Aligning a Global Team, Engaging Colleagues, and the Importance of a Human Connection: A Conversation with Daria Fellrath

In this blog, we sat down with Daria Fellrath, Senior Manager of Global Talent and Culture Management at MMS, to discuss how important it is to align a global team, engage with colleagues, and foster human connections across organizations. Daria’s leadership and dedication to colleagues help drive the company’s success and contribute to MMS having one of the lowest attrition rates in pharma.

How do you promote and foster diversity and inclusion in your day to day?

I have lived in three different countries and have had the opportunity to travel to many places around the world. Through those experiences, I’ve had the chance to experience the creativity and beauty of different cultures.

In addition, I’ve worked for global, multicultural organizations and was able to see firsthand the value that diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives contribute to organizational success.

I am a strong believer in human connection.

My personal approach to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion is to continuously engage in open communication; provide colleagues with the opportunities to learn from the perspectives of others and to express their own thoughts and ideas; listen empathetically; and have an open mind about perspectives of others even if different from your own.

How do you foster diversity and inclusion in the #OneMMS company culture?

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) have always been an essential part of #OneMMS culture.

The MMS Leadership Team and Global Talent and Culture Management team collaborate closely to ensure we create an environment where every MMS colleague, regardless of location, has an opportunity to learn, grow their careers and stay closely connected to our organizational mission of positively impacting people worldwide.

There are many ways we engage with our global colleagues to support this culture.

One way we achieve this is through the continuous alignment of our global processes. The most recent example of this is the change to our management structure. Our new policy allows MMS managers to lead colleagues across multiple regions, leading to more effective collaboration as global teams.

At MMS, we also have a strong focus on global engagement activities to ensure that our global colleagues can connect on a more personal level and build those moments of human connection.

One of our favorite global engagement events is the Global MMS Got Talent competition. It is pure joy to see the incredible talents of our global colleagues, whether it is singing, dancing, or incredible artwork. It is also humbling to be invited into a more personal part of our colleagues’ lives through this event.

Continued learning development is another way to stay connected as a global team and celebrate our differences and perspectives. As a part of our partnership with FranklinCovey, we recently hosted a workshop on understanding bias.

In addition, we recently hosted our first global Scientific Symposium to provide our global colleagues with the opportunity to present and learn about topics most relevant to the life science industry.

Why is it important that company culture prioritizes diversity and inclusion?

It is essential that organizations embrace the culture of D&I.

At the end of the day, every stakeholder is striving to contribute to the best of their ability to help the organization succeed.

It is the responsibility of the organization to create a culture and environment to help its colleagues engage with their mind, their soul, and their heart. This allows organizations to be more innovative, more competitive, and better corporate citizens.

How can colleagues incorporate diversity and inclusion into their jobs?

Bill Nye said, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.”

This mindset that every person you interact with has a unique value proposition that no other person has is incredibly important. All our experiences, backgrounds, and life journeys are unique, and it is important to have an open mind and the curiosity to tap into the experiences of others.

A basic way to do this is to be respectful and empathetic in all our interactions with colleagues. We must give others the time and space to express themselves and to listen with our ears, minds, and hearts.

What is your favorite part about the #OneMMS culture? 

I love so many aspects of our #OneMMS culture, whether it is working with our truly inspirational leaders, the company’s focus on learning and career development, or knowing that my work is connected to the greater purpose of helping patients.

My favorite part of our culture is the incredibly supportive global teams we have. No matter the complexity of the task you are working on, it is always great to know that you have a team that is always willing to listen, offer a different perspective, and lend a helping hand.

If you are interested in working at MMS, check out our Careers website for more information and open opportunities.