Nick Capman sits down with Jill O’Mullane, Vice President, Head of Quality Systems at Astellas Pharma Europe, to discuss how leaders can foster employee engagement, development, and retention in a rapidly evolving workplace. Jill shares her extensive experience from over two decades in the pharmaceutical industry, offering practical insights into creating pathways for growth, balancing development with individual aspirations, and ensuring organizational readiness through succession planning.

The conversation dives into the challenges leaders face when investing in people development, the value of competency models and mentoring programs, and strategies for addressing common misconceptions about advancement. Jill also reflects on the importance of tailoring development plans to employees’ unique goals and creating an environment where they feel valued, challenged, and supported.

A few key themes and takeaways:

• Development is about acquiring new skills and experiences, not just climbing the corporate ladder.
• Regular talent reviews and transparent competency models provide structure for growth and succession planning.
• Mentoring creates a safe space for candid conversations and personalized coaching, especially for leadership development.
• Leaders must be intentional and consistent in their efforts to align individual aspirations with organizational needs.

Learn more about Jill O’Mullane’s approach to leadership and employee development in this engaging and insightful episode of The Passionate Workforce.

Learn more about The Passionate Workforce: Amazon.