Key Takeaways

• Discover how to distinguish authentic inclusion from tick-box exercises by embedding cultural values into daily operations, not just policies, as demonstrated through Rask’s cultural auditor framework at Novo Nordisk.
• Learn the daily behaviours and leadership styles that build strong, inclusive teams through intentional design, psychological safety, and people-first approaches that McCormack emphasises in her onboarding redesign work.
• Explore new ways to measure and evolve your organisation’s cultural health using both quantitative engagement surveys and qualitative listening approaches, including skip-level meetings and appreciative inquiry processes.
• Understand how burnout and disconnection are reshaping workplace culture in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, where funding pressures and layoffs create additional challenges for maintaining team cohesion.
• Gain practical strategies for managing multicultural and multi-generational teams by fostering curiosity over assumptions and adapting policies to accommodate diverse workforce expectations without compromising business objectives.
• Implement actionable methods for fostering a sense of belonging in hybrid work environments by addressing time zone bias, ensuring all voices are heard in global meetings, and cultivating authentic connections beyond curated digital interactions.
• Apply frameworks for embedding inclusion into core business operations rather than treating it as a separate initiative, ensuring cultural transformation drives both innovation and retention in life sciences organisations.
• Uncover how to prepare your organisation for AI-enabled workforces whilst preserving human connection and soft skills that will become increasingly critical as technology scales existing processes.

Snippets

• “What’s been clear to me from the start is how critical inclusion is in such a skilled, and mission driven industry.” (2025, Beth McCormack)
• “When you are an environment that creates that psychological safety, you, you find yourself in a place where you want to be a part of that.” (2025, Beth McCormack)
• “We have to stay curious. We have to ask a lot of questions. We have to bring others along in the conversation, make no assumptions.” (2025, Beth McCormack)
• “I truly believe, and I have seen that culture really can unleash, performance, but also purpose, with the sense of belonging.” (2025, Jaana Rask)
• “Belonging is also, a culture where people don’t need to compromise their authentic self with being accepted.” (2025, Jaana Rask)
• “I’ve really been passionate about culture, and creating spaces where people can be heard and seen and feel a sense of belonging.” (2025, Jaana Rask)
• “The organisations that collect and really put their employees first and are really deliberate and intentional about it are the winning organisations.” (2025, Lisa DiPaolo)
• “Belonging to me is really that, yes, people are safe, but, largely they feel connected to your company’s mission.” (2025, Lisa DiPaolo)
• “It’s important to create the environment where people feel safe to learn and experiment and evolve.” (2025, Lisa DiPaolo)

Timestamps & Topics

• 00:00 — Introduction: Welcome to Lift Up Live and today’s culture and belonging focus
• 02:24 — Guest Introductions: Meet the HR and people culture leaders from across life sciences
• 08:29 — Today’s Cultural Landscape: Challenges facing organisations post-pandemic in biotech and pharma
• 12:22 — The Great Disconnect: How hybrid work has eroded organic connections and increased burnout
• 18:23 — Defining Belonging: What true cultural belonging means and how to design it intentionally
• 25:17 — Measuring Culture: Beyond surveys to cultural audits, skip-level meetings and deep listening
• 32:15 — Global Team Challenges: Addressing time zone bias and multicultural communication styles
• 37:10 — Multi-generational Workforce: Adapting to Gen Z expectations whilst maintaining business focus
• 42:23 — Future of Work: How AI and automation will reshape culture and the continued importance of human connection
• 47:36 — Career Advice: Final thoughts from each guest on staying curious, speaking up and being kind to yourself

Resources

• Follow Beth McCormack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethmccormack/
• Follow Jaana Rask on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaana-rask-7839b513/
• Follow Lisa A. Dipaolo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldipaolo/
• Follow Louise Williams on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lifesciencesexecutivesearchretainedstaffingtalentsolutionsmanagingdirector/
• JOIN LIFT UP: https://fraserdove.com/lift-up-women-life-sciences/
• FOLLOW LIFT UP: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/lift-up-women-in-life-sciences/

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Feedback?

Have questions or feedback about the broadcast or want to feature as a guest? Email us at hello@liftup.fraserdove.com