Katherine Lal
Country Lead, Government Affairs and Stakeholder Relations (Canada), Kenvue
Country Lead, Government Affairs and Stakeholder Relations (Canada), Kenvue
MBA
2005
When Katherine Lal started the MBA’s Health Services Administration specialization, her passion was clear: healthcare. What she didn’t know was where pairing that interest with a broader business education would take her.
Twenty-one years later, the decision to pursue an MBA has helped shape a career spanning health economics, communications, public relations, government affairs and stakeholder relations.
“When I was in the MBA, I was really focused on the specialization,” Lal says. “But embracing all parts of the program is what enables you to be a well-rounded business leader. As my career progressed into leadership roles, it became obvious how important it is to understand broader aspects of business such as finance, supply chain, marketing and human resources. That foundation from the MBA is what I lean on as a member of the Canadian leadership team at Kenvue.”
The MBA gave Lal practical skills she still uses, from understanding financial statements and metrics to evaluating brand campaigns and applying health economics theories. The program’s project-based approach also taught her to solve problems collaboratively and navigate the challenges of working in business, particularly as a leader.
Co-op, meanwhile, helped Lal develop another important skill: adaptability.
“Co-op was fantastic in building the muscle to be able to jump into a role, quickly absorb critical insights and take actions to provide immediate value,” she says. “Now, I try to encourage people I mentor to embrace opportunities, stretch themselves and have a positive outlook. It’s often the stretch assignment or the lateral move that can be helpful, especially early in your career.”
The advice comes from lived experience.
A recommendation from Lal’s manager during her final DeGroote co-op at Eli Lilly helped launch her career at Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical division. There, she spent 11 years across health economics, reimbursement, medical affairs and government affairs. Lal then moved to Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, taking on roles in government affairs, communications and public relations.
Earlier in her career, when an opportunity came up to cover a parental leave in government affairs, Lal put her hand up despite having limited experience in the field and no formal political science background. Today, she leads government affairs and stakeholder relations in Canada at Kenvue, the consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson.
“I didn’t expect to be at the same company 21 years later, but I’ve been lucky to have multiple careers in one organization,” she says. “Every role has taught me something different, and sometimes the roles you may not be excited about — maybe because they are unfamiliar or not your core passion — are where you really develop and hone skills that help you later on. I know I built the confidence to embrace new and challenging opportunities at DeGroote.”
