The Power of a Diverse and Equitable Workplace
Terrari Howard, Megan Sharp, Jeff Brown, and David Posehn arrived in gene therapy for much the same reason – to build something new in a startup-like operation, work on the leading edge of human medicine, and bring breakthroughs closer to the patients who need them.
In their various roles at Pfizer’s site in Sanford, North Carolina, they’ve realized that their impact is not limited to improving patients’ lives – they’re also making a difference in the lives of the people they work with.
That’s why Megan decided to pursue a supervisor role. Having started at Pfizer’s Product and Global Supply (PGS) in the Rotational Development Program (RDP), Megan, a Gene Therapy Supervisor, rotated through various facets of the business, including operations, engineering, supply chain, and logistics.
“I learned in my time as a process engineer that I really liked working alongside teams, building people up, and accomplishing things together,” Megan says. “I felt that transitioning to a supervisor role would enhance my leadership, allow me to influence others, and help them develop into the best they can be.”
From bioprocess technicians and quality control scientists to site strategy managers, the team at Sanford is made up of people from many different backgrounds who collectively manufacture extremely complex medicines. This diversity plays a key role in the success of the gene therapy manufacturing team.
“It’s what has made this operation nimbler and more receptive to change. The colleagues you see every day reflect a diverse and equitable workplace, and the fact that you can see many different people in this operation is powerful,” says Terrari, an Integrated Manufacturing Excellence (IMEx) Deployment Lead who is part of a team working to bring Pfizer’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene therapy to market.
Pfizer’s commitment to diversity starts at the top, with CEO Albert Bourla and Chief Global Supply Officer Mike McDermott, and permeates the culture at each site as everybody works together to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.