Embracing equity
Lakiea and Elizabeth are two amazing women at Sanofi who are chasing the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. They’re helping to change the way we treat diseases such as asthma and childhood atopic dermatitis, and the way society sees women in leadership roles in science and industry.
Lakiea’s story
Growing up with poorly controlled asthma, Lakiea was a regular visitor to the Emergency Room. The care she received there inspired her to help others: she decided to become a doctor.
"Although I didn’t see any doctors who looked like me, I didn’t let that hold me back from achieving my dream.”
Now she proudly balances her job as a medical director supporting asthma care with being a parent. An important aspect of equity in the workplace is the flexibility she gets to balance work and family, so she doesn’t miss important moments in her daughter’s life. “I love serving as a role model for my daughter, who is showing early interest in science.” Lakiea has some advice for young women: “Dream big and work hard. The world will put limitations on you, but you don’t have to limit yourself.”
Caption: Lakiea Wright, Medical Director in US Medical Affairs, Immunology-Respiratory
Taking steps to secure balanced leadership
Sanofi is the #1 healthcare company for gender equality, but our ambitions go further: we won’t stop until we achieve truly balanced leadership and build a vibrantly diverse, inclusive workplace.
That’s why we’re:
- Mandating gender balance among candidates in the final round of interviews for senior leader roles
- creating career development pathways to support women to progress towards executive roles
- reaffirming our commitment to having 50% women in senior leader positions and 40% women in executive positions by 2025.
Elizabeth’s story
Elizabeth didn’t always know she would work in healthcare. At school she naturally gravitated towards math, science, and computer science, but she discovered that she liked the patient-centric aspects that came with working for a company like Sanofi, and she never looked back.
“Life is too short to spend a lot of it doing a job that you don’t enjoy.”
Now, Elizabeth is leading the overall strategy and execution of the dupilumab development program. She’s excited to be doing her part to embrace equity.
“I had been blessed with mentors and sponsors who saw potential in me and gave me opportunities to realize that potential. I’ve tried to do the same for the women with whom I work.”
In her experience, the approach is good for everyone: “The benefit of diversity in the workplace is the wealth of ideas that come from working with people who don’t all think the same way.”
Caption: Elizabeth Laws, VP, Global Program Head for dupilumab
We have the power to make positive change
At Sanofi, we know we have the power to make a positive change by discovering the extraordinary in medicine. And we can do it by discovering the extraordinary within each other. We proudly #EmbraceEquity so that each of us can release our potential. That’s how we’ll make the miracles people are waiting for.
Find out more about gender equity
Trailblazing Women of Sanofi Science
Don't be afraid to chase [science] with everything you have.
Mentoring for Gender Equity Women @ Sanofi
“Every hour, every day you give to mentoring makes the world a better place.”
Gender Balance
Gender gaps in society remain a major barrier worldwide, impeding social advancement and hampering economic growth.