While some people may think mentoring only goes one-way, our Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology (PO&T) team puts a different spin on mentoring through our Reverse Mentoring Program, a first-of-its-kind at Biogen.
About the program
Our Reverse Mentoring program is a unique take on the classic mentoring partnership, but with a flipped mentor and mentee relationship, empowering employees to become mentors to more senior leadership.
The intentions for this type of mentorship are to strengthen working relationships, improve our understanding of the employee experience with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and for mentors and mentees to gain a greater appreciation for differences. It also allows our leaders to lead from a new perspective to drive a thriving culture, improved performance, and improved business outcomes.
Embracing a unique opportunity
Experiencing the benefits of this program first-hand are Nicole Murphy, EVP, Head of PO&T, Lynsey Copley, Facilities Engineering Lead, RTP North Carolina, and Mckeya Taylor, Senior Supervisor of Manufacturing, RTP, North Carolina. Lynsey served as Nicole’s first mentor and Mckeya is Nicole’s current mentor.
“This program has taught me what it takes to be a leader of an organization like PO&T. Most importantly, it has provided a mutual learning opportunity for me and my senior counterparts, allowing me to gain a new perspective that I can apply to my current role and future career growth,” said Lynsey.
Additionally, this program is a particularly important connection at Biogen as we seek to increase the number of women in manufacturing and engineering leadership roles, not only at Biogen but throughout the industry. “Traditionally, manufacturing is a male-dominated field across industries, so having this opportunity to learn from strong female leaders is empowering,” explained Lynsey.
As of 2024, approximately 16% of engineers in the United States are female, with a consistent growth in the number of women pursuing careers in engineering over the last several decades. The trends reflect why this must continue to be an area of focus to achieve 50/50 engineering ratios.
At Biogen, we are proud women make up 40% of our PO&T’s organization with a positive trend of women in leadership roles over the past four years – but we still have work to do to achieve 50%.
Perspectives from the floor and the executive office
As mentors to Nicole, Lynsey and Mckeya provided her with a view of what was happening on the floor and a valuable perspective of how they best learn, receive information, and consider change. “It is very important to me to encourage young women in engineering to grow and thrive in a traditionally male-dominated space,” said Nicole. “The Reverse Mentoring Program allows me to offer this encouragement and in turn, receive invaluable insights and different perspectives.”
From a mentee perspective, Nicole provided Lynsey with the benefit of her experience and an opportunity to expand her professional networks. “The open discussions with Nicole allowed me to see the business from the big picture view, not just from an engineering perspective,” said Lynsey. “I am grateful to Nicole for her guidance and open-mindedness. We are in quite different spots in our careers, but we still have something we can learn from each other.”
As Nicole and McKeya are currently in their mentor/mentee relationship, McKeya expressed her appreciation to learn what goes into decision-making at the executive level and having the opportunity to share her own perspective on what these changes could mean for the organization. “It’s great to have an understanding of why some decisions are made the way they are made, and I appreciate the opportunity to provide Nicole with feedback that she otherwise may not receive,” said Mckeya.
About Nicole, Lynsey & Mckeya
Nicole Murphy has held executive positions in Biogen since 2015 and is currently a member of Biogen’s Executive Committee. She has over 30 years of experience across all aspects of operations and holds both a BS and MS in chemical engineering and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Lynsey Copley always knew she wanted to be an engineer. She holds a BS in biological and agricultural engineering from the University of Arkansas and is currently pursuing an MS in Biotechnology and an MBA from Johns Hopkins. She was hired into Biogen’s engineering rotational program in 2017 rotating through Facilities, Manufacturing, and Automation engineering right out of school. This year she was promoted to her current role as Senior Manager of Facilities Engineering. “I’m grateful for my partnership with Nicole, she provided me with the extra confidence I needed to apply for and attain this new position,” said Lynsey.
Mckeya has a passion for the hands-on application of science and enjoys every aspect of nature. She holds a BS degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and is pursuing an MBA from her alma mater. Her career at Biogen began as a Manufacturing Associate in LSM-Cell Culture after gaining experience in QC and Clinical laboratories in RTP. With the support of leaders and a true passion for manufacturing operations, Mckeya assumed leadership responsibilities in LSM-Media Prep which gave way to her transition to joining the Parenteral Facility at the RTP-Pharma Site. This year she was promoted to Senior Manufacturing Supervisor supporting Visual Inspections and Packaging Operations.
