Equal Opportunity Publications - Article Page - African-American Career World

Walk through an old cemetery and note the birth and death dates. You’ll see that many earlier Americans lived abbreviated lives and you can correctly assume that it wasn’t just quantity that suffered, but quality too. Longer, happier lives are a relatively recent development and the improvements are due in large part to the innovations of workers in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors.

These tenacious workers plumb the complexities of diseases and our bodies, giving us the means to counter myriad ailments, and to happier, healthier, extended lives. Meet some of the talented folks working in the pharma and biomed sectors.

Anthony Clark, district sales manager at Celgene, explains, “Wall Street asks Celgene to deliver with certain marks and it does. We have been fortunate to beat expectations for many years.”

“This is the first company I’ve worked for where they give you equity in the company,” Clark says. “It’s more and more of a rarity in that employees all the way down the scale get stock options.”

Specifically, Celgene helps African-Americans live better lives. “We support African-Americans with multiple myeloma,” remarks Clark, who manages a team of bio-oncology sales professionals. “It’s a blood cancer in the bone marrow. We’re working on a project that raises awareness and helps African-Americas with multiple myeloma through novel treatment options. I’m directly involved with that and it’s a fantastic opportunity.”

Celgene wants its employees to be impactful. “Celgene has 6,500 employees, but you have autonomy to make decisions as far as your individual work. You’ll have the individual impact.”

You will work alongside others aligned with the same goals. “Celgene has diverse people from all different parts of the country and the world,” notes Clark. “I love that you get to interact with them.

“I help manage our global brand and develop engaging and compelling stories and advertising that communicate who we are and what we do to make life better for our stakeholders and employees,” she explains.

“The scariest moment for me was when I finally decided to switch from journalism to public relations,” she recalls. “I didn’t major in public relations in college. I took a few courses, but I couldn’t call myself an expert in the craft before joining Lilly. It terrified me to enter a role I didn’t have professional acumen in. Instead of letting my fear take over and control how I felt about my work, I was determined to learn as much as I could. I purchased an American Public Relations Study Book, and I began reading about PR practices, techniques, philosophy, and tactics. And, like a true journalist, I asked questions. I didn’t pretend to have the answers because I didn’t have the answers. I was honest. I was vulnerable, and I never gave up.

Because she hanged tough and adapted, Neveles now enjoys her job and her colleagues. “The people here are extremely talented, I learn from them every day, and they’re also so willing to help me in my work,” she says. “Lilly gives me the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and in a variety of areas to explore my strengths and interests. Since joining Lilly, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to a new city, serve the community during working hours, and pursue leadership development. I’m convinced that I work for the best company.”

Of course, with 41,000+ employees, Lilly offers broad employment opportunities, but certain characteristics are required whatever the role. The company is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, and has offices and manufacturing and research facilities worldwide.

“We seek people who are highly motivated and determined to make a difference,” Neveles says. “We want people who exemplify our values of integrity, excellence, and respect for people. It’s also extremely important that the people who join our company are committed to embracing diversity.”

“As a journalist, I learned how to think outside of the box to find the story,” she says. “I learned how to manage intense deadlines, juggle multiple projects, and still be able to tell a compelling story. I learned how to be creative, and how to think critically and carefully during a crisis. I use those skills every single day in my role. I tell compelling stories that I otherwise could not tell without my journalism background. I’m a much stronger writer because of my experience as a journalist.”

“I chose Lilly because I wanted to work in a place where I could make a difference in the lives of someone else,” Neveles says. “I come to work every day and I’m part of a company that discovers life-saving medicines for those in need.”

And wherever you work at Lilly, it’ll feel like family. “The most surprising thing about Lilly is that it feels so much like a family,” notes Neveles. “We’re a global company and we market in around 120 countries, yet when I speak to a colleague in another country, we have the same camaraderie as my colleagues in Indianapolis. People are so interested in getting to know you, helping you despite the fact that they hardly know you. We care about our employees as much as we care about the people we serve.”

Karla Packer, SVP, chief human resources officer at NBTY, has worked in corporate America for decades. She’s worked at corporations where colleagues didn’t care, which is why she treasures NBTY.

