Happy New Year!

Hello to my LinkedIn network! As the calendar turns to 2021, I wanted to send my very best wishes to you and your loved ones. The New Year’s holiday is always one of my favorites to reflect, recharge and look ahead. Like you, I’ve spent much time recently thinking about the lessons of 2020 and how I want to approach 2021. Just as in past years, I am starting 2021 with a fresh “red book” — my treasured annual routine where I put pen to paper.  

As we turn the page to 2021, three themes are “front of mind” for me:

Science. I’ve been blessed in my professional career to be surrounded by groundbreaking science, technology and innovation. Never before has rapid scientific progress been more vital to the world’s health and progress than now. In 2020, we witnessed a truly unprecedented surge of science in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic that is not only conquering the virus, but will lead to countless other health and societal benefits that we cannot envision today. My hat’s off to all scientists around the world and those who support them, and I’m excited to see their outcomes in 2021 and beyond. 

Well-being. All of us faced challenges in 2020 that took a toll on our physical, mental and emotional health. We were forced into social isolation, we were not able to freely move about, and we saw many lives upended. While it was almost impossible to lead “full lives” in the traditional definition during 2020, we are all creating new ways to ensure both personal and societal well-being. Heading into 2021, I am prioritizing well-being by living every day with a heightened focus on gratitude, awareness, kindness and purpose.

Serendipity. A final lesson from 2020 is that sometimes even the best plans need to change quickly! By nature, I am a thinker, a planner and a leader. My comfort zone is operating with foresight, structure and alignment. That said, the world is more unpredictable than ever before, and I am going to “turn over a new leaf” in 2021 by following my intuition more and seizing opportunities that might develop in unexpected ways. I’m excited about what the new year will bring! 

What is “front of mind” for you as we begin 2021?