GlaxoSmithKline harnesses pro bono to strengthen employees’ leadership skills

Talent Development is top of mind for global healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which relies on the leadership and consultative skills of its employees to serve customers in the healthcare industry. The company’s Learning & Development team sought a meaningful learning experience for employees in its Emerging Talent (future leaders) program. How could these rising leaders practice strategic thinking and consultative conversations in an immersive way?

Enter pro bono.

Last week, the Emerging Talent program participants kicked off a first round of pro bono projects with nonprofits based in Philadelphia, PA and Raleigh-Durham, NC. The program will involve a total of 30 GlaxoSmithKline employees working on seven impactful projects.

One team is working with a sustainable agriculture nonprofit to strengthen its business plan for its farmer’s markets. Another team is working with a local education funder to develop a go-to-market strategy for a new assessment tool for high school dropout prevention.

“It was eye-opening to learn about the realities and limitations that our nonprofit was up against,” noted Jasper Beard of GSK. “This will definitely be a challenging project, but I’m confident we can find a solution.”

These pro bono projects will strengthen the nonprofits’ abilities to create healthier, better educated, and more connected communities. And future GlaxoSmithKline leaders get a rare, real-life, high-impact leadership experience that can inform the way they lead the business for years to come. When skilled volunteers and nonprofits come together with pro bono, everyone wins.

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