Written by Drs. Meg Warner and Rob Armstrong
Brought to you by PrideVMC Gold Partner Merck Animal Health
We were introduced to the incredible Boost Leadership Development Program by our manager, Dr. Robert Duquette, a member of the first program cohort in 2022. Boost is a development experience for aspiring leaders in the Merck and Merck Animal Health LGBTQ+ community, and a program that illustrates the tremendous inclusive support built into Merck’s corporate culture. We joined approximately twenty-four participants from across the country gathered from many Merck divisions in the second Boost cohort.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are fundamental to Merck’s success and continued innovation because a workforce representing different perspectives and backgrounds offers diverse thinking, creative problem-solving and effective decision-making (Animal Health Global D&I (Diversity and Inclusion) Council, 9/7/23). Celeste Warren, Merck VP, Diversity and Inclusion, met with our Boost cohort and spoke to the importance of engagement, equity and empowerment that mirrors our patient, veterinarian and pet owner populations and unlocks the potential of an inclusive global workforce. This presentation and the spectrum of our co-participant Merck colleagues in the Boost program underline that our company embraces DEI initiatives.
The Center for Creative Leadership defines leadership as a social process that enables individuals to work together as a cohesive group to produce collective results. The Boost program enables participants to apply unique perspectives and life experiences as they develop their leadership skills over an intensive three-day development course that includes a thorough 360-degree assessment, individual exercises, and team challenges.
An important outcome for Boost is the opportunity to network with LGBTQ+ community members throughout Merck and gain an understanding of the value that our community represents. The Boost Program is one of the many Merck sponsored leadership development programs which promotes the building of key relationships and skills which will enable us to contribute to the future success of our company and society.
