My career shero is Myrtle Potter. This lady has got to be bad to the BONE, do you hear me? Homegirl is a high ranking executive in one of the oldest biotechnology companies in the US. She has the MOST impressive resume: Check it!
Potter joined Genentech in 2000 as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining Genentech, Potter was president of Bristol-Myers Squibb's U.S. Cardiovascular/Metabolics business unit. Potter joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1996 as vice president, Strategy and Economics. She was promoted to group vice president, Worldwide Medicines Group, and then to senior vice president of Sales, U.S. Cardiovascular/Metabolics, before becoming president of that business unit.
Before joining Bristol-Myers Squibb, Potter spent 14 years at Merck & Company in a variety of sales, marketing and business planning roles. She was vice president of the Northeast Region Business Group from 1993 to 1996. She also was one of the architects of the Astra/Merck joint venture and led the work that set Prilosec on pace to be one of the biggest pharmaceutical products in the world.
Potter was recognized in 2003 and 2004 in FORTUNE magazine's "Top 50 Most Powerful Women In Business" list. In 2004, The Wall Street Journal listed Potter as one of its "Women To Watch." Potter was recognized in 2005 by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the "75 Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America." In 2002, Potter was also named to FORTUNE magazine's "Most Powerful Black Executives in America" list and to Time magazine's "15 Young Global Business Influentials" list. Potter's numerous additional honors include the Healthcare Business Women's Association's "2000 Woman of the Year" award, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Leadership Development Award, and the Merck Chairman's Award for her work on the Astra/Merck joint venture. Most recently, the Girl Scouts of the USA awarded Potter with its esteemed National Woman of Distinction Award given to women who, as representatives of professional and personal accomplishments, serve as a role model for girls. In 2002, Potter was named to the Board of Directors of the California Healthcare Institute where she currently serves as president. In 2004, Potter was named to the board of directors for Amazon.com. Potter is a member of Genentech's executive committee. Potter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago.
OK did you notice the last line of her bio?:
“Potter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago.”
…ummmmmmm excuse me!? B.A. …no MBA, no Master’s Degree of any kind! That means that this lady knows. Her. Shit! She has got to be well-respected, because she has held the tightest positions in her career. I love love love to see this! I have already contacted her to be my mentor!!
I just realized that I am six courses away from finishing my program! SIX COURSES!!!
I can NOT believe my program is almost done! I mean it has been hard, working full-time, taking classes full-time, AND trying to have a social life, but I have managed to do just that!
Ok so now comes the hardest part: navigating through corporate America in a sector that is not exactly embracing black women in droves OR high number: Just look at who she is standing next to:
Women in science, period, catch hell from their male counterparts. Seeing Myrtle get so far, at such a young age, is so inspiring. It only strengthens my resolve to break through the glass ceiling…..and if anyone is ready to buck the system, it is me, the jazzy mouth, ball-busting, hell-raising, bitch diva. Bring it on suckas!
Like A Gladiator, In A Coliseum, Ready For War!!
Ya’ll ain’t ready, mayne!
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My career shero is Myrtle Potter. This lady has got to be bad to the BONE, do you hear me? Homegirl is a high ranking executive in one of the oldest biotechnology companies in the US. She has the MOST impressive resume: Check it!
Potter joined Genentech in 2000 as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining Genentech, Potter was president of Bristol-Myers Squibb's U.S. Cardiovascular/Metabolics business unit. Potter joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1996 as vice president, Strategy and Economics. She was promoted to group vice president, Worldwide Medicines Group, and then to senior vice president of Sales, U.S. Cardiovascular/Metabolics, before becoming president of that business unit.
Before joining Bristol-Myers Squibb, Potter spent 14 years at Merck & Company in a variety of sales, marketing and business planning roles. She was vice president of the Northeast Region Business Group from 1993 to 1996. She also was one of the architects of the Astra/Merck joint venture and led the work that set Prilosec on pace to be one of the biggest pharmaceutical products in the world.
Potter was recognized in 2003 and 2004 in FORTUNE magazine's "Top 50 Most Powerful Women In Business" list. In 2004, The Wall Street Journal listed Potter as one of its "Women To Watch." Potter was recognized in 2005 by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the "75 Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America." In 2002, Potter was also named to FORTUNE magazine's "Most Powerful Black Executives in America" list and to Time magazine's "15 Young Global Business Influentials" list. Potter's numerous additional honors include the Healthcare Business Women's Association's "2000 Woman of the Year" award, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Leadership Development Award, and the Merck Chairman's Award for her work on the Astra/Merck joint venture. Most recently, the Girl Scouts of the USA awarded Potter with its esteemed National Woman of Distinction Award given to women who, as representatives of professional and personal accomplishments, serve as a role model for girls. In 2002, Potter was named to the Board of Directors of the California Healthcare Institute where she currently serves as president. In 2004, Potter was named to the board of directors for Amazon.com. Potter is a member of Genentech's executive committee. Potter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago.
OK did you notice the last line of her bio?:
“Potter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago.”
…ummmmmmm excuse me!? B.A. …no MBA, no Master’s Degree of any kind! That means that this lady knows. Her. Shit! She has got to be well-respected, because she has held the tightest positions in her career. I love love love to see this! I have already contacted her to be my mentor!!
I just realized that I am six courses away from finishing my program! SIX COURSES!!!
I can NOT believe my program is almost done! I mean it has been hard, working full-time, taking classes full-time, AND trying to have a social life, but I have managed to do just that!
Ok so now comes the hardest part: navigating through corporate America in a sector that is not exactly embracing black women in droves OR high number: Just look at who she is standing next to:
Women in science, period, catch hell from their male counterparts. Seeing Myrtle get so far, at such a young age, is so inspiring. It only strengthens my resolve to break through the glass ceiling…..and if anyone is ready to buck the system, it is me, the jazzy mouth, ball-busting, hell-raising, bitch diva. Bring it on suckas!
Like A Gladiator, In A Coliseum, Ready For War!!
Ya’ll ain’t ready, mayne!
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