How COVID-19 has redefined business purpose and leadership

At the third annual Helen Alexander Memorial Lecture – supported by the CBI, the Economist, Informa and the University of Southampton – we highlight the theme ‘Women on Business’, featuring a prominent speaker from the pharmaceutical industry. As this unprecedented period continues, the speakers discuss whether the pursuit for COVID-19 vaccines has identified a different purpose for business, reflecting on leadership and inclusivity.

Speakers

• Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General, CBI
• Emma Walmsley, CEO, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
• Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief, The Economist

Key takeaways from the lecture

• Carolyn Fairbairn begins the session acknowledging this year as being a “reset moment” for business, highlighting the importance of not taking a step back for gender equality
• Emma Walmsley and Zanny Minton Beddoes start off the Q&A, with Zanny questioning how the pharmaceutical industry balances speed and safety with vaccines
• The session then moves onto the purpose of global pharmaceutical giants such as GSK, with Emma Walmsley stating that business purpose should be delivered both responsibly and profitably for sustainability
• She goes onto say that COVID-19 has highlighted a social inequality, which has put an even bigger spotlight on pharma to improve their reputation and behave the right way
• Discussions arise around women in leadership positions, with Emma Walmsley commemorating Helen Alexander’s “fierce focus” on priority as an ability she personally aims for, as well as touching on her own role as a CEO and whether being a woman has brought a different perspective to dealing with the pandemic
• The one-on-one Q&A ends on Emma’s hopes for the future ahead before opening up the floor to the audience, including questions on navigating a new industry with a different career background.