The Battle for Female Talent in Brazil - Center for Work-Life Policy

THIS IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
cross-function expertise from the U.S. biotech and pharmaceutical industry to see
their firm succeed “back home” by acting as ambassadors, translators, and cultural
guides to executives doing business there.
The China Council is “an ERG within an ERG” at the U.S. affiliate’s
headquarters in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Chaired by Dr. Helen Hsu, a Sr. Associate
Director of Oncology clinical research, the Council emerged in early 2011 as
a sub-team of Chinese Americans within the firm’s Asian employee resource
group (AERG). Many of them were already returning home twice a year to visit
parents, siblings, and grandparents; they perceived they could readily help
drive Boehringer Ingelheim’s business in China by lending their language skills,
personal contacts, cultural understanding, and local networks. They could assist
business leaders in making introductions to Chinese biotechs, help recruit within
their network for Chinese staff management positions, identify business gaps
between the US and China affiliates, increase the firm’s visibility in China, and
foster closer ties with China-based leaders.
Dr. BJ Bormann, the SVP responsible for bringing novel compounds into BI
from around the world, including China, immediately embraced the idea. She
sponsored the Council in April 2011 to help her develop and vet candidates for a
business-development leader position that had opened in China, allowing her to
focus on the most qualified and motivated candidates and conduct face-to-face
interviews. Dr. Roger Hill, Executive Director of Global Licensing & Business for
BI, turned to the Council for cultural insights that might shape his presentation
to the Bio Network Asia Conference in Singapore in August 2011—as well as
logistical input to ensure that his first visit to the region went smoothly. Upon his
return from that event, Hill met again with the Council to share his experience and
solicit their help in refining Boehringer Ingelheim’s presentation in October to the
BIO International conference in Shanghai. “The Council made subtle edits to the
presentation which were quite appealing to the Chinese audience,” commented
Dr. Bormann. In myriad ways—from coaching execs on how to conduct conference
calls to providing translation at key leader meetings as well as creating ‘Asianfriendly’
corporate presentations for Boehringer Ingelheim—the Council
has proven itself a critical bridge for Boehringer Ingelheim in a marketplace
characterized by both extreme competition and disruption.
Not only have Boehringer Ingelheim execs and the firm benefitted, however.
The Council members, each of whom heads up an initiative, are not only adding
value to the firm’s business in a key emerging market, but are also providing
career advancement opportunities for AERG members in the U.S. and Boehringer
Ingelheim employees in China. Drawing on their cultural heritage allows them to
make a meaningful contribution to the firm as individuals, not just as scientists,
observes Nancy Di Dia, Global Head of Diversity at Boehringer Ingelheim—a
connectivity that in turn drives engagement. “It’s a win-win, really,” she notes.
“They’re helping their own culture fit better within the Boehringer Ingelheim
world—and their cultural input is critical to our success in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Bloomberg: Women Moving Markets
In 2010, Bloomberg made a formal commitment to increase its overall coverage of
women, both in individual profiles, feature articles about women-related topics and
columns that are written by and addressed to women.
In retrospect, says Amanda Bennett, executive editor/projects and
31