Merck Developing Strong Leaders

Merck & Co., Inc.

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Louise Park Stejbach Executive Director, Diabetes Therapeutic Area U.S. Human Health

Leadership exists at all levels of the Company

When Louise Park Stejbach talks about leadership, she can’t help but compare the qualities of a good leader to those of a good marketer–that’s because she is both. In her 14 years at Merck, Ms. Stejbach has learned that marketing and leadership call for a high degree of integrity, confidence, a drive for results and a willingness to continually listen and learn. “Good leaders at Merck are grown through the many opportunities the Company provides,” she says.
    From training courses for new managers to senior-level seminars, Merck’s comprehensive leadership development programs ensure that, at every stage of employees’ careers, they have the opportunity to enhance leadership skills. But what’s more important is that employees put our leadership model into action every day. Designed almost a decade ago, the model is based on our belief that long-term business success goes hand-in-hand with employee satisfaction. It has four simple principles: know and develop yourself; know and develop our business; know, support and develop your people; and communicate.
    In 2002, we further strengthened the link between business objectives–what we do–and leadership behaviors–how we do it–with a new performance management system. The goal is to enable each employee to better understand how his or her performance contributes to Merck’s ability to meet its business objectives.
    Whether our leaders are developing innovative medicines in our labs or selling them in local markets, Merck employees must have a keen understanding of the customers and cultural demands of the global marketplace. To achieve success, we must bring together the collective talents and perspectives of people from different backgrounds with different life experiences. Our diversity is one of our greatest assets for understanding the needs of patients and helping to solve the problems of HIV/AIDS, river blindness, rotavirus and other diseases that threaten economies and lives around the world.
    Strong leaders help us attract and retain diverse, talented and committed people–people who challenge one another’s thinking, collectively approach problems from multiple points of view, and treat others with dignity and respect.
    Merck will continue to develop its people and cast the widest net in our search for talent...because that is what sparks innovation, helps us contribute to global health care, and ultimately builds our business.

'Strong leadership skills evolve and develop over time, not only through day-to-day practice, but also by learning from experienced, diverse leaders.' Louise Park Stejbach