Investor Spotlight: Bristol Myers Squibb
October 27, 2020
Bristol Myers Squibb is a leading global biopharma company focused on discovering, developing and delivering innovative medicines for patients with serious diseases in areas including oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular and neuroscience. Our employees work every day to transform patients’ lives through science.
Anne Marie Lapczynski, VP, People Services & Head, North America Capability Center
Anne Marie joined Bristol Myers Squibb in November 2016 as the VP, People Services. She leads the global team responsible for the efficient and effective performance of the HR Services provided to employees around the world.
Life sciences is one of the EDC’s target industries, and this year we unveiled five strategic growth areas as part of our strategic plan. Among them are cancer solutions and health tech. Why do you think Tampa is a beneficial place for companies within these industries?
Tampa and Hillsborough county provide a business climate where companies of all sizes continue to thrive. In addition to offering a high quality of life for employees, Tampa is home to top-rated educational institutions and hospitals. Tampa has a very well educated and diverse workforce, strong universities with multi-disciplinary STEM programs providing a pipeline of qualified professionals, a well-trained and educated population of experienced military veterans and a maturing life sciences sector that steadily yields more R&D and scientific talent.
What role do you see your organization playing in helping to shape our community’s future?
As a company, we care deeply about the communities where we live and work. That’s why we support programs and organizations that address unmet medical needs, help students grow through STEM education, and deliver basic human services to our neighbors. Over the next five years, Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to helping accelerate health equity and diversity and inclusion efforts. In addition to a financial commitment, we will focus on addressing health disparities, increasing clinical trial diversity, expanding our supplier diversity program, expanding our US employee giving program and increasing our workforce diversity.
What is the number one thing that you believe will impact Tampa Bay’s competitiveness in the coming decade?
Equity in all aspects of our diverse community. Now more than ever, we recognize our role in creating the change needed to address not only health disparities but racial inequality that is present in our rapidly changing communities. We are only as strong as the community around us, and it will require all of us working together to ensure that Tampa remains a great place to live, work and play.
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global company. When you’re talking to colleagues from out of market, what do you tell them about Tampa?
Company leaders at Bristol Myers Squibb continue to promote the welcoming community of Tampa Bay as a thriving business environment with a well-educated workforce and a maturing technology and life sciences sector that will yield new sources of talent, all while providing an excellent quality of life for our employees. With C-suite executives often visiting their functional teams both in person and virtually, our leaders are quick to ensure they are well-educated not only about the site, but also the community where their employees live. Colleagues visiting to collaborate on projects are often encouraged to experience Tampa Bay beyond our four walls through the many entertainment options available with their teams. While Tampa continues to grow as a city, it’s welcoming, small-town feel and diverse culture remain an integral part of being a great place to work, live and play for our colleagues at Bristol Myers Squibb.
