In this issue, we highlight Dr. Barbara J. Slatt, Director of New Drug Development, Commercialization, & Market Support (Worldwide) of Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals, which is part of the Procter and Gamble (P&G) Company. P&G is a $38 billion global leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of a broad range of consumer goods. In prescription drugs, P&G is focusing on cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and anti-infective therapies. Some of P&G's leading prescription products include Actonel (risedronate sodium), Macrobid (nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals), Didronel (etidronate disodium), and Asacol (mesalamine). Barb is an excellent example and role model of a Ph.D. Analytical Chemist who has had a wide variety of experiences to reach her current position of Director. She joined P&G as a Corporate Staff Scientist in the Environmental Safety Division in 1975. Less than three years later, she took on a special assignment on loan to the U.S. Department of Commerce (Washington, D.C.) as Policy Analyst for the President's Domestic Policy Review of Industrial Innovation. After this six-month stint, she went back to P&G and was promoted to section head of Human Safety. She then moved to Product Development with an initial assignment to develop the Pert Plus 2-in-1 initiative in the Beauty Care Division of the company. From there, she was promoted to Associate Director, then to Director, leading a number of project initiatives in the OTC Health Care Division and, finally, in P&G Pharmaceuticals.
As for her academic background, Barb got both her M.S. and Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Illinois. While at Illinois, she was a member of Phi Lambda Upsilon, an Honorary Chemistry Society. She has an MBA degree from Xavier University and was a member of the American Chemical Society and the Air Pollution Control Association. Her favorite pastimes include downhill skiing, reading mystery/espionage novels, supporting a local animal shelter and providing a home for several rescued felines.
Something telling about Barb's success is her reply to the question of what she likes best about working at P&G. She says that P&G "doesn't pigeonhole people into narrow jobs, but offers a broad spectrum of positions to grow into or branch out and acquire new skills." Another benefit she's observed in her current position is "[the company's] ability to impact the health and quality of life of literally millions of consumers and patients, as well as help change the course of medical research and physician treatment regimens." This is one of the reasons why she has gained much personal satisfaction from working in pharmaceutical R&D where she says, "I am working on the leading edge of medical science and helping to deliver new therapeutic options in women's health."
Her succinct answers to our interview questions below is further proof of why Barb is so successful.
Q1. How did you get started in chemistry or your field of endeavor?
My mother was a biology teacher and my dad was the proverbial "rocket scientist" at NASA Lewis Research Center where he worked on the development of solid rocket fuels and solar cells to power the early spacecraft. They stimulated my interest in science and chemistry at an early age. As a youngster in grade school, I had a chemistry set which I used to create magic shows that I put on for the neighborhood kids.
Q2. What took you where you are today?
I further developed my love of chemistry in high school by participating in many local, regional and national science fairs. I won quite a few awards, including the Ford Future Scientists of America and the prestigious Westinghouse Science Talent Search.
I also enjoyed a lot of support and encouragement from my dad and high school chemistry teacher. Plus, my dad invested his time and effort coaching me in chemistry and math.
Q3. What did you have to sacrifice along the way, if anything?
Because I have loved my work, found it challenging and at times exhilarating, and found the opportunities to lead limitless, I put many discretionary hours into it. This meant that I sacrificed developing other hobbies/sports. Also, the choice of a career path often entails an opportunity cost -- i.e., by choosing to become a chemist, I gave up other fields which I had the talent/interest/skill for (e.g., trial lawyer, movie producer).
Q4. How have you changed and/or how has the "work climate" changed since you started?
The way work gets done has changed since I entered the company. It is much more collaborative and global. It focuses more on achieving goals which are revolutionary vs. evolutionary. More work gets done in teams and organizations are more matrixed. I have been forced to change as I have risen hierarchically in the organization, because my role now operates from a perspective of 20,000 feet rather than on the ground. Thus, I have become less involved in details and more on the big picture. My role has shifted from "doing" to "leading" and "enabling."
Q5. How do you define being successful?
Being successful is having fun, being intellectually stimulated, making a positive difference in the world, gaining personal satisfaction from achieving results, and being good at what you do...... and then getting paid very well for this besides.
Q6. Does success require compromise?
I only see two compromises that I've had to make, and these don't seem very painful: (a) I had to give up the opportunity to pursue other career paths which I think I would have really enjoyed, too. (As mentioned above.); (b) I had to give up the strong desire to "always do it my way", learn to appreciate divergent points-of-view, and gain the commitment of others.
Q7. Did you have mentors, and how have they helped?
I have had several informal mentors along the way, but have avoided formal, assigned mentors which may have been a mistake on my part. I refer to my mentors more as supporters. I saw them believing in my abilities, encouraging me to set lofty goals, pointing me toward opportunities (such as specific schools to attend, job assignments to take, contests to enter), spreading the word about my capabilities/contributions, opening new doors, giving me straight feedback/advice.
Q8. How do you balance work and life?
I achieve balance by working very hard and then playing very hard. In my 25-year career, I have always put my vacation time to good use, and didn't use those vacations to simply do work in another locale. I thrived on those vacations as much as I thrived on work. I've found if you like what you do, it is easy to be lured into spending more of your discretionary time on work than the balance you desire requires. Thus, I block out time for the things important to me -- family, pastimes, etc.
Q9. What worked for you that would be good advice for someone else coming up in his or her career?
Q10. What worked for you that would be good advice for someone else coming up in his or her career?
Take advantage of unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities (e.g., my assignment on loan to the US Dept. of Commerce).
Q11. Do you know of any successful woman chemist/scientist that we can interview in future issues?
Dr. Marcia Angell, MD and Executive Editor of the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.
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