An interview with Tracy Goodridge, Head of Middle East & Africa Aspiring Markets at Novartis
Over the last few years, we have seen that significant progress has been made when it comes to women empowerment. Has this progress also translated to the healthcare industry? Or are there still gaps when it comes to gender equality in the healthcare sector?
Tracy Goodridge: Absolutely, we have witnessed significant progress being made in empowering women across the healthcare sector. Research has shown that women today constitute 67% of the global health and social care workforce, and 59% of all graduates in the medical, biomedical, and health sciences fields. While these are encouraging figures, they fail to paint the complete picture and gaps still persist when it comes to achieving true gender equality. Despite more women entering the healthcare sector, it is estimated that they hold only 25% of leadership positions. In addition, the average pay for women is about 24% lower than men in the health and care sector. It is crucial for us to recognize these gaps and continue working toward a more inclusive and equitable healthcare sector.
What are some ways in which we can further promote gender equality in healthcare?
Tracy Goodridge: Accelerating progress towards true gender equality in healthcare will require us to take several strategic steps. First and foremost, we need to ensure equal access to high quality education and training for young women in communities around the world. Simultaneously, we must also ensure that we are educating, not just women, but all professionals to recognize and challenge unconscious biases that hinder women’s advancement in the industry. Secondly, we must work together to establish mentorship programs that provide women with the guidance and support they require to advance their careers and ultimately take up leadership positions in the future. Lastly, we need to focus on creating an ecosystem of transparency and accountability with clear policies that track progress towards gender equality goals within organizations.
As with many male-dominated industries, a key issue that women today face is that they don’t see a lot of other women working alongside them, especially in positions of leadership. How detrimental is this to young women and how is Novartis tackling this issue?
Tracy Goodridge: The lack of women representation and the absence of female role models especially is a serious challenge because it can be highly discouraging for young women who aspire to join any industry, including the healthcare industry. It could make them question whether their participation is welcome and if they will be able to achieve their aspirations. At Novartis, we recognize that diversity drives innovation, and we are committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that treats all associates with dignity and respect. We are achieving this through a wide range of initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining diverse talent, and identifying and training the next generation of leaders that are Inspired, Curious and Unbossed. I am proud to say that our focus and dedication to this mission has already yielded some very positive results – today, women represent 48% of our managers globally. In 2023, we also renewed our Equal Pay International Coalition pledge to help close the gender pay gap.
Do you have any programs or initiatives that are empowering the next generation of female leaders in healthcare?
Tracy Goodridge: We have launched several diverse programs and initiatives to empower our female associates to develop their technical and soft skills so that they stand ready as the next wave of leaders in healthcare. The “Empowered to Empower” initiative, launched by the Novartis MEA oncology team, for example, is dedicated to developing the abilities of our female associates and helping them reach their fullest potential. Similarly, our “Learnership Program” is helping to attract, develop and retain top talent in countries such as South Africa. We also regularly highlight successful women leaders within our organization to inspire others as part of our ongoing “Women in Science” series.
As a women leader, what advice can you offer other women who have set their sights on breaking the glass ceiling?
Tracy Goodridge: There is no single piece of advice that I can give, but rather a combination of the most important things I have learned based on my experiences as a woman in this dynamic industry. Firstly, believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities. When in doubt, remind yourself that you have worked hard to get to where you are and that you deserve a seat at the table. Also, be persistent and seek out mentors and allies, both men and women, who will help champion your career growth. Stay curious, embrace challenges, and don’t be afraid to fail. And lastly, extend a hand to lift up others beside yourself as you make your way to the top. This will ensure that you have a supportive network of peers that will help you deliver excellence.
