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Cultivating a Culture of Excellence: AstraZeneca’s Commitment to Innovation and Positive Workplace Environment

In Bryanston, South Africa, a group of passionate scientists and healthcare professionals gather at AstraZeneca’s South African office. The purpose; to advance groundbreaking health tech innovations aimed at improving health outcomes across the world. For many of these individuals, AstraZeneca is more than just a workplace; it’s a second home where their ideas are refined, their voices are heard, and their potential is realised, all feeding into a culture of excellence and a commitment to innovation.
AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical company, is known for its dedication to scientific excellence and breakthrough innovations. Beyond research and scientific development, the company places a strong emphasis on fostering a workplace culture that prioritises the well-being and satisfaction of its employees. By cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued, empowered, and inspired to reach their full potential, AstraZeneca is driving positive change within the company and across the healthcare landscape.
The journey to create this culture of excellence starts with the company’s leaders, who set the tone for a vibrant and inclusive workplace. By focusing on employee satisfaction, diversity, and well-being, AstraZeneca’s leadership has laid the foundation for a dynamic work environment that encourages innovation and collaboration. This commitment to a positive workplace culture supports the company’s business objectives and leads to meaningful contributions to society and a significant impact on the world of medicine.
Prioritising Employee Well-being and Satisfaction
AstraZeneca’s approach to employee well-being is rooted in creating a safe and energising work environment, going beyond standard health benefits and safety measures. The company strives to create a workplace where employees feel cared for and supported, enabling them to bring their best selves to work every day by providing the right training, equipment, and support to ensure employees feel secure and healthy at work. Initiatives such as Wellness Days, health-related webinars, and driver safety training for field force members help promote overall well-being. Additionally, AstraZeneca places a strong emphasis on fostering an inclusive and supportive culture through programmes like the Pulse Task Force and iCAN Programme, which enhance employee engagement and satisfaction.
One memorable moment that showcases the company’s commitment to its employees occurred during a global health crisis. As many companies struggled to adapt, AstraZeneca quickly implemented initiatives such as remote work policies and virtual health resources to ensure the safety and well-being of its workforce. These efforts protected employees and strengthened their trust in the company, further solidifying AstraZeneca’s reputation as a top employer.
Fostering Innovation in the Workplace
Innovation is a key driver of AstraZeneca’s success, and the company employs various strategies to nurture this culture. Through challenges centred on early screening, diagnosis, and brand promotion, AstraZeneca encourages its teams to think creatively and collaborate effectively. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) simplifies processes and improves efficiencies, enabling innovative approaches to problem-solving.
Unique initiatives like Omni Congress bring virtual hybrid congresses to healthcare professionals (HCPs), providing opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration. Programmes such as iDevelop focus on emerging tech trends and nurture talent with insights from next-generation technologies. The Africa Innovation Hub further demonstrates AstraZeneca’s commitment to fostering innovation by providing external mentorship and partnerships to drive progress in healthcare systems.
Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
AstraZeneca’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is not just a corporate initiative; it is a fundamental part of the company’s identity. The company’s I&D mission seeks to create an inclusive and equitable environment where all employees feel valued and respected. By embedding DEI into its ways of working, AstraZeneca aims to build a diverse leadership and talent pipeline that supports innovation and excellence.
The company’s focus on inclusion, diversity, and impact helps advance societal change through health equity and clinical trial diversity. AstraZeneca understands that a diverse workforce brings unique perspectives and experiences, which drive innovation and allow the company to better serve its patients and communities. For instance, AstraZeneca’s African Cluster boasts 57% female representation overall, with over 42% females at every career level. This diversity fuels creativity and allows the company to address complex challenges with fresh, inclusive perspectives.
AstraZeneca’s dedication to cultivating a culture of excellence is evident in its commitment to employee well-being, innovation, and DEI. By prioritising these values, the company has become a leader in the biopharmaceutical industry and a role model for others seeking to foster a positive workplace environment. External recognitions such as Top Employer certification in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, as well as BPTW certification in French-speaking Africa, are a testament to the positive strides the company is making in this space. With continuous investment in its employees, AstraZeneca is poised to drive meaningful change in the world of medicine and set a benchmark for others in the industry.
Shelleny Govender-Dhooma
The writer is a Chartered HR Professional with the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP). She serves as the African Cluster HR Director at AstraZeneca and is a member of the Leadership Team, where she provides inspirational leadership and implements best practices and strategies.
News
NIA Questions Legality of Reps’ Financial Probe

The Nigerian Insurers Association has urged the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions to respect the constitutional separation of powers as it carries out a probe on over 20 insurance firms.
In a statement on Tuesday night, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIA, Mrs Bola Odukale, said the decision of NIA and the affected firms to approach the court was to seek clarity on the constitutional limits of the House Committee’s probe.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives on Monday is investigating no fewer than 25 insurance companies operating in the country for various financial infractions spanning financial reporting, claims settlement, premium remittance, and issuance of policies.
The Chairman, House Sub-Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Kwamoti Laori, during a meeting with the management of the insurance companies at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, said the meeting was convened following the receipt of a petition on infractions by the insurance companies.
In the statement, Odukale said, “The Association wishes to state unequivocally that all actions taken by the NIA and the affected member companies in response to the Committee’s invitations and pronouncements were based entirely on legal advice by its Solicitors. It was on the firm instruction of legal counsel that recourse was made to the courts.
“The objective of approaching the Court is to seek judicial guidance on the legality, propriety, and constitutional limits of the Committee’s intervention in order to safeguard institutional integrity, uphold regulatory independence, and ensure that legislative oversight remains within the bounds of law.
“The Court action seeks to determine whether the current posture of the Committee reflects an exercise of legislative judgment, which, by constitutional design, is the exclusive province of statutory regulators, such as the National Insurance Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Exchange, Financial Reporting Council, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and the National Information Technology Development Agency.
“This raises serious questions about legislative overreach and an erosion of the doctrine of separation of powers, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.”
Odukale maintained that the NIA was committed to lawful and constructive engagement with all arms of government, provided that such engagement respects the autonomy of statutory regulators and the boundaries established by the Constitution.
“The NIA will continue to provide its full support to all member companies while upholding the principles of legal compliance and sector-wide integrity,” Odukale concluded.
17 of the companies that went to court were represented by their lawyer, Mr Abimbola Kayode, at the meeting with the committee.
News
Horn of Africa Leaders Seek Enhanced Digital Integration for Increased Regional Growth

