Meet Our PDPs—Ka Man, Abbott Global Talent Acquisition

What excited you about Abbott’s HR Professional Development Program?

I had worked in the financial industry before and I didn’t feel like our projects were really helping people. In the health care industry I know someone out there will benefit from what the company does. As global talent acquisition professionals, if we hire top talent scientists they will create better drugs, which will improve patients’ lives. So, even though I’m not a scientist, I feel like I can help patients indirectly.

Describe a project that you’ve worked on during your rotation?

During my first rotation I worked on developing the Global Talent Acquisition Web site. I had the opportunity to work on the project from the beginning to the end. Our goal was to provide resources and information to affiliates in other countries. In China for example, we needed more resources on how to interview people and how to build up an internship program. There are also some other countries where they have some best practices to share so we can also learn from them. We finished the website in four months and I feel great because I can see the final product. I was even given an Achievement Award for the work I did on the Global Talent Acquisition Website. I’m very appreciative because it proves my efforts and I’ve only been here a few months.

How do you think the Abbott HR Professional Development Program will help you accomplish your long-range career goals?

I know I want to work in Asia long term but I first want to learn a lot at corporate headquarters and transfer it there. In order to be a strong leader in the future, it is important to gain international experience because Abbott is going global. The HR Professional Development Program will help me to accomplish my long-range career goals because it provides me opportunities to work in different countries for each rotation in the next two years. For example, I will travel to Shanghai for my next rotation in January 2008. I am very excited about it. This program is the perfect match for me.