Purpose-Driven Collaboration at Novo Nordisk

For over 15 years, I’ve studied the business case for smarter collaboration, showing how it drives growth, profit, and innovation. But working with the incredible leaders at Novo Nordisk last week in Copenhagen, I was reminded of another critical reason to embrace smarter collaboration: purpose.

Novo Nordisk doesn’t just talk about patient-centricity – employees live it. During our full-day workshop, we explored:

• How people across the company collaborate with patients to bring the values to life – whether it means hosting patients at departmental meetings to share experiences or hiring them as colleagues

  
  

• How smarter collaboration helps scientists work across borders to get new therapeutic solutions to market 

  
  

• How it deepens their unwavering focus on patients, even when individual leaders are under pressure (as in, from the company’s serious growth)

Watching Novo Nordisk’s leaders collaborate – sharing ideas, challenging assumptions, and aligning around their mission – was a powerful example of what it means to truly live company values. Their dedication to patients inspires my own journey: helping organizations achieve both business success and purpose-driven impact. 

Let’s face it: I’m never going to cure diabetes or Alzheimer’s, but if I can help make life sciences companies more effective, then count me in!

I’d love to hear what purpose-driven goals are guiding collaboration in your organization. Please email ideas@gardnerandco.co.