Panel Discussion

Dr Joy Dinsdale

With a PhD in Physiological Sciences from Newcastle University and having retired from Procter & Gamble after a 28 year career, Dr. Joy Dinsdale has sought opportunities to put my work and life experiences to use in helping others.

After her PhD, Joy chose to move off the academic career path and begin a career in industry, driven by her desire to work as part of a team, to work in a fast-moving environment where she would see quick results and impacts, and to have access to a variety of different types of work.

She made the career move and it has worked out very happily. A career at Procter & Gamble gave her opportunities to achieve both her personal and career goals. Starting off in Pharmaceutical Marketing, she moved into various other areas of work and in the later years of her career, she managed employee related IT projects across Western Europe. The skills she mastered during her academic years have been relevant throughout her career.

During her career, she married and had two children. Her employer was and remains very supportive of diversity and women at work, nonetheless she has encountered many of the challenges facing women developing their careers such as managing dual careers, maternity and child care, moving to part time work and managing her family’s needs in the face of a demanding business and travel agenda. During her time at Procter and Gamble, she partnered in establishing a Parent Network which enabled working parents to support each other on parenting matters.

Throughout her career, she has frequently benefited from the guidance and support of her work colleagues. She has also enjoyed supporting a number of employees - graduates, interns and colleagues, both professionally and with personal matters such as managing dual careers, combining work with family life, and work life balance.

Now that she is retired, she enjoys continuing to share her experiences and enjoys helping others find solutions to life and career challenges.