Healthcare is one of the most rapidly growing industries today. At the forefront, McKesson is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re taking a look at companies with dynamic women’s resource groups, supporting employees and leaders alike.
Glassdoor caught up with Jeanine Singer, vice president and general manager, Southern California, McKesson U.S. Pharmaceuticals & OWN IT National Chair. Singer opens up about McKesson’s women’s network, how it supports the professional development of women at McKesson and what she looks for in job candidates.
Glassdoor: How has the Women’s Network become an integral part in supporting the promotion and growth of women at McKesson?
Jeanine Singer: Our women-focused employee resource group was one of the first created here at McKesson. We’ve named our group OWN IT, which stands for Outstanding Women Networking, Inspiring and Taking Charge. And that acronym is a good reflection of what we do. We’re highly involved in creating and expanding networks for women at all levels of the company through our mentorship program and various networking events. We consistently feature our executive leaders’ thoughts on issues like gender equity, and why it matters to our future success. OWN IT also provides opportunities for women at all levels to raise their hands and take the lead on important initiatives, which helps develop leadership skills and provides exposure to other senior leaders. These initiatives are focused on changes that help make McKesson a great place to work for its current female employees and to raise awareness of McKesson as a preferred employer for future employees. For example, OWN IT was critical in expanding our parental leave policy last year.
Glassdoor: What are the types of activities the Women’s network hosts? What are some of the big events as well as the one-off, individual office events that make this network so dynamic?
Jeanine Singer: We have a reputation for putting together some of the most dynamic employee resource group (ERG) events! We’re able to leverage our relationships from across the company to connect our company’s most influential leaders with our members. For instance, we held a career path panel discussion featuring women on McKesson’s Board of Directors, hosted a book reading and group discussion with Joann Lublin, Wall Street Journal reporter and author of Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top, and in honor of International Women’s Day, we’re gearing up for our first ever international panel discussion, featuring our women leaders from the U.S., Canada and Europe and how they’ve pressed for progress in their careers. We also enjoy partnering with our other employee resource groups for cross-cultural events and networking opportunities.
Glassdoor: When it comes to negotiating salary, pay equity and performance reviews, how does the women’s network support young women and new employees to Lean-in and navigate their careers?
Jeanine Singer: Our network is our most valuable resource. Through our mentorship program, our members create long-lasting relationships with peers and people leaders who become mentors, advocates and sponsors. Through our events and network, we allow our executive sponsors and allies to provide feedback on how they have succeeded in their own careers, and what boundaries they’ve pushed or challenged along the way. We always end these discussions with a Q&A session. Usually, we get a lot of questions on salary negotiation and how to “Lean In.” We also benefit from a company culture that has a strong set of core values, called ICARE and ILEAD, that encourages people to speak up and be transparent about their goals and aspirations. These values are incorporated into our performance reviews, so we take them very seriously.
Glassdoor: How do you ensure that women who are applying to roles at McKesson know about and feel the impact of the strong female community at McKesson?
Jeanine Singer: For women interested in McKesson, I’d encourage them to review the company’s Diversity & Inclusion Report which highlights some of the benefits and accomplishments that women achieve from being part of the OWN IT community. We’re also excited to announce McKesson’s new sponsorship with International Women’s Day and Where Women Work, where applicants can learn more about our community and company culture. Whether it’s executing on a new internal initiative or our ongoing efforts to pair members with career opportunities, we are always working to support our female colleagues. We know that creating a strong pipeline of diverse leaders will contribute to McKesson’s ongoing success.
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