Download life- changing careers

2012/2013
lifechanging
careers
The responsibility is yours
Graduates take charge
Engineers from everywhere
International hires add new perspectives
Coming home to China
Novo Nordisk’s R&D facility attracts top scientists
Stories of personal passion
Patient focus guides our efforts
A healthy business
From health in Denmark to help in Mozambique
Johnson
ThomasNaomi
Flemming
Thorsen
Product On
transition
his waydiscussion
to a meeting
Princeton,Denmark
USA
Bagsværd,
Welcome
Contents
Graduate programme
Page 6 “Employees feel they are involved in this big goal of
Pages 4-5
making a difference to patients' lives,” says graduate pro-
An expanding global company
gramme participant Tamara Seedial. “You do feel that early on,
because you get the opportunity to meet the patients.”
Pages 6-7
The responsibility is yours
Surprises in the graduate programme
Pages 8-9
Global mobility
Product Supply: leaner and greener
Page 8 “Personally, it is great to be exposed to a new way of
Engineers from everywhere
doing business with much less hierarchy than in the US,” says
one of the international recruits, Christopher Monnier.
Page 10
For more than 10 years, Novo Nordisk has achieved double-
The ultimate marketing challenge
digit sales growth – such consistently impressive financial
Page 11
results are unheard of in the pharma industry. The success is
Coming home to China
attributable to our employees, who are joined together by the
Research and development
aspiration to make a significant difference to patients, the
Page 12
medical profession and society.
A commitment to change
Page 11 For Principal Scientist Zhang Jun, one of the top at-
Page 13
tractions of the R&D centre is the opportunity to work with
A new approach to sales
new, innovative approaches. One of her projects, for example,
At Novo Nordisk, we believe in life-changing careers. Here you
involves an exciting collaboration with three top hospitals in
will not only change your professional life by working with
challenging tasks and inspiring colleagues; you will also be
Pages 14-15
part of making a real difference to the world we live in. By
Stories of personal passion
putting people first in everything we do, we generate sustain-
– Following a dream
able results and experience a very high level of commitment
– For a young girl, an easier life
Beijing.
amongst our colleagues.
Patient focus
Page 16
In this magazine some of my colleagues tell their stories so that
Volunteers help 3,573 people
Page 14 Two Novo Nordisk employees explain how their work
you can read first-hand what it is like to work for Novo Nordisk
Page 17
has changed the lives of others.
and see the opportunities this brings – such as working in other
Production waste becomes art
countries, getting new challenges and making a real, tangible
Employees TakeAction
difference.
Pages 18-19
I hope you enjoy the magazine.
A healthy business
A change of direction
NovoHealth
Page 18 A free bicycle-lending service has been helping Novo
Nordisk employees get from one building to another at some
Lars Rebien Sørensen
Chief Executive Officer
of the major company sites in Denmark.
Novo Nordisk at a glance
An expanding
global company
North America
Europe
International Operations
Japan & Korea
Region China
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with
nearly 90 years of innovation and leadership
in diabetes care.
Novo Nordisk headquarters are located in Denmark, but with
our work. As of 2011, the number of
market presence in 190 countries and research, develop-
people with diabetes worldwide was
ment, and production facilities spanning five continents, the
estimated to be 366 million, and by 2030
company’s global reach is growing. See the map for more
this number is expected to grow to 552 million.
details.
Novo Nordisk seeks to reverse this trend.
Headquarters and corporate hubs
Research and development centres
Production facilities
Affiliates
Representative offices
Apart from providing the best possible treatOur primary focus is diabetes – and with more than 40 con-
ment options, we are also deeply engaged in
secutive quarters of double-digit growth, we are the market
initiatives to prevent diabetes and expand access
leader with around 50% of the total insulin market and 46%
to care.
of the modern insulin market, based on volume. In the biopharmaceuticals sector, Novo Nordisk has a leading position
A growing, diverse, and mobile workforce
within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy.
