Key Insights from the Journey of Cultural Transformation

  • Beyond the buzzwords: Sharing lessons learned from a multi-year, global, culture transformation journey
  • Discussing the role of upper management in shifting the culture of an organization
  • Exploring the role of HR and evolution of HR practices to impact organizational culture

Fenella Chisholm
SVP, Global People & Organization
Novartis

Fenella Chisholm is SVP and Global Head People & Organization for the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR). In this role, Fenella partners with leadership across the 6000 strong global early discovery science unit to operationalize the Novartis People strategy in service of the vision to Reimagine Medicine and deliver better patient outcomes. In 2019 and 2020 a few key areas of focus for Fenella and team are shifting the culture toward “Inspired, Curious and Unbossed”; reimaging performance management to performance development; ensuring a robust and diverse talent pipeline; and building strategic capabilities to support the new, cool and soon-to-be-imagined science of the future.

Fenella joined Novartis in 2004 as Global Head Talent Management and Organization Development for Gerber and previous roles include Head Human Resources, Animal Health North America, Head Human Resources, OTC Europe, and Global Head Human Resources Global & Corporate Functions. Fenella started her career as an Occupational Psychologist for Ford Motor Company before moving to Bristol-Myers Squibb where she held roles of increasing responsibility in HR in both a specialist and generalist capacity. Fenella’s passion and leadership-purpose is to build sustainable organizations and help others grow and develop and reach their individual potential.

Fenella is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and received a BSc in Mathematics and Psychology and an MSc in Occupational Psychology. She is a British national and has lived and worked in the UK, US and Switzerland. She currently lives in the Boston area with her husband, Aaron; two amazing daughters, Meghan and Madeleine and their dog, Marmite.