I really like to keep learning through new experiences. So for
me, the best thing about the Future Leaders Programme (FLP) is the
incredible amount of exposure it gave me in a very short space of time.
During the three years on the programme, and two years since, I’ve had
many different roles – each one of them unique and formative for my
growth.
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I started in Research and Development (Vaccines), but I quickly
discovered that what excited me most was the commercial side of the
business. I’ve had real freedom to develop my career in this direction,
with subsequent roles in sales and communications, among others.
I’ve found that having a medical background gives you credibility
wherever you work within the company. Understanding how doctors think
and what patients ultimately need, really adds value to the work we do,
for example, with healthcare professionals (HCPs). Not a lot of medical
doctors make the move into the commercial side of the organisation, I
have, but I feel the analytical, pragmatic and problem-solving skills I
picked up during my medical training have really helped me.
A real highlight from my FLP experience was taking the option to add a
third year onto my programme. I had the very fortunate opportunity to
move to London and work in the Office of the CEO as part of the
Corporate Strategy team. It really was the right place at the right
time. GSK was going through its complex with Novartis – and our team was
leading it! It was a priceless learning experience that gave me great
insight into our company’s structure and operations.
My international FLP assignment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was
another real growth experience. It was my first time living abroad – and
in a very different culture from my own. But the company gives you the
practical support to make this a smooth experience.
GSK has a reputation for being a ‘friendly’ company. This is
something you can absolutely feel when you work here – and it’s
consistent around the globe. Employees feel a high degree of attachment
to our values and sense of purpose. GSK is quite unusual and unique in
that.
As a medical doctor coming into the pharma industry, what I found
pleasantly surprising is how this is not just talk but real action to
transform the industry, like the way we no longer incentivise our sales
representatives on sales targets but on achieving better patient
outcomes. It’s important to me to work for a company where commercial
success and positive social impact go hand in hand.
Ultimately, my career ambition is to become a well-rounded business
leader. All these experiences on, and since, the FLP have given me a
better foundation for this than I ever imagined. At GSK you manage your
own career and you are the architect of that. Wherever you want to go,
you have all the support you need to get there.
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