Happy International Women’s Day (IWD), everyone!

Do you have any idea how proud I am to work for a company that has been championing women for more than 130 years?

Extremely!

At Johnson & Johnson, women have been fueling the future of human health since 1886, when eight of the first 14 J&J employees were women. Today, 45 percent of Johnson & Johnson’s more than 130,000 associates globally are women.

I’m proud to be part of that legacy. I wake up each morning honored to lead the Global Regulatory Affairs (GRA) group within the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson – an international team that has a high representation of women in GRA at all levels of the organization. GRA is a strategic and integrated partner across Janssen R&D, influencing regulatory strategy with global health authorities with the goal of delivering healthcare solutions to patients as quickly as possible.

For the past five years, my senior leadership team, which is also predominately female (62 percent), has been extremely focused on talent development and diversity. I believe that GRA’s diversity, and in this case, gender diversity, spurs innovation. I also believe women are catalysts for powerful change, pushing forward for healthier individuals, healthier communities and a healthier world.

Join me and Janssen in observing International Women’s Day. Let’s acknowledge the women in our lives who are key influencers, motivators and trail blazers – the sparks of the future. I’m gratified to be an executive woman for a company, that since its beginning, has recognized that women as caregivers and mothers, but importantly also as scientists, technologists, innovators, mentors, business leaders, community champions and the driving force behind the health of our future world.

Learn more about Johnson & Johnson’s overarching global focus on women and programs that support them, and explore the history and breadth of the company’s women’s initiatives by visiting: www.jnj.com/empowering-women.