Olanike Oladeji, PharmD
Manager, Medical Affairs Insights - Cardiovascular
Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
LinkedIn Profile

What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?

It has always been my passion to make a positive impact on the healthcare system and ultimately help patients on their journey. Then I wanted a career with the opportunity to have a greater impact on patients while striking a balance with my life responsibilities. A career within the pharmaceutical industry provides flexibility and evolving opportunities for personal and professional growth. There’s lots of room to spread your wings and explore different roles you may never have thought possible. You are not limited to a functional area, and that’s what motivated me to choose this career path.

Talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pharmaceutical industry; what should companies be doing to continue making progress?

As the industry evolves, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are now crucial components of a thriving workplace culture. There is a need for genuine commitment from the leadership to DEI, and this must be continually prioritized in actions, decisions, policies, and strategy. Inclusive practices in hiring, performance evaluation, and promotions are paramount to providing equitable opportunities for career development and advancement. Other areas on which DEI will focus will include community engagement to address the healthcare gap, diverse perspectives, cultural competency in clinical trials, and product development, which will allow for an inclusive data population. Prioritizing DEI initiatives to create a more equitable workplace will improve overall health outcomes for the patients we serve.