Novo Nordisk Gives Graduates New Perspective on Business
Working for a pharmaceutical company is more than just selling medicine. A message Novo Nordisk embeds throughout its 2-year graduate programme.
(3BL Media) August 10, 2012 - Learning Journey to Kenya
In June 2012, 11 graduates completed the programme by spending one week on the Learning Journey to Kenya to better understand diabetes and the challenges of access, affordability and treatment.
“It has given me a completely different perspective on what it is I’m doing for a living,” says Novo Nordisk graduate Lise Munch-Hansen.
During the journey, the graduates visited hospitals, the Ministry of Health, diabetes patients associations and Novo Nordisk colleagues in Kenya where they learned about Novo Nordisk’s ‘Base of the Pyramid’ project, the purpose of which is to make insulin more affordable and accessible in Kenya.
“Previously, we sent the graduates to one of the recognized business schools," says Ove Munch Ovesen, head of talent programmes at Novo Nordisk. "But we realised that they are so well educated that they learn a lot more by leaving their usual surroundings and get a taste of real life.”
A life-changing career
Novo Nordisk’s Graduate Programme aims to provide master degree graduates with hands on professional and personal development through a series of job rotations over a 2-year period. Throughout the programme, graduates gain international experience, in-depth knowledge of Novo Nordisk’s business and the opportunity to live company values and ethics that prioritise respect for society.
“We met people with diabetes who couldn’t afford to buy insulin before the Base of the Pyramid project,” says Munch-Hansen. “The lives of people living with diabetes have really been impacted positively by Novo Nordisk. Seeing this first hand made me feel very humble and proud to work for a company like ours.”
For more information about Novo Nordisk Graduate programme
About Sustainability at Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk strives to conduct its activities in a financially, environmentally and socially responsible way. The strategic commitment to corporate sustainability has brought the company onto centre stage as a leading player in today’s business environment, recognised for its integrated reporting, stakeholder engagement and consistently high sustainability performance. In 2012, Novo Nordisk received the top ranking on Corporate Knight’s list of Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Novo Nordisk is listed in the 2011/2012 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices with a gold class rating. For more information, visit novonordisk.com/sustainability
