Lisa Li

How do you maintain your own growth, learning and development with you and those you lead?

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We can all get bogged down by the day-to-day and I truly believe it is vital to carve time out in your calendar to prioritize growth, learning and development. I have recurring career development conversations where we formalize growth plans with my direct reports and with my manager to discuss what elements can be incorporated into the 70/20/10 model of on-the-job experiences, relationships, and formal training. I block time in my calendar to prioritize formal training (eg. formal leadership programs or LinkedIn Learning ) and build connections through informal and formal relationships, including mentoring programs where I’ve been both the mentee and mentor. It is important to lead by example and demonstrate that you are prioritizing a growth mindset to enable the team’s development journey.  I am very passionate about coaching and mentoring and I prioritize it in my 1:1s with my MSL team and ad hoc with cross-functional colleagues. It is also fantastic to be part of an organization with a culture hyper focused on L&D with an endless amount of growing and developmental opportunities.

What is the most important thing you have learned that makes you an effective and inspirational leader?

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Authenticity is so crucial to being an effective and inspirational leader. By being real and true to your personal values, it creates the foundation to building a culture of trust which is important to build strong relationships, motivate colleagues and open communication channels. I have found that by being an authentic leader, it has boosted morale and engagement of my team and created a psychologically safe and inclusive culture where team members are not afraid to challenge themselves or others, the status quo and embrace a growth mindset. There is alignment with my personal values at work- one of Organon’s core values is Be real: we are authentic and transparent.

What healthy habits do you employ to maintain your mental health and wellbeing?

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It is extremely important to practice self-love and self-care. When you take care of yourself, you are the best version of yourself at work and with your family and friends. When I became a first-time parent, I became completely absorbed in taking on the role of a mother as my core identity and I lost myself. Once I took the time to self-reflect in the years following the birth of my children, I (re)discovered my passion for reading (I started a book club!), rock climbing, playing tennis/pickleball, yoga/barre classes, my love for the spa, much more. Another element of self-care is setting healthy boundaries at work, learning to say no, proper meeting etiquette (asking for an agenda and clear expectations of your role at meetings) and creating blocks in your calendar to prioritize tasks. Practicing self-care has been crucial to maintaining physical health, mental health, and overall wellbeing.