Celebrating One Another’s Diversity and Shared Humanity

As we celebrate the back-to-back observances of Black History Month in February and Women's History Month in March, it serves as a powerful reminder of both the progress we have made and the continuous journey we are on as a society to create a future where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.

Throughout history, there have been so many extraordinary trailblazers who have paved the way for this progress. Today, I am reminded of the shared responsibility to open doors for future generations and provide career opportunities that allow everyone to reach their fullest potential and perform at their very best.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, there are countless women whom I admire for their strengths, achievements, and contributions to making our world a better place. First and foremost, I feel incredibly fortunate that my daughters, who are proud and successful Black women, have grown up in a society where there are more opportunities available to them today than in the past. I’m enjoying every moment witnessing my daughters carve their own paths as remarkable young women.

My daughter Julia is a rising leader at Cigna Healthcare, a licensed practical nurse, and an incredible mom to three amazing children. She has been building a great career at Cigna in roles of increasing responsibility during her seven years with the company. She is thriving in her current role as a Technical Support Lead Analyst, where she is able to focus on her passion for leveraging technology to enhance healthcare delivery.

Felicyana, who likes to claim she is my favorite daughter, is also building a great career at Qiagen, where she is currently a Team Lead and Senior Account Manager. While balancing her successful career, she is also pursuing her passion for creativity and innovation by working to obtain a Master of Fine Arts in jewelry design.

At Thermo Fisher, our workforce comprises exceptional and diverse women who consistently demonstrate strength, resilience and brilliance in driving groundbreaking advancements in the field of life sciences. They play a pivotal role in helping us fulfill our Mission of enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Three of the five Presidents who are part of my team are women, namely Lisa Witte, Claire Wallace, and Urmi Richardson. These remarkable leaders exemplify immense talent and expertise, and their contributions to Thermo Fisher and to society are truly extraordinary. And the list goes on and on.

My hope is that these celebratory months serve as a reminder of our shared humanity. Let us all commit to supporting and uplifting one another, creating a society where everyone can thrive and be their absolute best.