Nominee Stories

Kate Betteridge
Senior Director, Global Regulatory Portfolio Lead, Pfizer

Inspiration Award winner 2024

 

Q: How did you feel when you were nominated?

I was absolutely delighted! It felt like it had come full circle actually. The person that nominated me was someone that I hired nearly ten years ago. I nominated them early on in their career for the TOPRA ‘Horizon’ award (which recognises new talent), which they went on to win. That person is a top talent in our organisation and somebody that I've been personally invested in because I can see their qualities and potential.
I was very moved because one of the most important things for me as a portfolio manager and a line manager is to invest my time in people. It’s people that get the work done and that's how we create the culture that we want to work in. 

Q: What does this recognition mean to you, both personally and professionally?

Personally, it shows me that what I do each day makes a difference, especially on days where you're dealing with difficult situations or issues. To be nominated for inspiring someone confirms that my purpose at work, helping others to grow, is always something worth doing.
Professionally, I'm excited to see what this is going to bring. To win an industry award is a great accolade and a formal recognition of achievement. It's a huge credit and I'm so humbled by it, but I also really want to use the experience. My next career move would ideally be to run a larger organisation, and have more people to inspire and to grow, and being presented with a top award will really help. It's a huge compliment.

Q: How did you feel when you won?

I wasn't expecting to win. I felt very nervous as the names were read out and the videos were played. I felt very emotional, then super happy, and then shocked. But as it sunk in, I’ve been filled with joy because it’s such a great story.

Q: Do you think there was one thing in particular that led to your ‘Inspiration’ nomination?

I don't think there was one thing because the award itself, and the criteria, are very broad. I feel I was nominated because the ‘people’ part of my career is so important to me, and I really try to bring that into all my interactions. Whether it's with very junior colleagues or very senior level individuals across the organisation, I always try to have growth and inspiration as part of my mindset.

I invest a lot of time in people and specifically set aside time in my workday to focus on people, in particular thinking about the support they need to build their careers and how I can inspire them to grow their talent both for themselves and the business. If they're happy and developing, they’ll contribute more, stay with the company longer and hopefully bring that joy to work. 

Drug development is very challenging. There are days when it’s tough; you work long hours and deal with difficult stakeholders. So always having a focus on wellbeing and the growth of individuals at the heart of what I do is my personal purpose, and I think this was recognised by my peers, which led to me achieving the award.

Q: What would you say to encourage people to nominate their friends and colleagues for the awards?

I would encourage people to think about the TOPRA Awards as a vehicle for recognition for your colleagues. There is a huge array of awards on offer, both for people in the early stages of their career and for those with extensive experience. There's something for everybody.

It means a great deal to the people nominated, even if they don't win. It feels very special, and it’s also pretty unique to take part in an evening where you can celebrate with others. It's definitely something worth investing in because it means so much to people, whether they win or whether they’re nominated.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is aspiring to win such an award in the future?

I would say there's some core qualities that people should think about when they come to work each day. At Pfizer, we have a central focus on values, which are courage, excellence, equity and joy, and that really is the foundation of the culture. I try to embody those values every day. 
I would also suggest being authentic. If you know what your purpose is every day, the rest will align because the contribution you make, underpinned by values and culture, is likely to lead you to being nominated or winning an award.