46: Following Your Credo, with Alex Gorsky, Executive Chairman, Johnson & Johnson
Meet Alex Gorsky:
Alex Gorsky is the Executive Chairman of Johnson & Johnson and served as their CEO for almost a decade. Alex started his career at Johnson & Johnson as a sales representative and advanced through positions of increasing responsibility in sales, marketing, and management. Alex served in the Army for six years after completing his undergraduate education at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He also received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Key Insights:
Alex Gorsky has over thirty years of experience at Johnson & Johnson. He shares his reflections on leadership in the pharmaceutical industry and across his career.
- Setting Goals as CEO. For CEOs, Alex advises first listening and learning about the organization. Then, establish a clear and explicit set of priorities that are consistently communicated. (7:57)
- Examining the Spin-Off. Johnson & Johnson is splitting off its consumer health business. Alex explains that the pharmaceutical and medical, and consumer sectors were diverging in terms of regulation, production, and distribution. This split will unleash innovation and improve customer-centricity. (19:16)
- Partnerships in Technology. While discussing Johnson & Johnson’s partnership with Microsoft, Alex predicts that there will be a greater convergence of the biopharma and med tech space with technology usually associated with Silicon Valley. (27:06)
Relevant Links:
- “Reflections and Gratitude” by Alex Gorsky
- “Alex Gorsky to Serve as Executive Chairman and Transition Role of Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson to Joaquin Duato, Effective January 3, 2022” Johnson & Johnson press release
- Watch “Distinguished Speakers Series: Alex Gorsky, Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson”
