FROM THE PRESIDENT
Laura Last
As I was thinking about what I wanted to write for my first column as LTEN board president, I reflected on how much our industry has changed over the past few years and how this has affected our roles as learning professionals. As we all know well, our industry is one of the most dynamic and fast-paced business sectors, requiring continuous innovation, strict compliance and an unwavering commitment to the patients we serve.
Given these demands, I thought about how our leadership in learning and our collaboration with one another are essential in what we do. These two elements help us as learning and development (L&D) professionals drive innovation, adapt to changing regulations and ensure that our employees stay equipped with the latest scientific and technological skills and knowledge.
Our roles as L&D leaders require us to be visionary thinkers, be adaptable and inspire teams and stakeholders. We are the ones who ensure that employees at all levels receive proper training, understand the industry’s regulatory landscape and contribute to the organization’s mission and vision.
Ultimately, we are responsible for driving business outcomes. To do this, we must continue to support a culture of continuous learning in our organizations.
In this ever-changing industry, we know that advancements in drug development, regulatory policies and medical technologies occur frequently. We as L&D professionals must prioritize ongoing education and professional development to keep our workforce ahead of industry changes. By fostering a learning culture, our organizations can continually enhance employees’ technical skills, improve compliance and increase innovation.
We must also be responsible for our own learning and development, honing our skills and developing future leaders in L&D.
We know how important it is for everyone to continually develop as L&D professionals. That’s why LTEN has so many current resources for professional development and networking.
I encourage you to visit the L-TEN.org website, check out the eLearning Lounge on-demand learning modules, sign up for a webinar or certificate workshop or attend a networking mixer. And our pinnacle event, the LTEN Annual Conference, is the best place to develop your skills and network. We’re making some wonderful changes to the conference this year that you won’t want to miss.
If you want some guidance on how to get involved, reach out to a staff member or one of us on the LTEN Board of Directors to get started. We’re working on exciting new programs, so stay tuned!
Collaboration is crucial for everyone’s future success. Whether you’re collaborating with colleagues, clients, partners or industry experts, we all learn valuable lessons when we learn from one another.
With digital transformation, new technologies, organizational shifts and changes in L&D, it has never been more important for us to network and stay connected.
Our success in L&D depends on us. As the life sciences industry continues to evolve, investing in ourselves as learning leaders and professionals and collaborating with one another will remain essential for sustained success.
I look forward to being on this journey with you!
Laura Last is executive director and head of global talent development and enterprise learning for BeiGene, and president of the LTEN Board of Directors. Email Laura at laura.last@beigene.com or connect through linkedin.com/in/lalast.
