Affinity for GlaxoSmithKline revealed

Indeed, a career with GSK, Stevenage can be very rewarding and challenging!

The time span was a mere 2 years and 4 months but it was the best of my career yet! When I look back the wonderful times at GSK, Stevenage, It brings a smile no less how I have become associated with inspirational leaders and motivated team members at one place, GSK. The ‘how’ journey took me 5 years, it really did!

It was back when I was an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore in 2000, that I have harboured the hope to join a Multi National Company like GSK. Mind you, there was without a doubt about the good faith amongst investors of the drug making business then. As such, GSK, AstraZeneca and Pfizer were the sponsors for the course, MSc Chemical Process Research & Development at the University of Liverpool then. As a fresh graduate of BSc in Chemistry with Merit in 2001, my ambition was clear, it was to save enough money and earn myself a place to do the above MSc course.

I can say for certain that hard work really pay because in 2004, it was back to student days for me at the University of Liverpool, England. The one- year MSc Chem Proc R&D was proving very challenging and intensive indeed, for I have stopped studying for 3 years and much has to be recapped from scratch. Thankfully, I had very supportive course supervisor, Dr. Andrew Stachulski and course mates, Amol, Balby, David (Small), David (Big), George and Umar. We have learnt together and really enjoyed the course immensely as a ‘big family’.

What was so valuable about this course was the strong presence of industrial speakers. We have had the fortune to learn from speakers of GSK, Astrazeneca and Pfizer just to name a few. The real life examples that were shared with us gave insights to problem solving in industry then. It was during one of this chanced encounter, that I met Dr. Paul R whom I shared the hope of doing the industrial placement with. I was over the moon when I got accepted for a placement at GSK. It was like a dream come true, it really felt that way!

Three months of industrial placement flew passed quickly at GSK, Stevenage. It didn’t take that long to appreciate how demanding the industry was. I could feel the peer pressure whilst doing my experiments and write up in the laboratory, 2G135. Luckily for me, the working environment was first of its class, and I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive supervisor than Dr. Fabienne S as well as a more driven co-supervisor Dr. Mark W. A combination of these factors, I simply worked triply hard just so I wouldn’t disappoint my supervisors and myself. The fruit of our labour came when a letter was published based on our experimental findings. Now, I certainly have my supervisors to thank for this unbelievable achievement.

The greatest thing about my time at GSK, Stevenage is the many good- hearted people whom I have met. You can’t take this lightly because I have heard that it was unheard of at such a big organisation, especially if you are a placement student. Now, this is wrong! When the time came to bid farewell, I was relieved to have completed the MSc course and sad to say goodbye to all my friends.

Naturally, I have applied for jobs at GSK, Stevenage because I have faith that my accomplishment during my placement was substantial. The offer finally came when I have worked three months into my first job, at the Kudos Pharmaceuticals in Horsham, England (it was successfully acquired by AstraZeneca). The prospect of joining GSK was quite surreal and words couldn’t describe how proud my parents felt then. Having to say goodbye to Dr. Keith M and Rebecca M was hard, because I have unsung gratitude for them. I am ever grateful to them for developing my other potential as a ‘Safety Officer and Chemist’ at Kudos Pharma. I returned to Malaysia for a month before I joined GSK, Stevenage as an Associate Scientist in May 2006.

Now, as a full time staff was a different story to as a placement student. I remember my pride and excitement during the first week, especially when I got a hug from bubbly Sandra H and Fabienne S! This is because I have made it back to a familiar place that I have once achieved so much not long ago. Then came the pressure of becoming competent in my new- found role, Particle Scientist. I was aware of the high expectation and steep learning curve ahead of me. What really helped me was my very supportive manager, Dr. Wendy C and mentor, Dr. Elaine S. Without them, I wouldn’t have picked up the required skills as effectively.

It soon became clear that I would be working with this dynamic high performance team (HPT), GW123456. I was soon swarmed with objective driven experiments to carry out. It was meetings, experiments and writing up, this cycle just continued under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Stephen H. What I really enjoyed working with this HPT was the cohesiveness and supportive relationship that I had with the team members, especially with the lead chemists, Peter K, Dr. Yuichi T and Leontine T. This project has given me the opportunities to develop scientific, multi-tasking, presentation and communication skills.

My confidence grew as months of consistent effort were delivering the required results. When I first received my Bronze Reward and Recognition (R&R) for R&D excellence, I was really touched because it was just over 6 months into the job. Again, GSK has proven to me that you can get rewarded for a job well done. I felt that this was a place where one can live and enjoy work at the same time. It is no wonder at GSK, you find so many motivating and leading by example leaders. I developed myself well as part of a dynamic and well-positioned group in this big organisation, Particle Sciences Group. It was great to feel that I could stand on my two feet, because I have been able to contribute in my own way in this large organisation.

On being awarded the Silver R&R, it was already one year and a half into my role. I felt that I have not let everyone whom has supported me down, certainly not myself. I have everyone to thank for making GSK a wonderful place to develop myself.

There were times of difficulty of course, for instance when I faced the first round of Operation Excellence (read as downsizing). It was no easy times at all for everyone. I was amongst the fortunate ones who weren’t affected. In times of a weak economy, we have to outshine ourselves and become stronger wherever the path leads us to.

I dedicate this post to all my beloved friends of GSK. Now, I really miss those tea breaks at the nodes J. Of whom I have no chance to say a final goodbye on my last day, let this be especially to Dr. David J & Dr. Paul R.