Bristol Myers Squibb: Celebrating Women's History Month

The Bristol Myers Squibb Network of Women (B-NOW) drives business performance by ensuring that all women at Bristol Myers Squibb have equal opportunities to develop, advance, and be retained globally. One of our eight People and Business Resource Groups (PBRGs), B-NOW’s mission of prioritizing gender diversity and inclusion is central to our work and culture; ensuring the contributions of women at Bristol Myers Squibb are heard, valued, rewarded, and – crucially – incorporated into the work we do for patients.

Hear from some of the members of B-NOW below, and how they contribute to and benefit from our inclusive culture while making an impact.

“At BMS, you’ll be valued for who you are, you’ll be encouraged to unleash your full potential while working for patients and delivering on something bigger than you.” ~Aissata Camara, Associate Director, Value-based Healthcare Strategy & Operations

What I do

I joined Bristol Myers Squibb 11 years ago. Currently I am working as part of a team designing and implementing programs aimed to deliver greater value to patients and bring more efficiency to the French healthcare system. I have also served in various positions across marketing, sales, market access and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. Additionally, I am the B-NOW France chapter lead. We launched the French chapter of B-NOW with very specific positioning that fosters the advancement of women and recognizes the role men play. With this deliberately inclusive positioning we are encouraging and inviting men to actively engage with gender diversity issues. Our goal is to break down invisible barriers that prevent people from realizing their full potential by focusing on three-pillars: raising awareness about bias and stereotypes, sharing inspirational stories, and promoting personal and professional development.

What makes Bristol Myers Squibb a great place to work?

Bristol Myers Squibb values their employees and creates conditions for them to seize opportunities! Over the course of my career at Bristol Myers Squibb, three unique qualities have particularly stood out to me:

• Flexible work environment: When I joined Bristol Myers Squibb France 11 years ago, I was the young mother of a 5-month-old baby. For more flexibility, they offered to let me work remotely during my very first month at the company.
• Trust & encouragement: Shortly after joining, I applied for a six-month assignment in Lisbon, Portugal. While I was apprehensive of the idea of taking on more responsibility, I was inspired by my manager’s advice: “Yes, you’ll be stretched, but you’ll make it,” she said. “Listen to your intuition and just believe in yourself.”
• Opportunity: Over the course of my 11-year career here, I have had the opportunity to serve in six different roles across a number of different sectors! This has allowed me to widen my expertise and given me a deeper understanding into the different aspects of the work we do each day.

I am proud of working and growing at Bristol Myers Squibb for so many years because of the meaning and the impact of my day-to-day work on patients’ lives.

What would you say to someone thinking about working at Bristol Myers Squibb?

At Bristol Myers Squibb, you’ll be valued for who you are, you’ll be encouraged to unleash your full potential while working for patients and delivering something bigger than yourself.

“Here, all employees are welcome – we celebrate diverse cultures and ways of thinking, from a variety of backgrounds.” ~Keiko Ito, Events & Meetings Center of Expertise Oncology Lead, B-NOW Chapter Lead, Japan

What I do

I am the Events & Meetings Center of Expertise (EMCoE) Oncology lead in Japan. In my role I am responsible for ensuring seminars run smoothly and meet our standards, as well as continually improving the customer experience at our events. Beyond my primary role, I am also the B-NOW Japan chapter lead.

As a chapter lead, I align and collaborate with team members in other markets in the APAC region to conduct several activities. Together we work to highlight and elevate women in the workplace through programming like our recent “WIN” workshop designed to educate and inspire women in leadership through the theme of “allyship.”

What makes Bristol Myers Squibb a great place to work?

Bristol Myers Squibb’s mission is “to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.” Our events team is led by this mission, focusing on helping change patients’ lives by offering educational seminars to healthcare providers that ultimately benefit patients. So, in my role I get to live our mission of “helping patients with our innovative medicines” every day.

What would you say to someone thinking about working at Bristol Myers Squibb?

I highly recommend working at Bristol Myers Squibb. Bristol Myers Squibb offers many career paths and opportunities for growth. Since joining I have held a number of roles across multiple sectors including, New Product Planning, Market Research, Product management, Commercial Excellence, and EMCoE. I have also had the opportunity to work in our Taiwan/Hong Kong office. Here, all employees are welcome – we celebrate diverse cultures and ways of thinking, from a variety of backgrounds.

Learn more about Bristol Myers Squibb's commitment to gender diversity here