Celebrating Women's History Month: Empowering the Next Generation Through Mentorship

An interview with Jennifer Bahun, Head of Research & Development End-to-End Vendor Relationship Management

Women's History Month provides an opportunity to recognize the trailblazing women who have paved the way for future generations, much like mentors who provide the wisdom and encouragement needed to navigate personal and professional journeys. One inspirational mentor at Sanofi is Jennifer Bahun who was one of the company’s 2024 Social Impact Award winners – a program that celebrates employees who have made exceptional contributions to the communities in which we live and work.

In this interview, Jennifer shares her passion for mentorship, deeply rooted in her own journey where she benefited from the guidance of mentors who helped shape her career. She reflects on her own experiences, her thoughts on what makes a good mentor, and how she is still learning from her mentees all these years later.

What is your role at Sanofi?

Jennifer Bahun: I am responsible for developing and maintaining sustainable, cost-effective third-party supply networks to meet the evolving needs of our R&D organization and providing a concierge level of support to the R&D community for vendor management tasks.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

JB: It’s a celebration recognizing the achievements of amazing women in history who paved the way for others. Understanding their impact on history and culture is something we should all be proud of.

How do you think Women’s History Month and mentoring intersect?

JB: For me, it's quite simple. As women, we are driven by various motivators, primarily people. Some mentors believe in our journey to success, while others push us to self-motivate and set goals beyond what anyone thought we could achieve. This is how women have made history time and again. I recognize that only a select few women get the opportunity to make history, but as women in the pharma industry, there are countless ways we can contribute to Sanofi's roadmap for success and support our pipeline for the benefit of our patients. A patient today who benefitted from being on a Sanofi therapy could go on to be one of those historical figures or an advocate to help others with the same condition, changing the future for many. And that I or one of my mentees might help contribute to that milestone is an amazing feeling.

What motivated you to become a mentor?

JB: My journey into the pharma industry began in my senior year of high school through a work-study program for those interested in science-related careers. This was my first exposure to both informal and formal mentorship. As a teenager in corporate America, I quickly learned who was willing to make time for me and who was not. I naturally gravitated towards colleagues who taught me about the lab and the science behind my job, which gave me purpose. My mentors imparted invaluable lessons in emotional intelligence, communication, organization, compliance, quality, and more. This experience fueled my passion to pay it forward and mentor others.

What do you like most about mentoring?

JB: Mentoring can have a powerful and positive effect on another person’s life. Watching a young leader achieve their goals is truly magical. One of the aspects I like most is creating meaningful, often lifelong, relationships built on trust. Being part of someone’s personal board of directors is a big win!

Can you share a success story from your mentoring experience?

JB: I have many success stories, but I'll focus on two. Sanofi supports fellowships, and I was involved in selecting two talented PharmD Fellows who were eventually hired as Sanofi employees. I mentored them during their rotation in my pillar, and both have expressed their appreciation for the impact I had on their careers.

Another example is my Sanofi family in Hyderabad, India. I mentored this talented group of young leaders who had limited experience and who are now skilled at their roles and provide excellent customer service to the R&D community. They have grown, expanded their networks, and now teach me new things. Some senior team members have even become my backups when I am out of the office.