Innovation and urgency
We are more than 33,000 employees and we recruit some
The 10 Essentials of the Novo Nordisk Way embody values
units around the world are audited against the Essentials by a
4,000 new colleagues globally every year. About 57% of the
that include respect for one another, for the environment and
special team of facilitators.
current workforce is based outside of Denmark; this percent-
the societies on which we leave our footprint. In this way, we
age is expected to grow to 75% over the next decade. The
ensure our business is sustainable: good relationships with
Our values also include a strong commitment to ambition. As
We are at the cutting edge of innovation. Recent scientific
workforce comprises more than 100 different nationalities and
our stakeholders support our worldwide license to operate.
an employee at Novo Nordisk, you are actively encouraged to
breakthroughs in diabetes care include the development of
diversity is viewed as a prerequisite for global growth and in-
And we take this seriously; every year, affiliates and business
develop your talents and explore your potential.
the new human GLP-1 analogue Victoza , launched in 2010
novative thinking. Our company language is English.
®
and achieving blockbuster status (>USD 1 billion in sales) after
Values and sustainability
A reputation for being the best
an oral insulin tablet is currently in clinical development.
At Novo Nordisk, you are part of a unique company culture
Because of our way of doing things, Novo Nordisk has earned
as diverse as the US, France, Poland,
Meanwhile, our haemophilia pipeline is expanding with sev-
and heritage, dating back to when co-founder August Krogh
a reputation as a very attractive workplace, both in Denmark
Argentina, and South Africa.
eral new products in late-stage development.
brought insulin production to Denmark in 1923. It is a values-
and abroad. Internally, anonymous surveys show consistently
based way of doing business, anchored in what we call the
high employee ratings. In 2011, Novo Nordisk was rated
Novo Nordisk Way.
among the best places to work in Denmark and in countries
just 29 months. In 2011, two new-generation insulins were
filed for regulatory approval in Europe, Japan, and the US, and
A growing diabetes pandemic has lent a sense of urgency to
4
Novo Nordisk at a glance
>
For more information, visit
novonordisk.com/about_us
Novo Nordisk at a glance
5
Graduate programme
The responsibility is yours
From the very beginning, Graduate Programme participant Tamara Seedial has
taken charge of her own projects.
“All employees feel they are involved in
Tamara will be applying for a position
this big goal of making a difference to
in open competition, but her chances
patients’ lives,” she says. “You do feel
are good: about 96% of those who
that early on, because you get the op-
complete the graduate programme have
portunity to meet the patients.”
taken up full time positions at Novo
Nordisk.
Open competition
Tamara Seedial joined the Novo Nordisk Graduate Programme
“From Day One I got my own projects,” she says. “They say,
eighteen months ago. Originally from Trinidad, she holds a BA
‘we will help you, but the responsibility and tasks are yours’.”
Each year more than 30 participants are
After a spell in the newly-established
chosen for the graduate programme,
Bangalore office in India, Tamara’s final
which covers four basic areas: business
In her second placement, she worked as a clinical trial monitor
rotation will take her back to headquar-
management & marketing, product sup-
Her first of the three rotations in the programme involved get-
overseeing the trial she had gotten approved during her first
ters in Denmark to work in the compa-
ply, finance & business IT, and research
ting clinical trial applications approved for simultaneous launch
rotation. The continuity of work gave her the chance to see a
ny’s haemophilia unit. After that, she
& development. Below are comments
in 20 countries, and her managers gave her responsibility from
clinical trial working out in hospital in practice, and gave her an
hopes to secure a position in the Regu-
from other graduates working around
the outset:
insight into the difference such work can make to patients.
latory Affairs department.
the company and around the world.
Tamara Seedial has enjoyed the feeling of
truly making a difference during the graduate programme.
in chemical engineering and a Master’s in biotechnology.
