I woke up this morning to the tragic news that 9,000 jobs will be cut at pharma giant Novo Nordisk, over 10% of their global workplace.
I could not ignore reviewing and analysing this decision in a video/podcast a) because I work in the global pharma supply chain, including supplying raw materials to Novo and b) because I know that money is not an issue in pharma, so it is a helpful case study to look at beyond ‘hitting the numbers.’ when such wide-ranging decisions are made.
I have some empathy for the new, incoming CEO. These are tough decisions, however I can’t help feel that the change of guard is in part aimed to help cover the job cuts.
Interestingly, he and I are ‘connected’ on LinkedIn, but he never replied to my invitation to briefly connect as the humans that we are.
I think about the amazing leadership of Garry Ridge, ex CEO of WD-40 when he told the markets how he would lead, and they could decide whether to invest or not.
Or Bob Chapman at Barry Wehmiller who consulted his teams to try and find a way to avoid redundancies.
There are other ways to so-called lead, and what the Novo Nordisk is doing is not leadership for me, it is grounded in dehumanisation and profit over people.
I also think about Kimberly Davies’ work in Brave Leadership. there is little brave about culling equally valuable human beings without dialogue.
Whilst I am sad for those people, their families, and their communities, I am also super grateful that I can share examples of where leadership IS humane, is caring, and is brave.
The financial markets are a law unto themselves, and as we see the same companies that fund war, funding technology, and funding pharma, we know the root cause of the global harms and mindsets start there, but we can only do what we can, and my ‘what can’’ today to offer some inside industry reflections and provocations.
It is just my view, and I welcome yours.
Go well.
PS - If you are listening to this and your organisation could value from some radically different thinking and leadership, drop me a line. I represent 15 amazing people and organisations that can help you think through make this type of decision very differently.
garry.turner@radicality.co.uk
