Employee Spotlight • Meet Lalaine

Lalaine's professional career has focused on converging people, ideas, and development, and she's been fortunate to bring TEDx events to seven other organizations during her career.

"These forums build a community that empowers and inspires," she tells us. "Takeda and our leadership were incredibly supportive of TEDx because they see the value of bringing people together like this."

Lalaine will be the first to tell you, TEDxTakedaKendall did not come about without the tireless efforts of employee volunteers.

"One of the wonderful things about TEDx is it's volunteer-led," shares Lalaine. "Employees take time out of their busy schedules months in advance of the event. They take on new roles—producer, speaker support, marketer—and are essential to making the day a special one."

The event reminded Lalaine of how Takeda, while being a global company with employees across the world, is connected.

“We’re ‘One Takeda,’” remarks Lalaine. “I may work in Boston and you in Japan, but we’re all connected by our commitment to our mission. We can be at different points in our life, but we experience common things—evolved ways of working, innovation and collaboration, resilience and courage.”

Ever the connector, Lalaine is now looking to expand TEDx to other corners of the Takeda ecosystem. “I would jump at the opportunity to do TEDx again next year in the US—at a bigger venue ideally,” smiles Lalaine. “But really, my goal is to bring this to other countries within Takeda and continue to connect people, ideas, and stories.”