Men must step up and drive gender equity at home and in the workplace, says BMS 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.

Erol Bagdadi, Business Unit Director, Oncology and LT Sponsor for BMS Network of Women (B-NOW) joined Health Industry Hub as we #BreakTheBias and celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022.

The theme of this IWD interview focussed on gender equity and the role of men and the wider community in driving change.

Erol reflected on his personal and professional inspiration for leading the B-NOW in his current role and previously in his international role with BMS.

He shared his opinion of the #BreakTheBias theme when considering the latest data from the World Economic Forum and Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) indicating persistent and sizeable pay gaps in favour of men, in addition to decision-making structures in workplaces still dominated by men in senior leadership roles.

Erol said “The theme of #BreakTheBias is so relevant. Whether it’s deliberate bias, conscious bias or that unconscious bias that occurs, it is quite debilitating for women.

“We’re making some progress but that progress is just not fast enough. Action needs to be taken. The data is there. The entire community needs to make themselves aware of it and be educated on it, and then become active. You really need to stop being a passive observer and start to become a lot more active.”

Gender equity is not a women’s issue – it is everyone’s issue. Erol shares his advice for men and the wider community in making gender equity a business and personal imperative.

He commented “Gender equality is a systemic problem and it does require a systemic response. Men not only need to be a part of that but need to be driving it and pushing it in supporting our colleagues, supporting our wives, our partners and our children in this process.”