Johnson & Johnson Vision
The Power List 2021 – Power List
Nikki Sidi
Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing, Surgical, at Johnson & Johnson Vision
What led you to ophthalmology?
The sense of sight is one of the most precious gifts we have. Working in ophthalmology allows you to make a meaningful impact in the quality of peoples’ lives; knowing that J&J Vision’s products can contribute to that transformation is what inspires me every day. When surgeons tell me they’ve seen tears in their patients’ eyes after they are able to see clearly again, I know that my life’s work is making a difference.
How can wider gender imbalance in the ophthalmic industry be addressed?
It starts with us – with every industry leader, every educator, every surgeon. In industry, we should be intentionally recruiting and hiring diverse representation of all kinds – from those of all genders to open and out members of the LGBTQIA+, to members of the Black, Hispanic American, and Asian American communities to lead and serve as part of a diverse workforce for now and the future. Some initiatives underway at J&J Vision include expanding diverse talent networks and ensuring diverse slates to create equity in hiring. We should also be elevating women in ophthalmology, whether that’s through sponsorships, speaking engagements, clinical studies, R&D engagement, or seed investments. In education, it starts with encouraging girls from the youngest ages to explore careers in STEM, then cultivating that interest as they move into secondary education and college. But the bigger challenge may be supporting women early in the residency and fellowship programs. Nearly half of ophthalmology students are female, but represent only 20-30 percent of the field, and are somehow absent from key leadership roles. In the medical field, mentorships are key. Groups like OWL (Ophthalmic World Leaders) and WIO (Women in Ophthalmology) are curating conversations on how we decrease the gender imbalance, and work in spite of it to create a more diverse industry and world for the future. We should be part of those conversations, sharing best practices across corporations, and teaching institutions and practices. We must all ensure women aren’t left behind.
What can we expect from your company in the next five years?
It’s clear that 2020 was an unprecedented year. And for J&J Vision it was also a transformative one. We came through it stronger and better than ever – and we are ready to lead. This year, we’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of our legacy TECNIS platform, relaunching the TECNIS Masterbrand and introducing a series of new products that will give J&J Vision the broadest IOL portfolio available. We’ll also be introducing our first equipment launch with the VERITAS Vision System, which was recently approved in the US and Europe. The next five years are about delivering on our commitment to product quality and thought leadership, bringing innovation to the industry, and, ultimately, changing the trajectory of eye health across the world. J&J Vision has a deep commitment to ophthalmology and big aspirations for the future.
