AstraZeneca’s prescription for more women in the workforce

Abstract

Purpose – Reveals how pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is attempting to boost the number of women in its workforce in Japan and China and help more of them to rise to senior positions. Design/methodology/approach – Describes the Asia for Global talent program, a winner in the Opportunity Now awards, which are part of Business in the Community’s gender-equality campaign. Findings – Examines the reasons for the program and the successes it has achieved. Practical implications – Shows that AstraZeneca is employing more women in its senior positions than equivalent companies in Asia and that they are among the most engaged employees in its global workforce. Social implications – Considers briefly how the economy and society as a whole in Japan and China can benefit from greater female representation in the higher echelons of private sector companies. Originality/value – Describes an effective talent-management program operated in Asia by an international pharmaceuticals company.