Johnson & Johnson is No. 5 on the Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies list
(Originally published on LinkedIn)
The multiple congratulatory messages over the past week regarding my one-year service anniversary prompted me to hit the “pause and reflect” button on some of the key takeaways from my first year at Johnson & Johnson’s HR Leadership Development Program (HRLDP). I could not be more grateful for each and every person that I have connected with over the past year and the impact that J&J has had on my professional growth and development:
1. Meaningful Work Coupled with Moments that Matter: From getting the opportunity to play a key role in supporting our Global Head of Talent Acquisition build a new strategic organization with differentiated capabilities, to partnering closely with our newly acquired Vogue International business leaders and employees to shape and blend the best of both cultures, I am supremely grateful and humbled for the opportunities and impact I get to have each and every day.
When you join J&J you aren’t just joining another corporation. You are joining a global ecosystem that touches a billion lives a year with 120,000+ talented and dedicated employees all focused on working towards that bigger purpose in creating a healthier and happier world. As an HRLDP, I have been surrounded by an exceptionally talented and inspiring group of leaders who have all played such a key role in fueling my accelerated personal and professional development.
2. Building my Extended J&J Family: Last year, I left my home, family and friends to move cross country to New Brunswick, N.J. to start my HRLDP journey and to experience life outside of southern California. I have built upon my diverse portfolio of experiences by stretching myself geographically, and in doing so, I have gained new relationships while also getting opportunities to explore and experience new environments, new places, new cultures and lifestyles.
Authenticity and compassion come first to mind when I think about those closest around me. People willing to go out of their way to stretch and challenge me, pick me up and have meaningful conversations that you can’t ever put a price tag on. I’ve built a collection of meaningful memories and relationships with people that are now part of my extended family here at J&J.
3. Living Our Credo: Now is a time more than ever for each of us to hold ourselves accountable to do more good in this world and pay it forward. I am fortunate enough to work for a company that is grounded on the core principles outlined in our Credo and the responsibility each of us have to our patients and customers, employees and communities.
Whether it is our recent announcement to maintain 2 million Ebola vaccines to be deployed whenever needed, or our initiatives with 3D printing and digital/robotic technologies to transform the healthcare landscape, my reflections upon year 1 leave me even more eager, more committed and more energized to our global mission: to mobilize our efforts to profoundly change the trajectory of health for our customers and patients, grandparents, mothers and fathers, children and babies all around the globe.
Anthony Kang is the HR Leader at Vogue International, a Johnson & Johnson Company
