Gender equity essential for healthcare innovation, says J&J senior leader

Leadership & Management: Welcome to Health Industry Hub’s Women in Leadership series connecting, engaging and empowering women in the Pharma, MedTech and Biotech sectors by celebrating and sharing the journey of inspirational and passionate leaders in the industry.

Kathy Connell, Senior Director of New Ventures, ANZ, Johnson & Johnson Innovation joined Health Industry Hub as we #BreakTheBias and celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare has been reimagined. The theme of this IWD interview focussed on gender equity and the future of innovation.

Kathy shared her perspective on the evolving ecosystem of innovation locally and how it differs internationally. She highlighted how the theme of #BreakTheBias is essential and relevant to the current and future state of innovation in the pharma, medtech and biotech sectors.

“If you have to bring it down to brass tacks, it should be the right thing to do. But if that’s not what motivates you, we know that we see better science, better commercial outcomes and better progress when there is greater [gender] diversity.

“I love this theme of #BreakTheBias. What I hope is that people feel sufficiently brave and empowered and supported by their workplaces to be able to call out bad behaviour.”

Kathy also reflected on the emerging key trends in healthcare innovation and how the pharma, medtech and biotech sectors need to shift to advance in this environment.