Written By: Sandra Carey
October 8, 2020
Growing up in a small community of fewer than 3,000 people you spend a lot of time reading, thinking and daydreaming about the world you know little about. Now I’m fortunate enough to experience this daily, as the Global President of McCann Health’s Global Pharmacy Practice. McCann Health is one of the world’s leading professional and consumer health communication networks with more than 60 offices across 20 countries.
The road to get to where I am now has been shaped by many challenges and opportunities. I have had to balance many roles as a wife, mother, pharmacist, volunteer and president to fulfil my responsibilities to the people that depend on me. The challenges of concurrently managing my daughter’s bake sale at school and launching global pharmacy initiatives was often deeply stressful and always seemed to be at odds. It is a common problem for women in the workforce.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Believe in what you can do even when those around you don’t and inspire others to do the same. The balancing act then becomes possible though not easy. Anything is possible when you get up every day thinking “If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.”— Thomas Jefferson.
Are things any different in 2020? After 30 years in the workforce, much of that time in a leadership position and often one of the few women in the room, I would say there have been many positive changes. However, as we move through this difficult year it is evident the progress has not been enough. Even today, less than 8% of Fortune 500 companies have CEOs that are women. Closer to home, we are in a profession that is 70% female but only about 20% of leadership positions are held by women.
COVID-19 has reversed some of the strides women have made. Much more than their male counterparts, women are struggling to juggle day-to-day family needs, childcare, schooling, isolation, job and finances. As women leaders consider downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce completely, young women lose their role models and we give up some of the progress that has been made.
It is OUR responsibility as a profession to encourage and support young women struggling to become leaders. Every year I commit to mentoring and developing women striving to define themselves as leaders. It is one of the most rewarding activities I do as I encourage them never to be satisfied with the status quo, to step into the unknown for the most rewarding experiences and to prepare for but not accept failure.
Our profession is rapidly evolving, and we are at one of the most teachable moments in history. Let’s take this moment to grow and foster more of our future female leaders to be involved, be health entrepreneurs, and act as change agents that will move our profession to new heights.
About the author: Sandra Carey is global president at McCann Health Global Pharmacy