Marianne Viskum Olesen

I'm the Human Resources Partner for LEO Pharma’s Global Product Supply.
 

Marianne at work
I deal with anything to do with HR at LEO Pharma, such as recruitment, structural change, Labour Law, Performance and that sort of thing. I talk to managers about how we communicate new structural changes. Down to basic - it’s all about finding the balance between what each of us wants and what the company needs.
My most important role is to support our managers. I offer advice in different situations that can help people perform in the best way. It means everything to me, to be given a chance to make a difference to people and to the company.

A balanced approach
I’m always looking for the balance between personal wishes and company needs. John Forbes Nash, the mathematician (Nobel Prize winner) who came up with the Nash Equilibrium and Game Theory, explained the balance in this way. You get the best result/equilibrium if a group of players each one makes the best decision that he or she can, taking into account the decisions of the others. And at LEO we’re determined to find that balance.
We believe in talking openly about each other. If you have an idea, and you’re passionate about it, you’ll be heard. That’s very motivating for everyone who works here.

Modern with one click
Recently, I led a project for a new recruitment system. When we hit ‘Go,’ the most amazing thing happened: we were met with only positive comments – and the feed back was amazing. Everybody met the change with a smile. But greater than this, we were given a chance to give the company something it really needed – a really good recruitment system.

Life before LEO
Before I joined LEO Pharma, I worked for the Danish Red Cross. It was the time of the meltdown in the former Yugoslavia and we had to deal with a flood of 30,000 refugees in Denmark. Housing them all and making sure we met their needs was a huge challenge logistically, and it stretched our resources to the limit. Five years went by in a snap of the fingers.
I loved working for the Red Cross because it is a company with strong values and passionate people. So when I decided it was time to move on, I wanted to find a company whose values were equally strong. I found that at LEO.

Common values and goals
We take people and their needs very seriously. LEO products help a large number of people all over the world getting a better life quality. We manufacture our products in a very responsible way. And it's no surprise to me that people here are passionate about what they do.
Even though we’re the third largest pharma company in Denmark, there’s a family atmosphere at LEO Pharma. I think it's because we feel connected through the history and the values. We have a rich heritage and set of traditions, so even though we’re made up of people from different cultures all over the world, we share the same values and goals.

Professional challenges
I’ve had some great opportunities to pick up new skills that benefit both LEO Pharma and me. Again, it’s that balance that John Forbes Nash Jr. talks about.
I’ve been given the time I needed to develop my competency. But perhaps my biggest opportunities for personal and professional growth arise in the diversity of the jobs I do and the projects I run here. It’s great to know that management believes in me and values what I can offer the company.
I plan to stick around here for as long as I feel I can make a difference. I’m always open to new opportunities, and I get them here. If I want a new assignment, or a new challenge, I have always been met with a positive and constructive dialogue.

Marianne at leisure
I spend a lot of time with my family. We have four boys between 11 and 21 and a dog, so there’s always plenty of action at home!
One thing we like doing together is travelling. But we don't just visit places and take photos. We like to have a challenge. At the moment, we're planning a trip for the whole family to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It's nearly 6,000 metres high, and it’s the highest mountain in Africa, so it takes something like five or six days to climb. That’s quite a challenge!