“what was
the biggest
surprise
for you in the
graduate programme”
>
Learn more
about the
graduate
programme
here
Sona Rastogi
Kasper Veje
Anirvan Dutt-Chaudhuri
Thomas Flemming Thorsen
Elena Apostolova
Global Marketing Graduate
Product Supply Graduate
Business Processes Graduate
Corporate Finance Graduate
Business IT Graduate
Current rotation: Diabetes Marketing,
Current rotation: Aseptic Production,
Current rotation: IO Market Access
Current rotation: Finance Projects,
Current rotation: IT System Manage-
Princeton, US
Clayton, US
and Commercial Effectiveness, Zurich,
Bagsværd, Denmark
ment, Bagsværd, Denmark
Switzerland
The confidence
The level of re-
I have been most
The ease of
the line of busi-
sponsibility man-
surprised by the
moving from
ness has in the
agers trust gradu-
strong sense of
one business
graduates. It is
ates with. I had
unity in the gradu-
area to anoth-
very encourag-
high hopes com-
ate group. As part
er absolutely
ing to be given
ing into the pro-
of
Graduate Programme
current
amazed me. I
graduate
full responsibility of projects and the lib-
gramme and ex-
I was surprised by how accessible peo-
group,
have seen people from IT going to sales,
erty to run with them from the very start.
pected to be given meaningful tasks,
ple make themselves to graduates. Col-
which encompasses more than 30 dif-
colleagues from finance moving to
In addition, the large number of ex-
but never did I think that I would be
leagues of all levels, from recent alumni
ferent nationalities, I have rich opportu-
marketing, and professionals from IT
graduates in different areas and func-
given tasks of the magnitude that I have
to senior management, are ever ready
nities to socialise with colleagues from
building a career in HR. We have end-
tions within the organisation is very in-
been given. As graduates, we are deeply
to meet with you and share their knowl-
all over the world, learning more about
less opportunities for developing our
spiring and reassuring. Lastly, I have
involved in many business-critical issues
edge and advice; it’s a testament to
different cultures, sharing knowledge,
profiles, and a company that supports
been surprised by how awesome my
and are often allowed to punch above
how well recognised and perceived the
building a strong network across the
us in it. Before starting to work at Novo
fellow graduates are with a combina-
our weight, which has pushed me even
graduate programme is.
Novo Nordisk organisation, receiving
Nordisk, I thought the focus on personal
tion of a go-getter spirit and a suppor-
further than I had hoped for.
advice from former graduates on how
and professional development was just
tive and helpful attitude. I’m glad to be
to make the most of the graduate ex-
words that every company would say to
part of the graduate programme and it
perience, and much, much more.
attract the best talents, but for Novo
has been fantastic so far!
6
the
Nordisk it is reality.
Graduate Programme
7
Manufacturing
Abdellatif Ahrouda
Pre-assembly in Product Supply
Hillerød, Denmark
Product Supply:
leaner and greener
Efficiency efforts at Novo Nordisk
manufacturing plants yielded a triple
bonus.
When Novo Nordisk began to improve its production efficiency
Vibeke Burchard
Senior Project Manager
Denmark
It began with
19% of sales revenue, compared to
sions have also been achieved by a lean-
a philosophy
28.3% in 2003. As costs fell, the result-
er, greener Product Supply.
®
called cLEAN
ing financial savings were used to in-
– Novo Nor-
crease Novo Nordisk’s spending for
disk’s version
research & development and expand
of the ‘lean’
the company’s sales force. But there
Meanwhile, the social bottom line now
production
were also environmental benefits, in
shows employees who are more en-
practices de-
spite of significantly increased produc-
gaged and better educated for their
veloped by the
tion.
jobs thanks to a constantly evolving,
tomaker Toyota. The little ‘c’ stands for
“cLEAN has had a major effect on our
also involves management. Vice Presi-
‘current’ and symbolises the fact that,
energy consumption,” notes Senior
dent Marianne Prause-Knudsen, who
for Novo Nordisk, the philosophy is con-
Project Manager Vibeke Burchard, who
has worked with cLEAN® in Product
stantly evolving.
tracks Novo Nordisk’s environmental
Supply in many different capacities,
performance. “When you optimise pro-
puts it this way:
duction, you can produce more with the
“Today cLEAN® is not just a philosophy
same amount of energy.”
– it is a culture of improvement, the
Energy savings
story unfolded into an extensive Triple Bottom Line effort,
For employees at production facilities around the world, the
principles of cLEAN ® are now a way of life.
cLEAN®-based training programme that
Japanese au-
back in 2003, it was mostly a question of making the company more financially competitive. But over the years, the
A culture of improvement
®
which not only lowered production costs but also reduced
Process and productivity improvements
the company’s environmental footprint and achieved some
were only the beginning. By 2011, the
Over the years, major reductions in wa-
that tomorrow will always be better
important social goals.
cost of goods sold had fallen to just
ter consumption, waste and CO2 emis-
than today.”
