Novo Nordisk Gives a Real-life Perspective to Graduates

Novo Nordisk goes the extra mile to instil a sense of social responsibility in its employees. It runs a two-year graduate program that underscores the fact that working for a socially responsible pharmaceutical company is a lot more than just selling medicine.

Eleven people from Novo Nordisk recently completed its graduate program by spending one week on a "Learning Journey" to Kenya. It helped them better understand diabetes and the challenges involved in the accessibility and affordability of treatment.

Lise Munch-Hansen, a Novo Nordisk graduate says: "It has given me a completely different perspective on what it is I'm doing for a living."

The journey involved visits to various hospitals, diabetes patients associations and the Ministry of Health. The graduates also met other Novo Nordisk colleagues in Kenya where they learned about the company's "Base of the Pyramid" project, which aims at making insulin more accessible and affordable in Kenya.

Ove Munch Ovesen, head of talent programs at Novo Nordisk says: "Previously, we sent the graduates to one of the recognized business schools. But we realised that they are so well educated that they learn a lot more by leaving their usual surroundings and get a taste of real life."

Munch Hansen says: "We met people with diabetes who couldn't afford to buy insulin before the Base of the Pyramid project. The lives of people living with diabetes have really been impacted positively by Novo Nordisk. Seeing this first hand made me feel very humble and proud to work for a company like ours."

Novo Nordisk's Graduate Program offers master degree graduates an opportunity to gain hands-on personal and professional development through a series of job rotations over a period of two years. Graduates gain global exposure, in-depth knowledge of the company's business, and an opportunity to imbibe the company's ethics and values that prioritize respect for society.