Varuni Ankolekar, Quartesian
BIOXONE BIOSCIENCES SERIES – “Extraordinary Women in Biosciences”- Day 4
Some women are born to inspire others. Women have constantly been a source of motivation and a spark in almost all fields. Many prominent contributions have been made in the field of science. One such name is Emma Walmsley, who has made a renowned impact in the pharmaceutical industry. A powerful businesswoman of Britain and first-ever female Chief executive officer (CEO) and Board Director of GlaxoSmithKline. Let us now have a look at Emma Walmsley‘s education and her achievements.
About Emma Walmsley:
In June 1969, Emma Walmsley was born in Barrow-in-Furness in Lancashire (now Cumbria), England. Her father Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Walmsley and mother Lady (Christina) Walmsley (born Christina V Melvill) raised Emma along with her two siblings.
In September 1995, she married David Owen in Greenwich, London. They have four children.
Emma Walmsley holds a relatively low media profile, although she has disclosed that she enjoys yoga.
Emma believes that taking over as CEO was her second-best decision, marrying her husband David was the first.
She’s amazed by the achievements she has made these years and remains excited about all the opportunities ahead. She is not only making a difference in the industry but also doing her best as a parent. Despite her busy schedule, she makes time for her children’s school plays, matches, and parent evenings. She’s genuinely happy in her new company and takes the privilege of leading a team.
Education:
As a child, Emma was brilliant, dynamic, loved to do adventures, and was highly inspired by her Latin teacher. In 1987, she finished her schooling at St Swithun’s School, Winchester, having completed her Latin A level.
Emma holds a Master of Arts in Classics and Modern Languages from Oxford University, where she studied at Christ Church.
Career:
After graduation, she went into Consultancy and later into a Marketing job. She joined L’Oreal in 2007 as General Manager, Consumer Products, and was based in Shanghai.
When she moved to Shanghai she had to learn how to lead in a new culture, where she didn’t speak the language, and everything was distinct. It was during her 7 months pregnant with their fourth child when she was asked.
In 2010, she became head of the Chinese consumer business for L’Oreal.
She looked after the company’s Chinese consumer products business, supervising global brands such as L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline, and Garnier, including Chinese skincare brand, Mininurse.
She was offered with senior global management role when she planned to depart from L’Oreal.
L’Oreal was a company where she enjoyed working and stayed for over 17 years executing her management and marketing skills in Paris, London, New York, and Shanghai.
Her journey in GlaxoSmithKline in May 2010 as President of Consumer Healthcare Europe.
In October 2011, she became a member of the executive team and head global consumer healthcare division being as President of Consumer Healthcare Worldwide.
She began to head as the chief executive officer of Consumer Healthcare in March 2015, mainly involved in managing the company’s sales drive in emerging markets. During this time, the consumer products division, one of the world’s largest consumer health groups with products involving Panadol, Voltaren, and Horlicks, made approximately a quarter of GlaxoSmithKline’s revenues.
She served as a non-executive director of Diageo from January to September 2016.
Emma has taken over the position of CEO and has been Board Director of GSK since April 2017. She has stamped her mark of being the first woman to lead a major pharmaceutical company.
In August 2017, Walmsley stated that developing and commercializing new drugs more proficiently would be her primary focus for GlaxoSmithKline. She had set the objective of allotting over 80% of pharma R&D capital to majorly four disease areas. The new CEO has made many significant moves such as “the transformation of the leadership team within R&D.”
In January 2018, Walmsley planned for organizational restructuring by creating new roles and replacing 50 top managers of GSK. Also, hired Karenann Terrell from Walmart as chief digital and technology officer.
In September 2019, Walmsley became a part of the Microsoft board as an independent director.
Honors and achievements:
In Fortune’s 2016 list of the highly powerful women outside the US, Walmsley was 33rd.
In 2017 she has reached the second position on Fortune Magazine list whereas in 2018 she topped the list.
In 2019, she was 2nd amongst ‘Most Powerful International Women’ in business in Fortune Magazine.
Emma Walmsley was humbled to receive the honor of 2020 Queen’s Birthday honors. She was delegated as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).
Motivational Quotes of Emma Walmsley:
· “People regret far more what they don’t do rather than what they do.”
· “Don’t worry about status but do worry about learning and rounding out your skills.”
· Walmsley told Fortune earlier that: “The way I define the job is, firstly, in setting strategy for the company, and then leading the allocation of capital to that strategy because until you put the money where you say your strategy is, it’s not your strategy.”
Career advice by Emma Walmsley:
She advises everyone to be creative with their career planning and not to worry about the status. Focus on learning and expanding your skillsets. Discuss your goals and ambitions with your loved ones and take the roles that not only help you grow but also enjoy what you do.
Personalities like Emma Walmsley inspire us to believe in our dreams and work our fingers to the bone to accomplish them. She has burnt many candles at both ends in reaching where she is now. Emma is very strategic in her business approach. She has been named as one of the most powerful businesswomen by many prominent magazines and business publications.
Young girls and women can see her as one of the role models who find it difficult to juggle between work and family when none are doing it around us. All it takes is your dedication, perseverance, and passion for what you do. Life is a relentless juggling act, with hardly enough sleep but once you reach what you are looking for, it gives a huge sense of fulfillment.
Also read: Early Decrease in Atmospheric CO2 Concentration Caused Polar Ice Formation
References:
- Emma Walmsley. (2021). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emma_Walmsley&oldid=1038246285
- Emma Walmsley. (n.d.). Lean In. Retrieved August 30, 2021, from https://leanin.org/stories/emma-walmsley
- Science ‘mojo’ and an executive dream team: Ceo Emma Walmsley’s bold prescription for reviving GlaxoSmithKline. (n.d.). Fortune. Retrieved August 30, 2021, from https://fortune.com/longform/gsk-glaxosmithkline-ceo-emma-walmsley/
- Mandav, P. (2020, October 10). Pharmacists, GSK CEO, pharmacy professor among recipients of 2020 Queen’s Birthday honours. Latest Pharmacy News | Business | Magazine – Pharmacy Business. https://www.pharmacy.biz/pharmacists-gsk-ceo-academic-among-recipients-of-2020-queens-birthday-honours/
- Thumbnail image: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/sep/20/emma-walmsley-profile-loreal-gsk-chief-designate-glaxosmithkline
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