
Podcast series sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb
BOLD Innovators podcast series
The Black Organization for Leadership and Development (BOLD) accelerates Bristol Myers Squibb's business performance by fostering an inclusive environment that values the contributions of Black employees equally with others. The BOLD podcast series, BOLD Innovators, highlights BMS leaders and their career journeys. It provides an authentic, personal perspective on how they shaped their careers, overcame hurdles and contributed to our mission of helping patients prevail over serious diseases.
All sessions hosted by Bryant Powell, BOLD Lead, Social and Digital Media.
- Podcast
- BOLD
- Family
- Innovators
BOLD Innovators Trailer
Related Resources
- Diversity in healthcare
- Never dim your light
- Superpowers
Unlocking your superpowers: Featuring Jessie Hwang, TYK2 medical scientist
In this month’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with BOLD member, Jessie Hwang, TYK2 medical scientist. Jessie is responsible for supporting the team and implementing the U.S. medical strategy for Bristol Myers Squibb product program launches in psoriasis and dermatology. Jessie also serves on the BOLD Leadership team, most currently as co-chair of the inaugural virtual program for Black History Month 2021. Jessie is a proud Spelman College alum and obtained her PharmD at St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
Jessie shares her career journey, passion about diversity in clinical trials and explains how she identified and uses her superpowers to fuel her passion for breaking down barriers to healthcare access in diverse populations.
Jessie speaks on the importance of learning and leveraging feedback even when it is not so great and paying it forward by passing on the information to others. She advises when choosing a company for a career that it is important to look at the company’s culture and discern if your voice will be heard to ensure the right fit. For Jessie, Bristol Myers Squibb was the right fit. She stated, “I chose BMS because BMS also chose me.”
Related Resources
- BOLD gender equity
- FirstOnlyDifferent
- Servant leadership
Bringing others along: Featuring Thalia Mingo, PBRG Lead, Bristol Myers Network of Women (B-NOW)
In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with BOLD member, Thalia Mingo, who is also the PBRG lead, Bristol Myers Network of Women. Thalia shared her 20-year career journey at Bristol Myers Squibb, which included opportunities in sales, marketing commercialization and a tour of duty in Switzerland. As the new lead for B-NOW, Thalia is a champion for gender equity and is shaping B-NOW strategy and execution to enable all women an opportunity to develop, advance and be supported throughout their career journey at Bristol Myers Squibb.
Thalia accredits all experiences, whether they were successful or had some failures and learnings, and the support from mentors and sponsors for propelling her to where she is today. She would love to get to a place and a time when we not having to have talk about underrepresented ethnic groups or gender as it relates to the workplace. Rather, it would be great to talk about people and their contributions overall and any dimensions of diversity that makes us unique and authentic becomes more natural.
This episode is presented by special guest host Terris Moss.
Related Resources
- Bet on you
- Optimism
- Black History Month
- Persistence
Bet on You: Featuring Monique Phillips, PBRG Lead, Black Organization for Leadership Development
In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Monique Phillips, PBRG lead, Black Organization for Leadership Development.
Joining as new lead for BOLD, Monique highlights BOLD’s Black History Month activities including keynote speaker Hill Harper, the focus on mental and physical health and wellness, and her gratitude of efforts from all the BOLD volunteers for making the Black History Month celebration a success.
As a recovering chemist, Monique shares the importance of asking “why” to get to root of problems and to viable solutions. “Asking the question 'why’ helps solve most questions because we understand what is going wrong and what is going well, and you can fix that,” she explains.
As a BOLD Innovator, Monique expresses the importance of being optimistic and persistent. After receiving many “Noes,” Monique’s persistence lead to a “Yes” to an opportunity to shadow a medical doctor during her training. She explained that sometimes we must be flexible and broaden our thinking on what is an acceptable “Yes.” Finally, Monique explains the importance on betting on yourself and not being afraid to fail.
Related Resources
- BOLD Leaders
- Succession
Celebration of Succession: Featuring former BOLD PBRG Leads Adrienne Gonzalez & Shamika Williams
Related Resources
- STEM
- PBRGs
- Diverse workforce
- Connect the Dots
Connecting the Dots: Featuring Tony Rodriguez, Associate Director, GPS PMO Process & Governance.
In this month’s episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tony Rodriguez, Associate Director, GPS PMO Process & Governance. Tony is an accomplished, result focused, global enterprise certified program management professional, who is currently responsible for delivery of several critical Bristol Myers Squibb initiatives supporting global supply chain, global engineering and facilities and cell therapy. Tony has a BA in computer information systems from Branch College and an executive master’s degree in technology management from Stevens Institute of Technology.
Tony shares the importance of connecting the dots. Growing up in the Bronx, New York, he realizes it took a village to get him where he is today. He serves as a conduit for several Bristol Myers Squibb PBRGs to work together on common visions impacting multiple communities, such as health disparities and supporting future STEM talent and leaders. He believes it is important to nurture, support and provide examples to students considering a career in STEM, so they realize with hard work, a career in STEM is within their reach.
As an ally and BOLD innovator, Tony expresses the importance of seeing the big picture of the problem to be solved, recognizing strength in diverse perspectives, as key to connecting the dots. Tony explains connecting the dots entails building relationships with people, allowing people to be their authentic self, learning about other backgrounds and allowing yourself to be challenged in a good way by others who may think differently than you. By building these relationships, when you have problems you are not able to solve, you can call on your connections to find someone who may know the answer.
Related Resources
- Development
- Business Insights
- Cardiovascular
- Healthcare and drugs
Paying it Forward: Kwame Sarpong, Business Insights & Analytics Rotational Development Program
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.
Related Resources
- Development
- Problem Solving
- Perseverance
- Risk Taking
- CV Sales
Discovering Opportunities: Featuring Antoinette (Toni) Brock, Vice President, Corporate Analytics and Transparency
Related Resources
- Mobility
- International Working
- Relocation
- Working abroad
Mobile Mission: Featuring Amadou Diarra, Senior Vice President of Global Policies and Government Affairs
Related Resources
- Healthy Disruptions
- Stage 4 Breast Cancer
- Atiba Page
Speak Up, Speak Out: Atiba Page, Manager Talent Acquisition, Diversity Recruitment
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.
Related Resources
- Development
- Growth Mindset
- DJ
- Wake Forest University
- Temple University
- Gregg Jewett
Development DJ: Featuring Gregg Jewett, Senior Director, Development & Commercial Alliances
Related Resources
- Authentic Self
- Kyna Gooden
- HBCU
- Howard University
- Patients
Authentic Self: Featuring Kyna Gooden, Executive Director, Hematology and CAR-T WW HEOR
Related Resources
- No Fear
- Yvette Lincoln
- Juneteenth
No Fear: Featuring Yvette Lincoln, Director, Process and Innovation
Related Resources
- Outside the Box
- Shamika Williams
Out of the Box Thinkers: Featuring Shamika Williams, BOLD, Global Lead
Related Resources
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