Employee Spotlight • Meet LaShell

I’m proud to be a contributor to a company culture that empowers our team to work cross collaboratively. This work cannot be done alone—everyone in every job function has a role in advancing trial diversity.

We’ve made incredibly meaningful progress in clinical trial diversity, developing:

• A diversity in clinical trials playbook, with practical examples and guidance for our teams reference and use
• The Communities As Partners program that works to build lasting foundational relationships anchored in education, awareness, and access with both communities and healthcare professionals
• Material to educate the general public about the importance of clinical research to medical innovation and why diversity patient inclusion in clinical research matters

All these help establish and build trust in our communities—an essential part of advancing representation in our trials.

Networking and mentoring have been integral to my personal journey. Transitioning into the industry was not a straight path for me. After graduating from Tuskegee University (go Golden Tigers!) I taught high school science & math for several years while pursuing a career in clinical research. After years of trying to “get my foot in the door” a fellow graduate gave me that one opportunity. While the company was small, it was the chance I needed to gain experience and simply showcase my skill set. Takeda’s Black Leadership Council (BLC) provides an instant network for Black professionals and embraced me with open arms.

The Minority Career Network is a sub workstream of the BLC focused on diversifying talent. When there is representation at all levels of the workforce, diverse perspectives help inspire and shape decisions. This helps people and patients, and builds a brighter future.

When I think about mentorship, my biggest piece of advice is networking. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and network because, 90% of the time, people are happy to help.

I see pride continuing to be the theme of my career at Takeda, and I’m looking forward to all we can accomplish. I’m excited to expand our clinical trial diversity practice globally, and to be more inclusive of underrepresented groups like the LGBTQ+ community. And I’m thrilled to continue to mentor and champion the next generation of Black leaders through our work in the Black Leadership Council.

What are you proud of? Take the time to reflect and acknowledge it this year—there’s a lot that’s worth cheering about.

LaShell Robinson is the Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Clinical Research at Takeda. LaShell has a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Florida and is a proud alumna of Tuskegee University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in both Biology & Physics. Prior to joining Takeda, she held numerous roles including patient recruitment and retention and clinical operations and research with biopharmaceutical companies. LaShell resides in Maryland with her husband and their two children. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, reading, physical fitness, and volunteering within her community.