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EF: Could you elaborate on the impact of your role within Organon and your current priorities regarding advancing healthcare for women on the continent?
MM: As you have shared, I may be the first female leader you have met leading from an Organon perspective. However, Organon is intentional about female leadership, with almost 70% of leaders in the organization being females. I believe this has a significant impact and affirms the importance of representation. Looking at our contributors, it is quite exciting to bring a valuable female perspective to the table, thus enriching our discussions and outcomes.
I’ve recently joined the Board of Directors for the American Chamber in South Africa, which I am excited about because it is an opportunity to contribute to shaping the landscape and ensure that when we look at healthcare, the focus is not only on companies that traditionally operate in healthcare, because as we learned during COVID, health impacts other sectors and vice versa. We need to be looking at holistic solutions that address the entire ecosystem. There is a need to drive the agenda accordingly to ensure that multiple stakeholders can contribute towards progressing the agenda for health, especially for women's health.
It is critical to address women's health from a broad perspective. Our portfolio includes products and solutions targeting various diseases disproportionately affecting women. Our biggest focus is on reducing unintended pregnancies due to the exceptionally high burden they place on women, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Unintended pregnancies have significant consequences not only for the healthcare system but also for the economy. The statistics on maternal mortality among women in Africa are unacceptably high. No woman should die giving life. Unintended pregnancy contributes significantly to the increased risks of maternal and infant mortality. Additionally, they can negatively impact women’s ability to be fully economically active. Both these scenarios create a vicious cycle that is difficult to break.
The unmet need for contraceptives in Sub-Saharan Africa is substantial, with over 55 million women lacking access to modern contraception. We view contraception as a means of empowering women, giving them the power to decide whether to have children when to have them, and how many to have. This empowerment is crucial as it allows women to make informed choices about their reproductive health, allowing them to reach their full potential, ultimately improving their overall well-being and reducing the strain on healthcare systems.
We have an access program for modern contraceptives that involves working with multiple stakeholders to improve various elements within the healthcare space, particularly in sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Addressing ecosystem issues is important for the success of this program. This includes partnering to improve health literacy, supply chain issues, and health systems. Capacity building for healthcare professionals is also a key focus. Ensuring that healthcare providers are empowered to offer effective, quality care and counseling is essential for empowering women and improving women's health. This comprehensive approach underscores the importance of prevention, emphasizing that it is better than cure.
Our conversations and interventions go beyond providing products that give women choices; they also contribute to addressing ecosystem issues. Last year, Organon partnered with UNFPA and MIT Solve on the #4HerPower challenge to encourage young people to develop solutions for challenges in the SRH space. I was proud to see that out of the 14 winning solutions selected from over 370 submissions, five were from Africa. This highlights the innovation and potential on the continent and reinforces the importance of investing in and supporting women's health initiatives in Africa.
We are working with young people and collaborating with various organizations. We introduced an initiative called the Her Promise Grant, which allows organizations to apply for grants to solve women's health challenges. This year, we are partnering with Pathfinder, providing them with funding to drive sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents and youth. The goal is to reduce teenage pregnancies and empower young people effectively. This program will be run in Nigeria.
EF: The conversation is shifting from women's health to health for women. How do you envision pushing this conversation forward in Africa, considering the healthcare needs faced by women here?
MM: I think that is a great way of looking at it because when women are healthy, societies are healthy, families are healthy, and ultimately, the world is healthy. It is critical to ensure that women's mental health is considered alongside their physical health. Additionally, food security plays a vital role in maintaining their overall well-being. Organon's mission statement, "A better and healthier every day for every woman," truly encapsulates this holistic approach. It is not just about focusing on women's health in isolation but creating an environment where women can thrive.
It is essential to recognize that women are holistic individuals like men. When we launched Organon 3 years ago, we prioritized including women's voices by engaging with them to understand their needs. This is something we are actively working on across the African continent, aiming to find effective ways to engage with women to truly understand their needs and use every opportunity to amplify their voices. A lot has been done, but more needs to be done to increase the number of women in leadership roles, especially in health. The current statistics are shocking. It is reported that although women make up approximately 70% of the health workforce, their representation in health leadership roles is extremely limited.
By ensuring our solutions are aligned with women's needs, we can significantly advance gender equity and equality. Healthy women are better equipped to be fully economically active, leading to more positive outcomes for their overall health. Thus, it is crucial to shift our focus from merely addressing women's health issues to promoting health for women comprehensively.
EF: How is Organon engaging with platforms like the Coalition for Women's Health and collaborating with key stakeholders?
MM: The Coalition for Women's Health in Africa was inspired by our participation in the first Africa Women's Health-focused symposium, which Africa Health Business organized. The seminar was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 2022. This event was a perfect opportunity to showcase Organon's commitment to women's health in Africa, especially since we had just launched Organon 7 months prior.
We hosted a session called "United for Health," aiming to highlight that addressing women's health challenges requires a multisectoral, multi-stakeholder approach. The goal was to unite efforts, as a lot of work is being done on the continent, but often in a disjointed manner. It is common to find numerous stakeholders working towards the same goal but in silos. Fast forward to 9 months later, following close collaboration with AHB, BD, and Hologic, we shaped the idea established and launched the Coalition for Women's Health in Africa (CoWHA).
Through CoWHA, we focus on three key pillars, namely, Knowledge and Research Awareness, Policy, and Dialogue; and last but not least, action-orientated partnerships
We must rapidly move from conversation to action, focusing on solutions beyond just products or pills, advancing women's health globally and thus driving sustainable change in women's health across Africa.
