Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Chris and I’ve been with Roche for 12 years now. I started with the organization back at our smaller location in Alameda, CA in 2006 supporting our Research organization and transferred to our Human Resources department a few years later. I’m currently based in Pleasanton, CA, but have gotten the opportunity to work in Switzerland and Massachusetts with the company. Both experiences have been life changing for me in multiple ways and I’m excited to see what’s next to come.

Why did you decide to join Roche?

I grew up with Roche! My sister, my mom, and my aunt all worked at Roche and I was able to see how well the company treated them, how they built friendships with their colleagues, and how they embraced the company culture. All this was exciting to me! When a position opened up within the company, there was no question for me to try and join.

My work helps Roche to….

My work helps make Roche a great place to work! Who doesn’t love Career Development?! Everyone wants to improve themselves or at least reach new limits in their career. At Roche, we say that everyone has potential and it is up to you and leader to try and strive to reach your potential. That being said, my work helps employees think differently about their career, have a growth mindset, and build skills. I also help leaders through coaching, challenging, and training them. It’s a dynamic role that I feel brings a lot of value to the organization.

What’s your most memorable experience at Roche so far?

My most memorable experience at Roche was getting my international assignment in 2012. This was a big deal for me to be able to step outside of my comfort zone and transplant myself in a new country, with a new team, and a more specialized focus. While I was excited to get the chance to take this assignment, I was also pretty nervous. I remember landing in Switzerland, stepping off the plane with my wife and saying “Ok, let’s do this”. It was a great experience that really challenged me in multiple ways. I met a lot of great people, learned a ton, and framed a different definition of myself along the way.

How would you describe career development at Roche?

When I describe career development at Roche I typically say that it is what you make of it. We have tons of resources and tools around it, but I believe it goes deeper than that. Career development is part of our culture. It is an expectation of Roche that all of our employees continuously grow and develop.

What has been your biggest opportunity to date within Roche?

Aside from my opportunity in Switzerland, my biggest opportunity was to be the HR Business Partner for an acquisition in Massachusetts back in 2014. This was considered a stretch role for myself and I had a great opportunity to make it my own. I was the lone HR person for the site and managed all aspects of HR for the location. It was great since I love independent work! Through that experience I was able to prove to myself that I could continue to push myself passed self-defined boundaries and again push me outside of my comfort zone. I got to connect at a different level with various leaders across the Roche world and make lasting friendships with those at the location.

How would you describe working at Roche in three words?

Yours to define!

What would you advise job seekers who want to join us?

If you get a job interviewer, be authentic. Being a former recruiter myself, I would say that the candidates that stand out the most are the ones who are not only technically proficient, but are real. We hire you for you! Be yourself!