Emma Walmsley, Chief Executive Officer of GlaxoSmithKline, led this year’s annual Helen Alexander Memorial Lecture in honour of Dame Helen Alexander on Tuesday 29 September.
Emma Walmsley, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline
Dame Helen was the Chancellor of the University of Southampton between 2011 and 2017, and was known at Southampton as a wonderful role model to a generation of men and women who followed her career. She was also a much loved and pioneering figure in British business and this annual lecture is held in honour of her memory. The event is supported by four organisations she was associated with: the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), The Economist, Informa (which purchased UBM) and the University of Southampton.
This year, the event took the form of a virtual fireside chat, with Emma Walmsley, who topped Fortune Magazine’s ‘Most Powerful International Women’ list in 2018, and is the first (and only) woman to run a major pharmaceutical company in the world. Hosted by Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist, the overarching theme of the lecture was “Women on Business” and we heard Emma discuss what the quest for COVID-19 vaccines has revealed about the purpose of business.
They talked through many important issues relating to the impact of the pandemic for pharmaceutical companies and wider economy, as well as the role of business leaders and a diverse workforce during this unprecedented period.
Emma said: “There is so much excitement in innovation. The acceleration of investment, and the advancement in technologies in vaccine testing has been staggering. We recognise that so much of our research starts at universities and we are so proud and thankful to have such a great relationship with the University of Southampton. It’s these strong relationships that provide the UK with a true competitive advantage in research & development.”
All guests had an exclusive opportunity to join a live Q&A session, opened by our Professor Diana Eccles, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. Among the guests were fourteen students, from across the University. They played a prominent role in the Q&A session, asking Emma thought-provoking questions – about leadership and her own career trajectory, the role of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, and guidance on graduate employment during this challenging time
Diana praised the partnership between the University of Southampton and GSK, commending the multiple ways the two institutions work together – from respiratory research through to cancer immunology.
“It is partnerships with industry, like the one we enjoy with GSK, that enabled us to move quickly to address the pandemic and which has highlighted the need for collaboration to solve our big human challenges.” said Diana.
The University is proud to have played a prominent role in ensuring Dame Helen Alexander continues to be honoured as an extraordinary and pioneering leader, as exemplified through the panel’s recollections of Helen’s humanity and inclusive approach to business.
Professor Mark Spearing, Vice President (Research and Enterprise) at the University, said: “Emma’s talk explored purpose in business and in particular the value of a diverse workforce. The University is proud to be a founding partner of this important annual event and even more so because it celebrates some of our core values including diversity and inclusion.”
You can watch the lecture below.
