‘Inclusion Is Ingrained in All That We Develop and Do’ — What Women Say About This Company

At Philips, “we believe that every individual should be treated fairly and respectfully and have equal access to opportunities and resources,” says the company. “This means being open to and accepting of diverse experiences, perspectives and the styles of each and every one of us. We value that our people feel cared for and listened to, and we know that the best and most innovative solutions are generated through collaboration between people who think differently from one another — so we encourage everyone to be themselves and share their ideas and viewpoints.”

And what do other women at Philips have to say? 

 “I’ve always been treated with respect, and, as I got more senior, simply as a leader,” Ling Liu, senior vice president and head of finance for North America, says.

“There is always a new challenge that creates an opportunity for professional growth,” notes Lesley Isgur, senior engineer in the Quality and Regulatory (Q&R) division. “Our team helps each other; we have built relationships based on trust and respect. In the end, we all want to improve people’s lives.” 

Rachael Gatling, supply chain operational excellence leader adds that she needs to work for a company that gives her a voice — and Philips not only gives her one, but it also amplifies it. “I can ask questions, I can get more information and have more of an influence or at least be heard,” she says. “Purposeful work for me is making people better, making someone better, impacting someone in a positive way.”

We caught up with Lauren Gohde, Head of Inclusion and Diversity for Philips North America to talk more about what draws female talent to Philips — and what keeps them there. Here’s what she had to say.

What is the mission of Philips? 

At Philips, we’re always looking for ways to make life better — not only for our customers, but also for everyone working here. Our goal is to improve the lives of 2.5 billion people every year by 2030, including 400 million in underserved communities and 1 million workers in our supply chain. That’s why we’re taking steps to create an environment where we all acknowledge and embrace our differences and foster a culture where people feel valued, safe and supported to be their best.

What differentiates Philips from others in this space/industry?  

We bring our purpose to life! As a leading health technology company, we are focused on improving people's health and well-being and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum — from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions, and we are changing the lives of billions of people every year. 

Describe 1-5 employee benefits that positively impact the women who work at Philips. 

Health and well-being are the foundation of our purpose. We understand that work is only one part of your life. It’s why we offer comprehensive and inclusive benefits and health programs to help keep you well, at work and at home. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and prescription coverages; flexible work arrangements (work-from-home opportunities, as well as flexible schedules); generous paid parental leave; paid time off; sick pay and paid holidays. 

What career development opportunities can female job seekers expect from Philips? How is career pathing approached? 

We want to empower our employees to create the culture they want to see, a culture where everyone can thrive. We are on a mission to achieve gender parity! Through dedicated leadership programs, a robust mentoring framework and a culture of inclusion, we offer opportunities for women to join Philips and thrive! 

Why should women want to grow their careers at Philips? 

You are in the driver’s seat! We provide a path toward your best career. Through cutting-edge challenges, innovation opportunities and inspiration, you’ll encounter career experiences at Philips that will help you grow. You will be equipped to be in full control of your desired career to grow and develop, learn and collaborate. 

Is there anything else women should know about pursuing a career at Philips?

We strive to ensure that inclusion is ingrained in all that we develop and do. It’s about being and doing. To help us progress, we have added a new lens to view all that we do — a lens that is rooted in our DNA and that consists of brand values and, in the end, human need. That lens is ‘caring.’

We want to empower our people to look after themselves and each other in order to build and foster a culture where people feel valued, safe and supported to be their best. We believe that this will create understanding and fuel employee collaboration and engagement and, as a result, improve our performance.

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