Christopher Monnier, a former usability
that is spoken everywhere. Added to
engineer at a US-based medical device
this is their own adventurous spirit:
way we work. It’s our way of ensuring
Global mobility
Engineers from everywhere
Research and development in the area of medical devices has been enriched by
a diverse group of new recruits.
company. Christopher joined Novo Nordisk as a senior device engineer.
“We were really ready to leave the Midwest and try something different,” he
Surprisingly easy
says. “We also knew about Novo Nordisk as a pharmaceutical company that
Device Research and Development
and ideas to add value to our efforts
them a range of device engineering and
Christopher and his wife found the tran-
sponsors one of our favourite radio sta-
(DRD) is continuously working to fur-
in DRD. Engineers from outside of Den-
usability experience from the US, the
sition to Danish life surprisingly easy,
tions, National Public Radio.”
ther develop user-friendly pens for in-
mark bring with them new professional
UK, Ireland, Taiwan and Holland. In re-
thanks in part to the high level of English
jection, and when Novo Nordisk hired a
networks and experience in device en-
turn, one of the things their new com-
group of new engineers from around
gineering,” says Corporate Vice Presi-
pany could offer them was a Danish
the world in 2011 to help develop new
dent Thomas D Miller of Prefilled Device
perspective on the idea of teamwork.
medical devices in Denmark, the idea
Innovation, where all five of the new
was to add new perspectives to the
recruits are working.
Danish engineering team.
“We are always looking for new skills
8
Manufacturing / Global mobility
The new DRD engineers brought with
>
Read more here:
“Personally, it is great to be exposed to
Experienced consultants from Novo Nordisk’s Global Mobility
a new way of doing business with much
Support team ease the transition to Denmark for international
less hierarchy than in the US,” says,
hires.
Christopher Monnier and his wife relocated
to Denmark when he became senior R&D
engineer at Novo Nordisk.
Manufacturing / Global mobility
9
Marketing
The ultimate marketing challenge
Tim Slee has extensive launch experience from the pharma industry
and is now preparing the campaign for Novo Nordisk’s new-generation insulins.
As Senior Global Marketing Director for Novo Nordisk’s
new-generation insulin degludec, Tim’s latest challenge has
been to prepare launch campaigns that are ready to roll within days of a final product approval in key countries. This
involves a degree of uncertainty and a number of alternative
Cutting-edge science brought
Zhang Jun back to her home
country, where she now lives
with her husband and son, and
can be near her parents.
Research and development
Coming home to China
scenarios, depending on what regulators decide about the
product.
It’s an exciting time for Principal Scientist Zhang Jun to be
Help from the experts
Scientific exchanges
in China.
The new expansion has made the Chinese R&D centre a fully
Not long after he joined the company in 1998, he worked on
After 20 years of working abroad in the pharmaceutical indus-
integrated part of the Novo Nordisk research organisation,
the launch of the insulin analogue NovoMix 30. A few years
try, she is now using all her talents at Novo Nordisk’s research
which also includes facilities in Denmark and a research centre
later, he was helping to launch Novo Nordisk’s long-acting
and development centre in Beijing, where she found a “critical
in the US. Jun enjoys the visits and scientific exchanges with
insulin analogue Levemir – first in Canada and later in Aus-
mass” of colleagues, resources and scientific challenges. And
her colleagues at these sites.
tralia.
that mass of talent and challenge has grown even greater
®
®
since Jun returned to her home country in 2010.
For the insulin degludec challenge, as with his previous launch
“We are all working on the same projects so we can all help
and support each other – sometimes through teleconferences
assignments, he was armed with a thorough knowledge of
In the fall of 2012, the centre opened a USD 30-40 million
the product. Years before it was submitted to authorities for
expansion, increasing its staff capacity from 130 to 200 and
Tim Slee, age 47, has spent most of his Novo Nordisk career
approval in 2011, he began working with experts involved in
adding new facilities for more advanced research capabilities.