We have done a lot in our first year. We have just recently published our annual report, the very first one. In June(A month ago), we published a working paper on the private sector's role in women's health on the African continent. From a policy perspective, we hope that this publication will provide insights to support policy interventions that will ensure women's health is prioritized and more investment can be directed towards it.
It is interesting how things have worked out as we focus on bridging the women's health gap.
I’m proud to be the chairwoman for the coalition, and we intend to positively impact African women’s health, which will outlive us by benefitting not only current but future generations of girls and women as well.
EF: How are you promoting education and awareness about women’s health among patients and physicians?
MM: Continued Medical Education is critically important to us as it ensures that healthcare professionals keep abreast of what’s new and happening in the work area. It’s a privilege to contribute to their continuous learning journey. We hosted numerous Continued Medical Education (CME) programs for healthcare professionals. We had to pivot to digital tools to expand the reach and yield to the on-demand content needs of our customers. Beyond traditional healthcare professionals like doctors, we also focus on including nurses and pharmacists in the solution.
Interestingly, due to the extremely necessary regulations, the pharmaceutical industry is one of the few companies that cannot engage directly with the end user. We are exploring partnerships with various partners to reach patients and end-users and ensure that they have access to the correct information. Recognizing that many have access to technology, digital solutions are a great way to create awareness and provide health education from trusted sources, accessed discreetly and conveniently with tools at their fingertips. Digital transformation in healthcare is the new superpower.
We partner with organizations known for their strong digital capabilities and continue seeking innovative digital solutions. Although we are still navigating the process and exploring different directions, we aim to transform healthcare through these digital platforms. The essence of our approach is transformational solutions that have a lasting impact. I believe that our influence should be felt long after we are gone. Therefore, our efforts are not just about Organon or what I can achieve but about creating a legacy. We aim to develop solutions that ensure even a grandmother in a remote rural area has a chance at better health. This holistic approach ensures that our daughters, grandchildren, and future generations benefit from improved healthcare systems.
When we launched Organon, we invited women and girls worldwide to share their most pressing health issues on www.hereforherhealth.com and ultimately published the Wall of Voices Report. The commitment to amplifying girls' and women’s voices has given us the courage to be explored. We are continuously experimenting, and that is the beauty and the demonstration of what we can do when we are agile and responsive to the needs as we identify them instead of being rigid. We are building the plane as we fly it. This is one of the key lessons learned from COVID-19. We cannot wait for conditions to be perfect. We start, and then we refine as we go along. Some things will fail, but we will fail forward. We should not be scared of stepping into an area where we do not know the outcome. The days of chasing perfection are long gone. This is a key message that I would like also to highlight as we think about leadership. Whether you are leading in healthcare or any other space, we need to let go of perfection and experiment a lot more.
EF: What lessons would you like to impart to other women looking for leadership positions, and what do you hope to achieve in this role?
MM: One of the key lessons I have learned on my journey is to "do it afraid." You will experience fear, especially when thinking about the possibility of failure. However, being willing to fail is crucial for success because failure signifies that you are at least attempting something. The more you fail, the more you learn, enabling progress. Another important lesson is to learn, unlearn, and relearn. We must let go of some of our ingrained beliefs and be open to learning new things. This speaks to the necessity of adaptability and agility. Pursuing ambitious goals is inherently a scary process, but putting yourself out there and unapologetically authentically you while at it is essential.
Many years ago, I had an experience with a supportive lady who helped me set audacious goals and encouraged me to aim high. This support and encouragement were pivotal in shaping my leadership and personal growth approach. I would step into a new role, not knowing what I would be doing, but within a few months, I was settled. Our constant statement was stepping into a new role is like stepping into a new suit that is a few sizes bigger than your current one. As you get comfortable in your new role, your competencies and skills expand, and eventually, the suit fits. We still joke about the suit to this day!
It is also essential to continue paying it forward. I firmly believe in empowering others, especially young people and women, so I consistently mentor many individuals in various ways. Sometimes, it is just sharing a small piece of advice that plants a seed, and years later, someone mentions how it impacted them. Often, I would have forgotten about it by then, but hearing such feedback reassures me that I am making a positive difference.
Within my team, I encourage them to explore and make decisions, knowing that I’m still there as their support and safety net. This approach frees up my time as a leader and empowers them. Initially, it can be daunting for the team, as they might hesitate to make decisions independently. However, this freedom fosters their growth and confidence over time, ultimately leading to a more dynamic, self-sufficient, and high-performing team. I encourage people to leave the traditional job description and see what else they can bring. It sums up the importance of lifting as you rise, which speaks to empowering those around you.
I am still growing on my leadership journey. I have learned so many lessons I have even contemplated writing a book!
EF: Do you have any final message you want to share with our readers?
MM: As a leader, you must continuously pause and reflect. Extend yourself grace, and let go of perfection, recognizing that you are only human. It is important not to let our mistakes define or build walls around us. When faced with any negative situation, it is critical to think beyond the obvious and seek out the positives and lessons to be learned. However, it is also important to acknowledge when you are going through a tough time. Name it to tame it! Accepting and addressing your challenges is part of the journey toward growth and success.
For example, I recently spoke with one of my mentees who is facing a significant career change. They were concerned that the new opportunities on the horizon did not align with their current scope of responsibility. I advised them to view it as a growth opportunity, and rather than focusing on the title of the roles, they should consider how they can show up in a role and contribute in an impactful way. I find that this approach can help you transform the value of a role into an indispensable role for an organization. It is all about making the most of the opportunities and being resilient. Take 1 step back so that you can take ten steps forward.
As Steve Jobs said, "Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world often do." Believe in yourself and your capabilities, dream audacious dreams, and make them happen!