“The most surprising thing about working at NBTY is the sense of pride and the genuine, heartfelt belief in the company that the associates possess,” Packer says. “I have been in corporate roles for 35 years and I have seen many times when associates feel disconnected from the organization or the mission and therefore become jaded. The associates here truly believe in the quality of our products and brands and the positive impact they have on people’s lives. It is refreshing to work in an environment like this.”

“We have bright, talented, team-oriented individuals who genuinely care and are invested in the success of NBTY,” notes Packer. “Our culture is warm, entrepreneurial, and built on our values of respect, teamwork, and integrity. It is also very diverse; we have people on our team from all backgrounds, skill sets, and expertise – and we are all committed to working toward the same goals. It is obvious to me every time I step through the door.”

NBTY’s products also energize her. “NBTY currently markets many brands, including Nature’s Bounty, Sundown, American Health, Ester-C, Solgar, MET-Rx, Pure Protein,Balance Bar, Osteo Bi-Flex, SISU, Rexall, Body Fortress, Puritan’s Pride, Vitamin World, Holland & Barrett, Physiologics, and De Tuinen,” Packer says. “Our vision is to provide our customers with brands that are loved and trusted by consumers and winning value-creators in the industry.”

As the chief human resources officer at NBTY, which is headquartered in Ronkonkoma, NY, Packer has an unparalleled perspective on whom NBTY hires. “Our company is very entrepreneurial at heart and our people are a reflection of that spirit,” she says. “We achieve that by providing our associates with opportunities to unleash their passion through the achievement of individual work objectives that clearly link to our corporate strategy. Qualities that we value include decisiveness, accountability, integrity, and a collaborative attitude. We have a variety of positions available that range widely from professional or operational to manufacturing or scientific – and each of them provides associates the chance to contribute positively.”

There are approximately 13,000 associates worldwide, with the majority based in the US and the UK, but NBTY also operates in other countries, including China, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, and New Zealand. Want to join the team?

“My advice is to ‘own your career,’” says Packer. “Career progression doesn’t happen on its own. It’s a partnership between you and your employer to make your career grow. Follow your passions, build a strong network, and don’t take no for an answer.”

“I had always excelled in high school and I wanted to be a veterinarian,” notes Packer. “When I went to college I took my first bio class, got my first bad grade ever, and had to rethink my dream. I ended up going with something I knew I could do, and that was math. I graduated with a BS in math. The lesson is that sometimes your best laid plans change and life takes you in an unexpected direction; you have to regroup and redirect.” And finally, identify what you enjoy doing.

“I am a builder,” says Packer. “I enjoy helping businesses grow and I enjoy helping people grow. When you have a chance to both influence people and impact a company in a very meaningful way, it is a wonderful combination.”

The pharma sector isn’t just meaningful, it’s growing too. “We are in a strong and growing industry,” Packer acknowledges. “Wellness is a huge area of personal focus for people who are looking to get healthy and stay healthy.”

Richard A. White, global sales director at FMC, explains: “We’re a diversified chemical company in the areas of agricultural health and nutrition. We don’t sell to the public. We sell to big pharmaceutical houses like Pfizer, Merck, Novartis, Klaxo Smith Kline, and many others. Then there’s the nutrition side like Nestle, Kraft, and General Mills.”

White oversees the sales in both health and nutrition. “I manage the global sales for the health and the nutrition business, which is about $828 million dollars,” he says.

“What I really like about FMC is we have good people committed to what they’re doing on a daily basis, which is helping to feed and heal the world,” he acknowledges.

The company is looking to hire “folks with a technical background such as chemists or chemical engineering,” says White. “You have to have high ethics, be hard working, and most importantly, be change agile.”

However, FMC needs more than just technical professionals. “We look for a host of folks,” notes White. “There is a wide array of opportunity here, from HR to financial to science to sales to technical. Determine what you like to do and make sure you’re well-rounded in terms of interpersonal capabilities, organizational agility, and good presentation skills. Those are the initial qualities we’re looking for when we bring someone fresh from college. Can you work in an organization that collaborates with different people with different functions?”

No matter your role, if you want to advance, you must add value. “Consistently meet your commitments and become known as a problem solver,” White advises. “Problem solving adds value.”

Also, recognize how business moves. “My father said, ‘Know the dance.’ You don’t have to do the dance, but you have to know it,” White comments. “Know the cadence of the business.’”