Finance ministers and development partners from the Horn of Africa have called for enhanced digital integration to boost trade, drive economic growth and promote regional stability during the 25th Ministerial Meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI).
Held in Nairobi, on July 14, the meeting was co-chaired by the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo and Somalia’s Minister of Finance, Bihi Iman Egeh. Discussions underscored the critical role of digital integration in reducing trade barriers, boosting government service delivery and creating employment — particularly for the region’s youth.
“Digital technologies are shaping today’s economy and tomorrow’s industries. By embedding these technologies into our programs, we can not only improve inclusion but also leapfrog outdated development models,” said Nwabufo.
She called for digital integration a “central enabler” in each of the Horn of Africa Initiative’s pillars – trade, infrastructure, resilience, and human capital,
Learning through experience
Drawing from global and regional success stories, speakers highlighted the transformative potential of technology-led development. The ministers pointed to the Philippines as a strong example, where ICT has generated millions of jobs in business process outsourcing. Similarly, Kenya’s fintech innovation—especially the success of M-PESA—was cited as a model for scaling digital financial services across the region.
Participants urged governments to proactively foster digital ecosystems by capitalizing on the demographic dividend, identifying infrastructure upgrades, tighter regulatory reforms, and digital skills trainings as priorities to enable broader participation in the digital economy.
Minister Egeh reiterated the need for more coordinated regional efforts to create the enabling environment required for accelerated digital integration and expansion. He referenced the HoAI Digital Policy Matrix, adopted in 2023 which provides a blueprint on how to address key obstacles to achieving effective digital integration across the region.
Barack Makokha, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury, underscored the importance of regionally-aligned public private partnerships and advocated for blended financing to reduce investment risk and expand digital access in underserved areas.
World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Ndiame Diop, called for a comprehensive multi-pronged approach, combining cross-border coordination, large-scale financing, robust policy support, and digital infrastructure investments. He pointed out that such measures could transform digital integration into, “a powerful engine of economic transformation” for the Horn of Africa—ensuring no one is left behind in the digital era.
The meeting concluded with a shared recognition that sustained political will and the determination to implement a multifaceted approach are essential to unlocking the region’s economic potential and driving long-term growth.
The event also welcomed observers from the East African Community, Agence française de développement, and Shelter Afrique, reflecting strong regional and international backing for the HoAI in the development community.
News
CSCS Inaugurates Custodian Portal to Enhance Digital Access, Operational Efficiency

Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure provider, has launched its Custodian Portal, a user-centric digital solution designed to optimise custodian operations through intuitive, secure and efficient features.
Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CSCS, announced this in a statement on Monday.
The CSCS is a Public Limited Company with a diversified shareholder base, which serves as the Central Securities Depository for the Nigerian Capital Market.
It serves as the Central Depository for Equities, Commercial Papers, Corporate Bonds, Sub-National Bonds, certain Sovereign Bonds like the FGN Sukuk and the FGN Savings Bond, Equity-traded Funds, Real Estate Investment Trusts, Mutual funds and Commodities.
Jalo-Waziri said that the custodian portal offered a streamlined experience for market participants with powerful tools that facilitate comprehensive portfolio and trade management, document tracking, share transfer operations, client symbol search, and real-time access to vital data.
He explained that the portal, designed to operate through a flexible subscription-based model, empowered users to manage their records effortlessly and securely through convenient payment channels such as GTPay and Paystack.
According to him, “Digital transformation remains at the core of our strategy to enhance the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of Nigeria’s capital market services.
“The custodian portal is a significant leap in that direction, offering custodians a centralised platform to manage critical processes in real-time.
“We are excited about the value this innovation brings to our stakeholders, and we will continue to evolve the platform in line with users’ needs and industry trends.”
The CEO also explained that the portal was designed with user experience in mind with feature tools like portfolio viewing and downloads in PDF or Excel format.
He further said that it also featured tracking of stock movements across date ranges, inbox messaging and request tracking, as well as robust user management capabilities including role assignment and status tracking.
Similarly, the Divisional Head, Business Technology and Digital Innovation, CSCS Plc, Tobe Nnadozie, said that the portal aligned with CSCS’s drive to automate the market.
“In addition to the normal features, the platform is a part of an omnichannel platform for custodians, and includes API services.
“It also connects to the market-wide workflow, which CSCS has built to ensure secured communication and approvals across all major stakeholders in the market.
“The platform is well secured with best-of-breed cybersecurity solutions and our SOC,” he said.
The Custodian Portal reinforces CSCS’s commitment to leveraging technology to streamline back-office functions and support a more agile, data-driven capital market ecosystem.
All custodians in the Nigerian capital market have now been successfully on-boarded on the Custodian Portal, marking a significant milestone in CSCS’s ongoing drive to enhance collaboration, standardise operational processes, and promote digital adoption across the market.
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