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Valerie Tansley
Director, Logistics
Edwards Lifesciences Employee Since 1985 |
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Valerie Tansley is a biochemist with an MBA who moved into marketing and ultimately became a director of the non-tissue pilot manufacturing team. An overachiever? Perhaps - but just ask Valerie and she'll tell you that opportunity is readily available for top performers within our company.
Valerie transitioned from DNA Scientist at another company to market research analyst here because she wanted real world operational experience. Once she became a product manager, she was given the opportunity to be responsible for a corporate-wide quality leadership program. Ironically, it led her to managing all aspects of a small business unit. |
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A key word at Edwards Lifesciences is values. My son had 26 hospitalizations by the time he was 30 months old and almost died three times. Management at Edwards has shown great compassion not only for the patients we serve but for me as an employee; we worked together to make sure I was able to get my job done and still deal with a difficult situation." |
"What was odd was I had Production reporting to me, yet did not have a production background," said Valerie. "Edwards was willing to take a risk and put an organization underneath me that helps to round out my development areas. The fact I was given the opportunity has been an unbelievable experience. Most companies would not have taken the chance to go cross-functional, or seen the benefit to it. Edwards has that kind of vision and is very willing try new approaches."
Now after 9 years, with 100 people reporting to her, Valerie is responsible for leading her team in bringing new products from R&D to launch and moving them into the mainstream flow of large scale manufacturing. All while being the mother of a three-and-a-half-year old with significant health issues.
"Being a woman with a young child at a director level speaks a lot to our company's progressive approach to management and that we live our vision and values," she said. "I have been treated very fairly in all aspects of my job which inspires a tremendous sense of loyalty to Edwards."
As to why she's stayed 17 years, Valerie says it's because "we have a tremendous commitment to quality; to doing things right, to benefiting the patients and to our employees. You just feel good knowing you are associated with a great company with great people and that you've done something worthwhile when you walk out at the end of the day."