Pfizer CEO on leaving Europe in pursuit of the American dream: The opportunities are enormous

Through July 4, The Post, in conjunction with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, is featuring US citizens explaining what the American dream means to them in 2026 — including Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer.Bourla first joined Pfizer in 1993 in their animal health department and worked his way up to become an area president, COO and, in 2019, CEO.When I was growing up, I didn’t even want to leave my country.

I was in love with the way of living, and my friends.I was very happy … I went to the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, one of the largest universities in Europe.

And it was in Greece that I was recruited to the Animal Health group of Pfizer.I lived in nine different cities around five different countries. The best gift I gave my children was that, during their youth, they traveled with me and were exposed to so many different cultures that made them able to appreciate diversity — and to appreciate that “difference” doesn’t mean inferior or superior.

Difference means it’s just different. I took the challenge when [Pfizer] offered me the opportunity to relocate.I never regretted it because that opened to me very new horizons.The American dream, to me, I see it as people can grow without having the barrier of who their parents were.

It’s not perfect, the American society, by no means.But in comparison to other societies, it’s like an oasis in a desert.If you see the 10 richest people in America, almost none of their parents were rich.

If you look at the 10 richest people in Europe, probably all of them will be people [whose] parents were very rich! Not everyone [in the US] has the same opportunities, and there are some discriminations.But compared to other countries — I think we need to understand and appreciate what we have here. [Compared to Europe,] the US is way more open as a society to immigrants, despite all the discussions that we’re having now …I say very proudly that I’m Greek by birt...