“True leadership isn’t measured by a command of others, but by the capacity to inspire and motivate the people around you. I’ve watched Vanessa lead by empowering people to navigate challenges and uncover world-class solutions. She asks questions that encourage innovation and forward movement. She is the epitome of leading with grace.” –Joaquin Duato, Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson
Vanessa Broadhurst has a comprehensive equity goal: “I want to see as many women and minorities as possible understanding how to navigate a track to the top.”
As Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs at Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Broadhurst oversees Corporate Communications, Brand, Philanthropy, Global Public Health, and J&J Health & Wellness Solutions. She also sits on the company’s Executive Committee (EC). She balances a weighty responsibility at this moment in history, when some employees, customers, and stakeholders expect corporations to respond to social issues and take positions on impending legislation. “I have a seat at the table to help shape our future,” she says.
Her younger self “never would have believed I’d be on the EC of the world’s largest healthcare company. My career has been an amazing adventure.” Consistently, she has navigated the twists and turns of an exhilarating career ride with vigor and grace. We will explore her story to learn how she arrived at her current role piloting corporate affairs with an atypical résumé for the function, and why having her voice at this level matters for women’s progress.
