In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kwame Sarpong, Business Insights & Analytics Rotational Development Program Associate.  Kwame is currently responsible for evaluating business processes, identifying needs and developing strategies to maximize opportunities for cardiovascular drugs to help patients on a global scale.   

 

Kwame discussed the importance of broadening the availability of medications across the world to developing countries. As a Guinea citizen, Kwame is passionate about being part of the solution for bringing affordable healthcare and drugs to the western part of Africa and eventually all of Africa. He is driven to be a part of solutions which aid developing countries in need of affordable drugs.   

 

Kwame attributes BOLD for providing an opportunity for professional development. He continually pays it forward by providing mentorship to others on how to navigate their career path. Kwame advises others to not be afraid to put yourself out there to network and to be uncomfortable by taking on roles you have never done before.

In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Toni Brock, Vice President, Corporate Analytics and Transparency and lead for Business Insights & Analytics Diversity and Inclusion initiative. Toni will be discussing how her perseverance helps her to achieve professional goals. She discusses the importance of making tough somewhat risky decisions to gain more skill sets and propel your career to what you are trying to achieve. Toni also goes on to explain the importance of not putting limits on yourself and taking full accountability for your development by seeking out opportunities for growth, such as stretch assignments. She learned how to use her failures as an opportunity to learn and grow and her voice to encourage inclusion. Toni attributed her determination for being a problem solver of issues where there was not a current solution to be the conduit to getting where she is today.

In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Amadou Diarra, Senior Vice President of Global Policies and Government Affairs. Amadou attributes his career success to being mobile and taking advantage of opportunities to work around the world in a variety of roles. He explains that being mobile takes the willingness to explore, understand and be open to others and other cultures. Working in another country, you must realize that you cannot expect to recreate the U.S. environment there.  One should embrace a cultural difference in an exchange for your own.  Amadou also advises when considering other roles, to network with individuals who are in the role or have done the role in the past to get a sense of what the role is about. Be intentional and take ownership to identify if the role is a fit in your development plan and really something you want to do.  

In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Atiba Page, Manager of Talent Acquisition, Diversity Recruitment. Atiba is a magnetic and energetic diversity and inclusion leader that enjoys collaborations with her peers and community leaders to create healthy disruptions. Currently, Atiba is developing and facilitating innovative diversity and inclusion programs across the Bristol Myers Squibb enterprise. 

 

Diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, Atiba delivers a message of the importance of recognizing that even when someone may be going through something detrimental, like cancer, they can still contribute, have energy and desire to impact their community. In Atiba’s case, her community includes new friends and family undergoing cancer therapies where she brings a positive message of hope and not giving up.

In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Gregg Jewett, Senior Director, Development & Commercial Alliances, and co-lead of Professional Development for BOLD. Greg will be discussing the importance of developing yourself and the next generation of workers, the importance of a growth mindset and how being a disc jockey in college lead him to changing his major to communications, getting him to where he is today.

In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kyna Gooden, Executive Director, Hematology and CAR-T Worldwide Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) - US Market. She will be discussing the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to the black community, being comfortable in bringing your true self to work and how she turned her passion for helping patients to a great career at BMS.

In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Yvette Lincoln, Director of Process and Innovation within the Forecasting and Strategic Planning group of our Business Insights and Analytics (BIA) department. She also sits on the BOLD Leadership team as the Engagement lead as well as the lead for our 2021 companywide Juneteenth celebration. She will be discussing her journey to BMS, the importance of planning our Juneteenth celebration and lastly, the power of overcoming your fears.

This is the first episode of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Black Organization for Leadership and Development (BOLD) podcast series BOLD Innovators. This is an open conversation with BOLD community members and allies throughout BMS that are true leaders in and out of the office who stand with our mission to foster an inclusive environment that values the contributions of Black employees equally with others. In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with the global lead of BOLD, Shamika Williams. She will be talking about her first job, the importance of family and why a person should be a part of the BOLD family.