Sophie Gordon

This was me back in 2012. Knee deep in the trenches of post-natal depression whilst grieving the loss of my mum. Sequined dress. Make up on. Faking the festive spirit and definitely faking the smile. I vividly remember thinking that if I just kept going - kept busy - pretended everything was ok, I would be ok. "Soldier on" was my daily mantra. But that only delayed the healing process. In 2018, alongside three other colleagues, I shared my story at work. Being vulnerable was difficult, but it opened the door to countless meaningful conversations with colleagues, and gave me the courage to lead the Mental Health Diplomats ERG at #JNJ in Singapore and across Asia Pacific, where creating a safe space for dialogue became a priority. Whilst I no longer lead this ERG or work at #JNJ, this year's theme for World Mental Health Day, "Mental Health in the Workplace", reminds me that: 🧠 Leadership is not just about driving results; it's about building spaces where our teams feel safe to pause, reflect and share. 🧠 We need to create environments where people feel comfortable to speak openly about their struggles. Conversations - real, honest conversations - are where healing begins and where stronger, more connected teams are built. 🧠 The best environments are those where people feel heard, valued and able to show up authentically. For me, this means leading by listening. #WorldMentalHealthDay #Leadership #Listening #mentalhealth

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Return to work post mat leave - mixed feelings. In what is probably a sentiment felt by all parents returning to work after having time off to care for their babies, I return mid August with mixed feelings - A deep sense of sadness to be separated from my daughter who has been attached to me like a barnacle for most waking hours. How I will miss her during the day. - A sense of gratitude for the generous parental leave policy afforded to me by AstraZeneca as well as my husbands paternity leave by Baxter International Inc. which allows him to take over care of our daughter for the next couple of months. - The slight anxiety that niggles at the base of my animal brain; all the ifs, buts that whisper “how will you cope?” and “will you be able to perform at work like you did before” and most unreasonable of all “what if you’ve forgotten it all?” - A sense of joy to return to a job that I loved doing and a high performing x-functional team that I absolutely adore working with. My return is going to center around a few things to ease the transition into working mum: Being kind to myself and others - I am not who I was when I left. I am more! Being open in communication with my colleagues as well as setting boundaries and realistic expectations both for myself and for others. Spending meaningful time with my family. It’s a huge transition for everyone - so I’ll be making deliberate and meaningful choices around family time on weekends, mornings and evenings. Knowing where and how to get support. Manager, employee relations, EAP, and most importantly, girlfriends who have already forged their way back into working mum life.

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Have you booked your tickets for the Mtech Access transforming healthcare symposium yet? Join our UK market access experts and NHS guest speakers on 5th November for this thought-provoking look at the transforming NHS landscape and what this means for future NHS–industry collaboration. Book your tickets today at https://lnkd.in/e5FHCdnt The symposium offers market access leaders the opportunity to explore the following themes: 👉 Implementing change: Understand how to design and execute successful change programmes within the NHS that align with your product or service value proposition 👉 Overcoming barriers: Identify common barriers to project implementation in the NHS and explore strategies to overcome them efficiently 👉 Aligning value propositions: Learn how to align your offerings with NHS priorities to resonate with key stakeholders and drive mutually beneficial outcomes 👉 Government impact: Gain insights into how Labour government policies may affect the NHS and what strategic adjustments may be necessary in the immediate and long term 👉 Influencing stakeholders: Enhance your ability to access and influence key national, regional, and local decision-makers 👉 Specialised commissioning updates: Hear about the latest specialised commissioning developments and their implications for your products and services Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/egyCcWN5 #marketaccess #specialisedcommissioning #governmentpolicy #NHSinsights #NHSWhispers #pharma #medicaldevices #speccomm

At AstraZeneca, we're continuously innovating to advance care for complex immune-mediated diseases like cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). By targeting the underlying drivers of the disease we’re working to optimise care, moving beyond symptom management to disease modification, remission and one day, even cure in immune-mediated diseases. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e_Shrc8R.

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Last week I spoke alongside Sara-Louise Ackrill FRSA and Jake Morrison on a panel discussion around the Health Trust Gap, with a focus on neurodiversity for Sanofi UK. Too many people from marginalized groups distrust healthcare, whether they are women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities or those within the LGBTQ+ community. For some, this lack of trust may be related to feeling judged or not listened to. For others, it may be about ongoing discrimination or a lack of representation. Sanofi will lead the global effort to build a bridge of trust between healthcare and marginalized communities, improving engagement and health outcomes. Through their initiative: A Million Conversations. For our panel conversation, we focused on neurodiversity. We shared lots of ideas and thoughts, from both personal and professional stories. What did we shine a light on the Healthcare Gap? 🔦 📚 Storytelling – How can we all use effective communication to bridge this gap? It starts with building trust, which starts with building relationships and finding common ground… That was proved with my 100 Stories Book (which I will be talking more about soon). 🧠 Neurodiversity – ND people often struggle with doctor's surgeries (due to adhoc phone calls and in person appointments). 🏥 Understanding of the Healthcare System – I grew up surrounded by illness, my father has had brain tumours for 24 years. Depending on your understanding of the system, can depend on your access and trust. Thank you Richard Harmer (he/him/his) for having us, to Nick B. for hosting the panel and Lucy Turner for coming to cheer us along! Ps. I think we look like a pretty cool band 🎸 #SanofiUK #AMillionConversations #Talk #Speaker #PanelConversation #TrustHealthGap

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For anyone unclear on UK funding for hospice care, there is none ... "From cradle to grave" was the #NHS mantra at it's founding - sadly that is not the case. UK hospices have to take charity funding status to raise money. Hospices and palliative care services play a vital role in supporting those with life-limiting illnesses and their families. I know; I've had personal experience of the amazing care the UK hospice system gives. These services ensure that individuals receive compassionate care that respects their dignity, providing comfort and support during some of life’s most challenging moments. However, in the UK, funding for hospices and palliative care remains the most pressing issue. Many hospices rely heavily on charitable donations to maintain their services. This reliance on voluntary funding creates significant challenges, especially in economically uncertain times. The sustainability of these essential services cannot be left to chance. It is crucial that we recognise the indispensable role that hospices and palliative care services play in our healthcare system. There needs to be a renewed focus on securing stable and adequate funding to ensure these services can continue to provide the high standard of care that patients and families deserve. Investment in palliative care is not just a moral imperative; it is a reflection of our society’s values. It is time for policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public to work together to secure the future of hospices and palliative care in the UK. Our collective effort will make a profound difference in the lives of many. #patients #palliativecare https://lnkd.in/eT4Cp6fm

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