When asked whether she plans to travel to the US or Den-
helping to launch new products. For him, it’s the most exciting
the development of insulin degludec, learning how it works
The centre boasts research facilities that are “among the best
mark, Jun replies with a laugh:
part of the business – and a great way to use his background
and what it can mean to patients. He has also worked closely
in the world,” says Jun, who works with preclinical drug can-
“Right now, I think it is more attractive for my colleagues to
in social studies, psychology and journalism. Particularly in the
with affiliates to learn about their specific marketing chal-
didates for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis.
come to China.”
pharmaceutical industry there is a lot of pressure to get a
lenges and needs.
product launch right due to the often immense amount of
resources used for developing innovative medications and
and sometimes face to face,” she says.
For Jun, one of the top attractions of the centre is the oppor-
New opportunities
devices.
tunity to work with new, innovative approaches. One of her
Novo Nordisk R&D in China
projects, for example, involves an exciting collaboration with
Tim has a large, diverse network – and a marketing team with
three top hospitals in Beijing:
In 1997, Novo Nordisk became the first non-Chinese pharma-
“It’s the ultimate marketing challenge,” he says. “My job is to
many different talents. But what happens to his own career
take the clinical data the company has developed and pack-
path after insulin degludec? Tim isn’t worried: “We have a
“This collaboration gives us access to a large and unique array
facility in China. Today, the R&D centre in Beijing focuses both
age it so that it can be easily understood by the specialists,
fantastic portfolio of products,” he says. “Every couple of
of fluid and tissue samples from actual patients, and that ac-
on diabetes and biopharm research, and is one of three ‘pillars’
nurses and educators who will then be explaining it to
years there are new opportunities to become part of a new
cess is critical,” she says. “This is cutting-edge, translational
in Novo Nordisk’s research organisation. The other two are in
patients.”
major launch.”
research that can really increase our odds of success.”
Denmark and the US.
10
Marketing
ceutical company to establish a research and development
Research and development
11
Innovation
A commitment to change
At Novo Nordisk innovation is essential – the company’s history is built on it.
Until recently, innovation was primarily seen in relation to
Examples of projects are
A new
approach
to sales
product development. But Novo Nordisk is broadening its
Base of the Pyramid:
definition of innovation to secure its future business. Supported by senior management, an Innovation Office has been es-
a new business model for low-income countries.
tablished, which focuses on unique and cross-functional
Future Workplace:
projects. Each project is anchored in the line of business and
nurtured by the Innovation Office staff.
finding new and more flexible ways of working together.
Novo Nordisk is changing
the conversation that
US medical reps have
with their contacts.
In the Northwest Region of the US sales organisation, Health Systems Manager Leslie Foy
helped pioneer a door-opening course of action.
Future Field Force:
finding new ways to sell our products.
Doors that were closed are opening for
came less about products than about
about a new, innovative business model for selling insulin to
Novo Nordisk medical reps in the US. Re-
helping these executives meet their own
less well-off people in low-income countries. The business
sponding to an extraordinary challenge
challenges.
model is the result of a collaboration between Novo Nordisk,
in many areas of the country, regional
the Health Ministry of Kenya, several religious organisations
sales organisations are transforming
“It’s important that the customers don’t
other restricted health system districts.
in Kenya, and healthcare clinics in different parts of the
their sales forces and offering customers
just see us as someone who brings
The results? By 2010, for example, the
country. The very tangible result is that insulin vials from
a whole new value proposition.
product-related stuff,” says Leslie Foy,
Northwest Region had changed its sales
who became one of two new ‘health
ranking from dead last to number three
Novo Nordisk are now being sold in Kenya for a reduced
12
Innovation
Since its initiation back in 2007, the Regional Model has expanded into many
price, making treatment of diabetes much more affordable
The challenge facing many medical reps
systems managers’ in an initial Regional
among the 16 US regions. And in Seat-
for many Kenyans.
is that, in recent years, an increasing
Model project in Seattle and Minneap-
tle, the launch of Novo Nordisk’s diabe-
number of US health systems have re-
olis. Today she meets regularly with
tes treatment Victoza® became the best
Another concrete initiative is the introduction of Lync as a
stricted the reps’ access to physicians.
executives in two Washington State
in the nation.
global communications tool to improve the communication
To deal with this problem, Novo Nordisk
healthcare systems.
across geographies. This is done as part of the Future Work-
changed the conversation.
place project:
Birgitte Krejberg Petersen conducts a virtual meeting with a colleague
using Lync.
