Greater Toronto's Top Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 66
66
( 2025 )
SPONSOR CONTENT
GSK is building a thriving culture for positive impact
T
aryn Paehr says that
even in her earliest days
as a student intern with
GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
(GSK), she realized the biopharmaceutical company offered the
sort of workplace where she could
grow and develop a long-term
career.
Some friends had internships
at other companies where they
did little more than filing, Paehr
says. GSK, however, ensured she
gained valuable work experience
in different roles and locations
as she completed her combined
graduate degree in biotechnology
and business.
“I was blown away by how welcoming and friendly everybody
was,” she says. “It was clear GSK
is invested in providing learning
for individuals and across all its
teams.”
Her insight was spot on. After
becoming a full-time employee in
early 2020, Paehr was promoted
three times in four years. As
marketing manager, oncology, she
leads a team focused on gynecologic cancers.
GSK is part of a global health
care company committed to
making a positive impact on
the health of people around
the world. Its ambition, “Ahead
Together”, embodies its purpose
of uniting science, technology and
top talent to prevent disease, as
well as treat it.
“We believe in giving our employees the support and resources
they need to excel,” says Sridhar
Venkatesh, president and general
manager, GSK Canada. “Our
commitment to enabling talented
people to thrive is one of the
things that sets us apart.”
The resources include a variety
of online and in-person learning
opportunities. Keep Growing
Campus, for example, is a
platform that serves as a hub for
knowledge-sharing and allows all
employees to continuously learn
and grow in their careers.
What’s more, GSK offers
workshops and seminars designed
to develop management and leadership. The Coaching Essentials
digital workshop, for one, groups
leaders in a cohort to collaboratively practise the coaching
techniques they’ve learned.
In keeping with its diversity,
equity and inclusion strategy,
the company is also committed
to ensuring all employees feel
welcome, heard and valued.
“When people feel included,
they bring their authentic selves
to work and contribute their best
ideas and insights,” Venkatesh
says. “This inclusive culture fosters
collaboration and teamwork,
allowing us to deliver the best
outcomes for our patients.”
“Our commitment to
enabling talented people to
thrive is one of the things
that sets us apart.”
— Sridhar Venkatesh
President & General Manager,
GSK Canada
Employees at GSK come together to plant trees for National Tree Day.
In Canada, GSK has employee
resource groups (ERGs) that
focus on four key areas: disability,
gender, racial minorities and
LGBTQ+. In addition to concentrating on advocacy, engagement
and personal development, the
employee-led ERGs organize
events that are open to everyone.
Paehr is a member of the
Women’s Leadership Initiative,
which among its activities offers a
mentorship program. She says she
was attracted by the program and
is now both a mentee and mentor
advising others.
In 2023, she and a colleague
launched Project Climate Canada
to align locally with the global
