with numbers. Numbers tell stories, they reveal truths, and they unlock solutions. My parents encouraged me to follow what I truly loved, and that reflection led me to finance, for me it felt like a natural career option.
Q: Did you ever consider other career paths?
A: Absolutely. I thought about becoming a lawyer or even a judge, because I’ve always had a strong voice and a desire to help people. But growing up in Italy during difficult times, my parents worried about the risks. Out of respect for their fears, I returned to my passion for numbers. I realised that when you work with numbers, it can lead you to clear outcomes, and that clarity is what creates solutions.
Q: How did your career journey begin?
A: I studied economics and went onto completing my master’s degree. Afterwards, I immersed myself in every aspect of finance including tax, accounting, forecasting, budgeting. From the very first day, I was managing financial issues and quickly became a trusted voice in decision-making for the companies I worked in. After ten years in a family company in Italy, I moved to a larger organisation, where I sought the complexity of projects and the opportunities to grow and be challenged through problem solving.
Q: What has kept you at Hikma for over two decades?
A: For me, Hikma is a place where curiosity never stops. Every day brings a new challenge, a new project, and a new opportunity to learn, and that’s what keeps me here. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working across cultures, discovering different ways of thinking, and building connections that go far beyond the office walls.What I value most is the way we collaborate. No matter the challenge, we come together to find solutions. Covid was a powerful example of this: even when we were all facing unprecedented challenges, we adapted, supported one another, and continued to solve problems together.
And at the heart of it all are the people. The conversations, the shared lunches, the small everyday moments, these are what build trust and make our work meaningful. Those connections are essential, because they allow us to truly understand one another and work together in the best possible way.
Q: How does Hikma’s culture align with your values?
A: Hikma is built on collaboration. Finance is not just about numbers; it’s about enabling solutions that support our purpose in action of making high-quality medicines accessible to those who need them most. We are empowered by the nature of our work to keep learning, keep questioning, and keep growing. That’s why I’ve stayed here for so long: because every day I feel I’m part of something bigger, something that truly matters.
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting their career at Hikma?
A: Stay curious. Keep asking questions. Never stop learning. In finance, laws and regulations change constantly, and we must adapt. But this lesson applies to every role at Hikma. If you nurture the intention to learn, you’ll discover the world in new ways, and you’ll find solutions that make a real difference.
