Tips on applying for the GSK Future Leaders Programme
Patricia Vlad Business Management Associate
Patricia Vlad is relishing the challenges of her current role as a Future Leaders Associate at GSK. Here she tells us what she loves about her job, shares her experience of the CEMS MIM and gives tips on applying for the GSK Future Leaders Programme. Knowing that what I do has a direct impact on patients’ lives definitely motivates me in my day-to-day job. It was one of the main reasons that I applied to join the GSK Future Leaders Programme (FLP). So far, I’ve particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work with so many different nationalities. It’s also been inspiring to see how people at GSK live the company’s values in such an authentic way. And, as GSK operates worldwide, I’ve been able to gain new skills from working at local, regional and global levels. Before joining GSK, I took a double degree in International Business, then studied for a CEMS Master’s in International Management. It was wonderful to study in Barcelona and Ontario and meet fellow students from all around the world. I loved meeting people from other disciplines, including engineers, designers and psychologists. It made me realise that when you have people with the same background in a room, it’s easy to prioritise consensus over innovation. But when the team includes people from diverse areas, you’re more likely to generate new ideas. The Master’s equipped me with a variety of important skills, including managing a collaborative team, using lateral thinking to find solutions, and communicating effectively with international colleagues.
Now that I’m at GSK, I frequently find myself drawing on the skills I acquired during CEMS. It’s been great to have those tools and techniques to hand, especially as I’ve been moving around different areas of GSK’s business on rotation. My first rotation was in the HIV division in London, where I gained insights into how to engage with doctors using digital methods. After that, I was lucky enough to work on a new business strategy for anti-counterfeiting. My third rotation was in Munich in the Commercial area of the Consumer Healthcare business. I worked with the head of sales on a long-term sales strategy, carrying out research with dentists and pharmacists. Now I’m back in London for my last rotation, working in ecommerce for the Commercial business in Consumer Healthcare. The FLP has been such a positive experience for me. At every stage, you’re entrusted with projects and empowered to take decisions and learn. You’re in the driving seat to plan your career, and if you perform and show interest, opportunities will open up for you. If you’re interested in applying to the FLP, I suggest researching all the different FLP paths and making sure you resonate with GSK’s values. Be yourself, be passionate and be eager to make a difference. Looking ahead, I hope to lead my own team one day. These are exciting times for healthcare and I’d love to stay in this area and go deeper into digital to understand how new technologies will shape our experience with doctors, dentists and consumers.