GSK's Diversity Agenda

GSK has created 100 diversity champions who are helping activate GSK’s diversity agenda in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. The drug giant works in association with the LEAD Network – a partnership of 27 GMCG companies, including GSK, which aims to attract, retain and advance women in the consumer goods and retail sectors in Europe – in this unique endeavour.

Tamara Rogers, senior vice president and region head of EMEA for GSK Consumer Healthcare, reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to support female representation in senior roles globally during her speech at the annual conference of the Network, held in London on 15-16 November.

“Diversity is very important to me and to GSK. To achieve having a diverse team, we strive to attract the best people and create an environment that empowers and inspires,” said Rogers.

“We need to ensure we have diverse teams because it brings different points of view to the table and opens your eyes to alternative perspectives. It enables teams and organisations to go from good to great, to becoming high performing teams.”

The 100 diversity champions, armed with the training and mentoring from LEAD Network, helped the firm to identify three every day barriers for women to get into leadership roles: yourself, people around you and your employer. GSK hopes to accelerate the progress the firm have already made on inclusion and diversity with their support, and aims for over 37 percent (currently at 31%) female representation in senior roles globally by 2022.

In the EMEA region which Rogers is responsible for, her leadership team itself is well-balanced in terms of diversity, with representation of 11 nationalities.

For Rogers, diversity encompasses “full spectrum – backgrounds, experiences, education, sexual and gender identity, culture, age, working style” and this is an imperative for success.

“When you have full diversity on your team, combined with a culture of trust and transparency that supports inclusive discussions and decision making, you are better placed to win and to be successful in today’s constantly changing world,” she said.

Written by Kiran Paul