Excelling Through Caring Leadership

An interview with Caroline Houston, United Kingdom, Plant Manager

Q: Tell us about your role at Baxter.

Caroline: I manage two manufacturing facilities in southern England: our Thetford plant, which makes intravenous solutions bags, and our Elstree plant, which makes hemostasis products.

Q: How did your career path lead you to your current role?

Caroline: I began my career as a medic in the Royal Air Force, and after leaving the military I took a role in finance and accounting with a large manufacturing company. This ignited in me a real curiosity to understand the "DNA" of manufacturing organisations. I have since worked in many different industries — nuclear, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods, to name a few — but always with a focus on safety of people and products.

Q: How do you feel being named Baxter's 2021 Rising Star by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA)?

Caroline: I am proud and honored: it’s a huge motivation and inspiration to be recognised by a prestigious organisation like the HBA.

Q: How do you exemplify leadership and serve as a role model for others?

Caroline: I try to empower and nurture employees by demonstrating compassion, humor, resilience, and a positive attitude. I try to instill in my team an unwavering belief that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. I tell them, "You must be prepared to fail, learn, recover and try again."

Q: From your perspective, how does Baxter empower and encourage women to achieve their career goals?

Caroline: I think Baxter truly "walks the talk" in this area by offering flexible work schedules, professional development, coaching and a fantastic mentoring program for women. This overall dedication to empowering and encouraging women is one of the reasons I chose to work for Baxter.