C-Suite Conversation: Jennifer Conn - EVP & CHRO, Pharmavite

It was insightful to recently catch up with Jennifer Conn, the EVP and CHRO for Pharmavite. With more than 20 years of HR experience in healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotech, she has held VP roles at AbbVie, Alexion, and now Pharmavite, the California-based maker of NatureMade vitamins. Conn leads all elements of the HR function at Pharmavite, including talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, and total rewards, as well as talent and organization development, employee relations, and people operations.

We asked her about why the career development programming within Pharmavite is so enhanced and appreciated. At 0:53 she shares how development conversations are embedded within employee conversations and performance management systems, and how leaders of the program receive assets and programming to help leadership skills. Re-investing in the workforce helps to keep employee retention high.

Employee benefits and professional development come at a financial cost to the company – and, at 3:54, Conn shares how the company balances best-in-class benefits and workforce development with the balance sheet. She shares how the company supports its employees’ medical costs, and shares some of the advancements it has made in improving total rewards for its employees – especially women.

Through these intentional decisions, and comprehensive improvements to existing programs, Pharmavite has responded to the needs of its changing workforce. And for a company that has health and wellness at its core, they are truly “walking the walk” of employee wellness.