Friday, October 11, 2019
Pfizer Canada recently celebrated the power of girls and women by participating in Plan International Canada’s Girls Belong Here seat share program. Now in its fourth year, Plan International Canada and their Girls Belong Here initiative invites executives from around the country to participate in a day-long seat share with young youth aged 14- to 24-years-old.
On September 18, 2019, Pfizer Canada welcomed Dourra, a 19-year-old University of Ottawa biomedical science student, as she assumed the role of Pfizer president and executive for the day. During her time at Pfizer Canada, Dourra led meetings, discussed her career goals with other executives and shared her perspective and experiences with Pfizer employees.
In our continued pursuit for greater diversity in the workplace, Pfizer Canada recognizes that for young women to believe they have a place among executives, they must see themselves represented in the board room and beyond. At Pfizer Canada, we choose to surround ourselves with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and abilities who can contribute unique viewpoints and perspectives to all aspects of the business, from drug development to marketing. Diverse teams are more collaborative, more accepting of difference, and more apt to discover and venture the delicate balance between being overly cautious and blindly risk seeking.
“Pfizer Canada is excited to take part in the Girls Belong Here initiative which is a priceless experience for all involved,” said John Helou, President, Pfizer Canada. “At Pfizer Canada, we stand with our partner, Plan International Canada in representing women and young people everywhere. Through our participation in the Girls Belong Here program, Pfizer Canada aims to inspire young women to recognize their inherent potential while also inspiring other leaders to join the movement.”
“Girls Belong Here is more than a moment in time for young women – it’s an invaluable and continuous learning opportunity for CEOs, Presidents and business leaders all over Canada to realize the incredible power within girls,” said Caroline Riseboro, President and CEO of Plan International Canada. “When we talk about leadership, we need to ask ourselves whether we’re creating spaces that enable girls and all young people to unleash their leadership potential. By taking part in this program, our corporate partners [such as Pfizer] are making a statement and taking a stand for women and young people everywhere.”