To Learn is to Live

It’s well known that learning can protect against cognitive decline as we age. One study found that subjects who spent significant amounts of time engaged in any of various activities for which they had to process information were 47% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than members of the group who did not.

In a perpetually evolving world, the most adaptable members of society are those who constantly learn.

This applies to more than the individual: When we made the decision to reprioritize our R&D pipeline a few years ago, the agility with which we shifted speaks volumes about the capacity of people who never stop learning to meet challenges.

Of course, tried and true approaches remain an important part of lifelong learning. I take a keen interest in ensuring that we walk the walk by offering a wide array of continually updated programs to expand employees’ skill sets.

Our Merck University cooperates with leading international universities like Stanford and offers a multi-regional one-year program to high-potential colleagues.

But I’m also a big believer in less orthodox approaches to lifelong learning that maximize people’s potential, and I readily draw useful lessons from my own career.

Reverse mentoring is an example I’ve benefitted from. This is where the usual roles are switched and the executive becomes the mentee and the junior person becomes the mentor.

One of my other favorite examples is the lateral career move. For me, this always turned out to be a highly effective way of acquiring new knowledge, skills and insights. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t decided to see what I could do for patients in a corporate setting rather than as a practicing physician.

I’ve concluded that zigzagging is better than a linear path – even when the overarching goal is an upward trajectory.

And that’s why I take a very open attitude toward others who’ve demonstrated this willingness to stray from convention and meet the challenge of learning an entirely new area.

Our environment isn’t just changing; it’s in a state of permanent upheaval. Engaging with our people’s natural curiosity helps ensure our continued ability to adapt. Because it’s not just for the individual that learning is a fountain of youth.