Recognize too that business moves through good times and bad. “After working for about 25 years, you learn that business goes through cycles and some are tough,” he explains. “It’s easy to manage a business when it’s good, but how do you keep the troops encouraged when clouds form? You have to manage through the difficult times too and there will always be those. You’re either going into a storm, in the storm, or coming out of it.”

“I was fresh out of college with a BA in chemistry,” he recalls. “The other chemists were from Yale and Harvard. I went to Morgan State University, a small school and historically black college. I was a little intimidated because I went to a small school. What calmed my nerves is chemistry is chemistry. As long as I knew that, I knew I would be all right.”

“I have been fortunate during my career to work in banking, transportation, construction, technology, and medical device industries,” he says. “In addition, I had the opportunity to travel and work in over 40 countries. I chose Hologic because it manufactures products that save lives.

“Our Genius 3D Mammography exams help find invasive breast cancers earlier and reduce unnecessary recalls,” Lewis explains. “Our molecular diagnostic tests identify diseases like HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, and HIV – often within days of infection. Our NovaSure minimally invasive gynecological procedure offers women a lifetime of freedom from heavy menstrual bleeding via a simple five-minute procedure.”

“We introduced the first FDA-cleared diagnostic test kit for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) nearly 30 years ago. And we revolutionized Pap testing for cervical cancer in 1996 with our ThinPrep Pap test, now the most widely used cervical specimen collection product in the world.”

“We succeed because we are focused on improving lives by innovating and bringing to market the best diagnostic, detection, and surgical technology in the world,” says Lewis. “We help healthcare professionals discover, diagnose, and treat their patients with progressive certainty.”

“Internal audit is responsible for examining and evaluating Hologic’s global activities and operations as a service to management, the audit committee, and the board of directors,” Lewis explains. “My team provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and strengthen the integrity of Hologic’s business operations.”

Students are a vital part of his team. “The Internal audit team has eight full-time equivalents, engages third-party subject matter experts, and hires four student interns per semester from various colleges and universities,” he says. “Our intern program provides students the opportunity to learn and experience the industry firsthand and to utilize some of the skills learned from their studies.”

Lewis believes leadership should be shared. “I value being in a leadership role and like to use the Tom Peters’ quote – ‘Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders.’ I have an adaptive leadership style depending on the type of person to be led. The goal is to have the team perform better and to achieve organizational goals faster.”

Hologic looks for talented individuals with diverse backgrounds, who can add value to the organization. Typically, employees have the following traits: selfstarter, team player, high ethical values, and excellent work ethic.

“Bring the ability to be a respected member of the leadership team and a key contributor to meeting the company’s strategic objectives,” adds Lewis, noting an important consideration. “The company is a global growth organization with tremendous cash-flow and earning potential.”

Everone is aligned with the goal of helping patients and that’s a good feeling. I know my work will help someone with blood cancer live a better life.”

If you want to work at Celgene, Clark tenders this advice. “I get to do some hiring. I look for people who have a passion for what they’re doing, people who want to do important work,” he says. “We need people who are flexible and people who can take complex information and simplify it. We also need people who have a track record of success in our industry.”

If you’re still in school, there are things you can do to make yourself a more attractive candidate. “Current students should learn as much as they can about the healthcare environment,” Clark says. “Read industry publications and note how doctors interact with their patients and pharmaceutical professionals. Research companies. If you can find a company that fits you, you’ll be more successful working there. Read about their products and culture.”

Also, begin building your network for coming challenges. “In transitions, you feel uncertain,” he says. “You don’t know how exactly you’ll fit. I’ve always been good at building my network of people to help transition. I rely on them when I need help when I’m in a new situation. A strong network of professionals in that industry really helps.”

Clark also recommends tapping into your school’s resources. “I went to Morgan State University, which is a historically black college,” he says. “I was a telecommunications major and when I think back about my education, it really prepared me to write well, present, and understand and listen to other’s ideas and concepts, which is vital in our industry. You have to have those competencies. Also, their career development center got me my first interview and kickstarted my career. I then started to build my expertise in cancer, which prepared me to become a manager at Celgene.”

Wherever you’re hired, your best effort will unlock doors. “Be ready to commit to whatever job you take,” says Clark. “Learn and master that position. Then see how your cross-functional partners work with you.”