The courage to change
As an example, the Base of the Pyramid project has brought
The big picture
“We need to work efficiently together and select the best
Northwest Regional Business Director
“My goal is to help them understand
Doug Speas, who helped engineer the
the opportunities that exist to improve
first Regional Model, is more than
the care for patients with diabetes. So
pleased:
people for a task independently of where they sit. In a virtual
The new point of departure in the re-
the conversation is not ‘what do you
meeting, you can have the richness of a face-to-face meeting
stricted markets became health systems
need from me?’ but rather a dialogue
“It’s great to work for an organisation
with colleagues all over the world,” notes Birgitte Krejberg
executives, where decisions were now
about trends, best practices and the
that has the courage to change,” he
Petersen, who heads the Future Workplace project.
being made. And the conversation be-
big picture,” she says.
says.
Innovation
13
Ayse Naz Baykal
Turkey
Ayse has type 1 diabetes
Patient focus
Stories of
personal passion
The patients are what is most important to the
employees of Novo Nordisk –
pictured here is Ayse Naz Baykal of Turkey who
has type 1 diabetes.
The first-person narratives on these pages show
how our patient focus has affected the workinglives
of two Novo Nordisk employees
At Novo Nordisk, we believe every
employee should be aware of what
we really are working for: a better
life for patients.
– one in Indonesia and the other in Israel.
Following a dream
For a young girl, an easier life
Several years ago my mother had
a medical affairs manager, I find passion in expanding physi-
Imagine a young
her. Her brother covered his ears to
“Novo Nordisk made our lives easier
blurred vision that turned out to be
cians’ horizons on the treatment of diabetes so their patients
girl with human
block his sister’s screams. Her mother
in just one day,” she wrote. “Before,
a cataract. My father, who was an
can have a better quality of life.
growth hormone
decided enough was enough, and con-
we were afraid and full of guilt
deficiency
sulted her daughter’s physician for an
about hurting our child. Noa was in
alternative.
terrible distress, which affected her at all
anaesthesiologist, was curious about
Luki Iskandarsyah Mulia
Medical Affairs Manager
Indonesia
be-
whether this could be a complication
A big challenge for me was running the A1chieve™ pro-
coming
of another disease in progress. His
gramme in Indonesia. A1chieve™ is a global, observational
with fear and
hunch was correct. We visited an
study on the use of insulin therapy – the largest-ever of its
endocrinologist, who diagnosed my
kind. Every milestone was a challenge for me: getting approv-
mother with type 2 diabetes. The
al from the ethical committee, arranging investigator meet-
doctor prescribed Mixtard
®
and
Keren Nagar, HRT
Sales Representative
Israel
levels and required psychological inter-
every
My team and I had just begun a cam-
vention as well. The night after being
time she has to
paign promoting a new and innovative
trained on Norditropin®, Noa insisted on
take an injection
message for our brand, calling it a
injecting herself for the first time. No
of growth hor-
‘virtually pain-free growth hormone
more pain! No more blue bruises! No
mone. This was exactly the situation I
treatment’. As part of the campaign,
more suffering! Our child is joyful and
independent and full of self-esteem!”
ings, etc.
NovoPen® 3 for my mother.
anxiety
tense
It was a great commitment. There were days where I was so
found myself in a year ago, when I was
we offered physicians a chance to test
That was the first time I saw the Novo Nordisk Apis bull sym-
engrossed in my work that I didn’t even realize until I looked
invited to train Noa, 12, to use a Novo
our device on themselves.
bol. Since then, I had a dream to help people with diabetes
at my watch that the entire day had flown by.
Nordisk device.
