Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“My earliest memories as a young girl are of wanting to help people and treat disease. That purpose has been the constant thread running through every chapter of my life—from medical student, to physician, to pharma executive, to global CEO.
Looking back at this photo of me as a little girl, book in hand, I realize that the biggest change over the years hasn’t been my dream. It’s been the scale of my impact. I’ve gone from caring for individual patients, to leading a company that touches the lives of more than 100 million people every single day.
I’ve gone from practicing medicine in the clinic, to shaping global standards of care, to enabling breakthroughs in medicine that will transform patient care for generations to come.
Today, on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I want to celebrate every young girl and every woman who dares to dream of a future in STEM. Because despite the progress we’ve made since I was a girl, women still represent only one in four STEM workers worldwide—and just one third of the global scientific community. Too many girls with the same spark I had were discouraged, redirected, or simply never given the chance to pursue their potential.
At Merck Group, I’m proud that we are working to change that. Through initiatives like our One Women’s Network, which expands mentorship and connection, and our Curiosity Cube, which ignites scientific curiosity in students around the world, we are helping open doors that should never have been closed.
My own dream, to help people and treat disease, will never stop. And as I continue this journey, I hope to inspire many more girls and women not only to follow their dream, but to amplify it with every step they take.
To every girl who wonders if she belongs in science: You do. And the world needs your brilliance more than ever.”
More posts featuring Belén Garijo on OncoDaily.