I want everyone, everywhere to fall in love with science. I want scientists to be recognized as celebrity superstars for the heroic work they do. I want children everywhere — no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, country of origin, or socioeconomic background — to say “when I grow up I want to be a scientist.” I am so passionate about this that I created and now lead the Office of Scientific Engagement for Johnson & Johnson just for that purpose. We are about helping people see the way science impacts their everyday lives, to want to learn about it, trust in it, and contribute to it — from GenZ to retirees. From Los Angeles to New York. From London to Cape Town.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Seema Kumar, Global Head, Office of Innovation, Global Health and Scientific Engagement at Johnson & Johnson.
As Global Head, Office of Innovation, Global Health and Scientific Engagement, Seema works at the intersection of science, media, business and society to expand Johnson & Johnson’s leadership as a champion of science and a global health authority. She leads global efforts to enhance public engagement with science, leveraging creative arts to build trust and advance good science and public health policy. Seema is also responsible for Johnson & Johnson’s overall innovation reputation, for positioning the Johnson & Johnson R&D pipeline, and for leading the company’s COVID vaccine communications and external affairs efforts.
In addition, Seema serves as a science, innovation, and public health ambassador for Johnson & Johnson to organizations including the World Economic Forum, the Gates CEO Roundtable, the New York Academy of Sciences, and other partners, where she represents the company’s scientific engagement efforts and its commitment to diversity and inclusion in science and technology. A key strategic partner for Johnson & Johnson’s Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Paul Stoffels, Seema is a member of the R&D Management Committee and a member of the Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team.
A passionate advocate for science and women’s empowerment, Seema has published hundreds of news and feature articles on these topics. She serves on several boards and advisory committees.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
When I was six, I wanted to know why fireworks would light up but the sound would come later. My father told me that light travels faster than sound. He wanted me to be a scientist, like he was. My mother taught me to feel for others. So I’m a science lover because of my father, and a storyteller because of my mother. When I came to America, I looked for a discipline that would combine both fields — science and storytelling — so I majored in interdisciplinary studies with a science communications focus. 25 years later, my entire career trajectory has focused on bringing those two disciplines together.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Of course nothing beats the experience I’ve recently had in being an integral part of the Johnson & Johnson team in working on the COVID-19 vaccine and communicating the stories of science, social impact, and hope in an understandable way to the larger public… But of course, I’ve been lucky and privileged to have led many such initiatives where science has been on the front lines, including in HIV, the Human Genome Project and Ebola. In fact, I was there in Sierra Leone — then the world’s hotspot of Ebola outbreaks — to help pave the way for new lifesaving innovation there.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
Clearly, by creating a vaccine that is saving the lives of millions around the world, Johnson & Johnson is making significant impact. In addition, we are committed to addressing another public health threat — racism.
We recently kicked off the Health Equity Innovation Challenge to invest in the best ideas to end healthcare disparities. The Challenge is part of our health equity pledge, “Our Race to Health Equity” — a bold aspiration to help eradicate racial and social injustice as a public health.
We believe that investing in community based innovation — that is by the community for the community — can stimulate entrepreneurship and help people drive change within their own communities.
Communities of color who are living and experiencing health inequities are best placed to identify the problems and come up with solutions. They have great ideas, but they haven’t had access to capital, expertise, resources and mentorship from experienced people at companies like Johnson & Johnson. Our goal is to provide them not only seed funding, but access to resources, space and expertise to help turn their ideas into solutions.
We’re calling on local entrepreneurs, innovators and local community-based organizations to submit innovative solutions in cities where Black and Hispanic communities were most impacted by COVID: Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Orleans, NYC and Philadelphia.
Awardees receive funding from a pool of $1,000,000, mentorship from renowned entrepreneurs, public health experts and J&J executives, and access to our JLABS ecosystem, which provides educational programming, visibility and networking opportunities with experts and venture capitalists.
You can apply here: www.jnj.com/health-equity-innovation-challenge.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
A few individuals come to mind. They are the winners of the Johnson & Johnson Africa Innovation Challenge, which inspired this Challenge.
One person in mind, Grace Nakibaala, came up with an innovation called Pedal Tap to prevent disease transmission and reduction of water use in Uganda, where access to clean water is scarce. It’s a recycled materials based, hands-free solution for hand water taps that helps keep water clean and uncontaminated.
Are there three things the community/society can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
First — Apply to the Health Equity Innovation Challenge: Entrepreneurs, innovators and local community-based organizations now have the opportunity to submit ideas that improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities that have long plagued the six cities we’re focused on. Through these community led innovations, they have the potential to address ongoing health disparities and save lives. No idea is too small or too big!
Second, speak out against racism and inequity and champion the cause, and find ways to empower innovation and entrepreneurship amongst communities of color.
And finally, be an ally. Help us spread the word about this Challenge — we’re hoping to start a movement to inspire millennials to innovate and be empowered to create solutions to eradicate racism as a public health threat.
How do you define “Leadership”?
Leadership for me is at the nexus of vision, tenacity and bravery.
I’ve had the honor to work with extraordinary leaders like Johnson & Johnson’s Chief Scientist Dr. Paul Stoffels, Eric Lander and others. I’ve learned great leadership lessons from them — to have a bold vision and go after audacious solutions to problems, to challenge the status quo, to take risks, and to experiment and fail fast so you can arrive at another solution quickly.
It’s about seeing what others don’t see yet, and then having the courage to bring others along… no matter what it takes.
Can you share some examples?
For scientists, it’s envisioning and advancing a groundbreaking new way to tackle cancer, like the winner of Johnson & Johnson’s Dr. Paul Janssen Award and Nobel Prize, Dr. Jim Allison, did — even though it took years of working in obscurity to generate the data he needed to prove his ideas. For us in science communications, it’s finding a new way to break open dialog in a regulated industry like we did at Johnson & Johnson with The Road to a Vaccine, an award winning live broadcast program that directly connected scientists and celebrities working to solve COVID with the general public.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I want everyone, everywhere to fall in love with science. I want scientists to be recognized as celebrity superstars for the heroic work they do. I want children everywhere — no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, country of origin, or socioeconomic background — to say “when I grow up I want to be a scientist.” I am so passionate about this that I created and now lead the Office of Scientific Engagement for Johnson & Johnson just for that purpose. We are about helping people see the way science impacts their everyday lives, to want to learn about it, trust in it, and contribute to it — from GenZ to retirees. From Los Angeles to New York. From London to Cape Town.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?
I am fortunate to be able to travel the world and participate in solutions finding with heads of state, celebrities and the world’s greatest scientists, so for me there’s no one I’d rather have breakfast with than my husband and my son — and of course, my beloved dog, Popcorn.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
I’m on Twitter at @seemajjic and on Instagram at @seema1030
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Johnson & Johnson’s Seema Kumar Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.