To their surprise, they found it was
Two days later, a friend of Noa’s family
indeed pain-free. Noa’s physician, who
contacted me and asked me to train
have a better life. Years later, it happened. I joined Novo NorToday, the A1chieve™ study is complete, and we plan to show
For two years, Noa had used a com-
had tried the device, offered the
her daughter on Norditropin®. Know-
the results at every diabetes congress held in Indonesia. Ulti-
petitor’s ‘needle-free’ device and expe-
mother the chance to try it with Noa.
ing I make a difference to patients
I have been working with Novo Nordisk Indonesia since June
mately, it will be the patients who will benefit from a more
rienced pain and bruises after each in-
I conducted the training. Soon after, I
through my work is an honour for
2009 as a medical advisor. I am proud to be able to share the
intensive treatment – and we will continue to help people
jection. It took 20 minutes for the
received an emotional letter from Noa’s
me.
knowledge that I have to help people in changing diabetes. As
with diabetes live happier, healthier lives.
family to calm Noa so they could inject
mother.
disk.
14
Patient focus
Patient focus
15
Employee engagement
Volunteers help 3,573 people
Production waste becomes art
NOVO NORDISK VOLUNTEERS FOUND A
SINGLE, CREATIVE SOLUTION TO TWO
DIFFERENT challenges.
Brazil: Novo Nordisk employees are encouraged to be socially and environmentally responsible – and this was the
background for a TakeAction project at the company’s production site in Montes Claros, Brazil. The idea was simple:
employees took waste products from their factory and
recycled them into an art workshop for unemployed family
members.
Thousands lined up in Bangalore to be screened for diabetes during the eight-hour event.
The project became known as the Novartes workshops,
The art project paved the way for a more therapy-related
where participants explored their creativity and generated
TakeAction project just a few months later, when the Take-
much-needed income from the sale of their artwork. More
Action team at Montes Claros went out into the local com-
than 1,000 kilograms of factory waste was recycled in this
munity to offer diabetes and blood pressure screening. Over
INDIA: With a population that includes
more than 100 healthcare professionals
the best volunteer project of 2011. It
way, and some 900 people have benefited from the success-
a series of weekends, 768 people were screened for diabetes
some 60 million people with diabetes,
to perform the necessary blood glucose
was chosen from a field of 56 nominees
ful workshops.
and 595 were screened for hypertension.
India is sometimes called the diabetes
tests free of charge. Meanwhile, the
– which, in turn, represented just a
capital of the world. It’s a fact that per-
employee group began planning the
fraction of the number of TakeAction
haps makes this country the ideal place
logistics of the event and set up a mas-
projects, large and small, that were
in which to attempt a world record for
sively successful media campaign about
rolled out in 2011 by Novo Nordisk
the number of diabetes screenings per-
the record attempt.
employees in every corner of the globe.
Employees TakeAction
formed within an eight-hour period.
The event was rolled out in Bangalore,
Novo Nordisk employees are not only committed to changing
And in 2011, that’s exactly what a
India, on 13 November 2011 – the day
diabetes through their employment in the company. In the
group of Novo Nordisk employees at
before World Diabetes Day. Eight hours
the Indian affiliate decided to do, with
later, the result was a record-breaking
the help of the company’s TakeAction
3,573 diabetes screenings, verified by
volunteer programme.
an official from the Guinness Book of
Supported by the company’s willing-
pens in the community and the environment in which they live
and work.
Meet three TakeAction volunteers –
This is where the company’s volunteer programme TakeAction
record attempt from start to finish.
including one of the prime movers be-
comes to life, giving employees the chance to spend working
hind the Indian project – in a film at
hours on projects that show social responsibility, help the en-
this YouTube site.
vironment – or both.
social and environmental projects dur-
The marathon screening event later won
ing working hours, the group enlisted
the Novo Nordisk TakeAction Award for
Employee engagement
>
spirit of the Triple Bottom Line, they also care about what hap-
World Records who monitored the
ness to allow employee engagement in
16
Visit
YouTube
To qualify as a TakeAction activity, it must:
support Novo Nordisk’s business and therapy areas
deal with social and/or environmental issues
be employee-driven
involve two or more employees
Employee engagement
17
>
NovoHealth
Read more
at this site
A healthy business
Novo Nordisk bicycles begin their service at company sites in Denmark, but
will later contribute to sustainable activities in Mozambique.
Novo Nordisk bikes stand at attention outside company headquarters in Bagsværd, Denmark.
For several years now, a free bicycle-
The Novo Nordisk bikes are an obvious
are shipped off to a bicycle workshop in
Corporate Sustainability together with
combines health with both social and
lending service has been helping Novo
– and popular – solution at these loca-
Mozambique, where they are rebuilt to
NovoHealth, a worldwide company ini-
environmental responsibility.
Nordisk employees get from one build-
tions, where the company occupies an
fit local needs and will serve their ‘sec-
tiative to promote good health among
“The bikes have become extremely
NovoHealth is a global employee health
ing to another at some of the major
area the size of a small town. But the
ond life’ as transportation for health-
employees.
popular as a means of transportation
programme that gives Novo Nordisk
company sites in Denmark. Employees
service represents more than a healthy,
care professionals.
at these sites can simply ask at their
convenient and pollution-free way of
main reception desk, where they are
getting around.
Sustainable for everyone
provided with a helmet and a key to
between our sites, providing a great
the opportunity to practise what it
”This is a good example of how many
opportunity to include physical activity
preaches. The overall purpose of the
different aspects of sustainability can
in an otherwise sedentary workday. At
programme is to develop a workplace
be combined in a single project,” says
the same time, we get a breath of fresh
culture that promotes healthy living for
all employees.
one of the specially-built bicycles parked
After the bicycles have served Novo
The bicycle programme was set in mo-
Martin Kristiansen, head of the Global
air and arrive at our next meeting with
outside.
Nordisk for two and a half years, they
tion by Novo Nordisk’s Department of
NovoHealth programme. “This initiative
a higher level of engagement.”
Medical careers
The NovoHealth programme
Knowledge and training
“I use my training to provide input to a variety of stakeholders
at Novo Nordisk,” he says. “I also have the possibility to ex-
Florian ended up finding a new career direction through
pand my scientific knowledge and get excellent training to
A change
of direction
Novo Nordisk’s Pharmaceutical Medicine Programme (PMP).
improve what I do.”
The two-year programme is currently giving him a broad, on-
A common purpose
end of the introductory period, he will be offered a permanent
“One of the amazing things about working at Novo Nordisk
position at Novo Nordisk. Currently, he is a medical advisor with
is that here you get the feeling that everyone has a common
Medical doctors can develop a new
career path through Novo Nordisk’s
Pharmaceutical Medicine Programme.
Global Medical Affairs in Søborg, Denmark, where he works on
purpose. Everyone is pulling on the same string to ultimately
building and communicating medical knowledge and improv-
achieve goals for Novo Nordisk but also to the benefit of
ing the medical benefits of Novo Nordisk products.
patients.”
As a medical doctor with some years of clinical experience, Flo-
Medical careers
rian Baeres had reached a crossroads in his career back in
As a medical advisor at Novo Nordisk, Florian Baeres has found
new ways to use his medical training and clinical experience.
18
NovoHealth / Medical careers
the-job introduction to the pharmaceutical industry, and at the
2010.
Medical doctors may well ask themselves: why should I use my
discovering how they can help patients in
“I had the feeling I had other skills that I would like to ex-
training in the pharma industry instead of working directly
ways that are not possible in clinical practice.
plore,” he recalls. “At that time, it was natural for me to
with patients? Through Novo Nordisk’s Pharmaceutical Medi-
reconsider where I’d like to go.”
cine Programme, doctors such as Florian Baeres (pictured) are
>
Read more at this site
NovoHealth / Medical careers
19
Your career begins at
novonordisk.com/careers
naomi Johnson
USA
Christian Wolffbrandt
Denmark
Abdellatiff Ahrouda
Denmark
We hire
more than 4,000 people a year
Novo Nordisk A/S
Novo Alle
2880 Bagsværd
Denmark
Tel +45 4444 8888
Fax +45 4442 8980
novonordisk.com
Meet employees
and get a feeling for working
at Novo Nordisk
Produced by: Global Talent Attraction, September 2012
Editing: Morten Ulsted, Anu Kerns, Jason Breaux
and Novo Nordisk
by Denso Wave, inc
Sign up
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our career site
Journalist and editing: Language Arts, Anne Nielsen
Photography: Christian Alsing, Keld von Eyben, Miranda Parry,
Design: Britt Friis Grafisk Design
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