Building a Legacy with AstraZeneca
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February 1, 2020
Lightbulb Teams deliver TWO team-building activities at the AstraZeneca Global Leadership Summit
In the world of life sciences, AstraZeneca stands tall. With more than 80,000 employees, operations in over 100 countries, and a product portfolio that touches millions of lives, this global biopharmaceutical giant is committed to pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. At every turn, they are guided by a clear purpose: to improve health outcomes for people around the world.
But innovation at AstraZeneca doesn’t stop in the lab. It extends deep into their leadership culture: how they challenge, engage, and energise their teams to not just meet expectations, but to exceed them. That’s exactly what their recent Global Leadership Summit set out to do. And Lightbulb Teams was honoured to help power that ambition.
An Event to Stretch Minds and Impact Lives
The summit brought together some of the brightest minds in pharma—leaders from across the world, all united by a single goal: to elevate performance from good to great. Every element of the agenda was designed to spark insight, creativity, and ownership. And that’s where Lightbulb Teams stepped in, delivering two signature, purpose-driven experiences.
Building Hands, Building Legacy
The first was the Give a Hand programme, Lightbulb Teams’ flagship CSR team-building experience. Every single participant rolled up their sleeves to construct a fully functioning prosthetic hand, which would later be donated—free of charge—to patients in need around the world.
For a company like AstraZeneca—whose people work tirelessly behind the scenes to develop world-class treatments—this was a rare chance to get closer to patient impact. While many in the room may not be on the clinical front lines, this activity gave them the chance to build something truly tangible for an individual they would never meet, yet deeply affect. The prosthetic hands used are FDA-approved in the United States and represent life-altering support for their recipients.
The atmosphere in the room was electric. Delegates were laser-focused. And when the final screws were tightened and the hands packaged for delivery, the sense of accomplishment was palpable. The feedback? Overwhelming. Many participants called it the most powerful experience of their entire careers. But for us, watching hundreds of industry leaders channel their energy into building hope for someone else was unforgettable.
Breaking News, Bold Futures
The second session, Breaking News, was a complete pivot. From hands-on construction to high-impact communication, this activity asked delegates to step into the spotlight. In teams, they were challenged to deliver a “breaking news” segment outlining bold commitments to AstraZeneca’s future direction.
It wasn’t just about filming a message. It was about stepping out of comfort zones, sharpening storytelling, aligning on strategy—and putting their words on record. These messages became powerful artefacts of the event, reminders of accountability and optimism for the road ahead.
Between the two sessions, delegates explored both the heart and the head of their work—deepening their commitment to AstraZeneca’s purpose while sharpening the skills they’ll need to lead its next chapter.
A Partnership Grounded in Purpose
Lightbulb Teams has had the pleasure of working alongside AstraZeneca for many years, and this summit was another powerful reminder of what’s possible when purpose and leadership collide. We’d like to pay tribute to the extraordinary team at AstraZeneca who brought this event to life—and to the passionate, driven delegates who brought their full selves to both challenges.
Book a Team-Build
We’re already looking forward to what comes next. Because when a business like AstraZeneca commits to fresh thinking, brave leadership, and positive global impact, there’s no limit to what we can build together.
If you would like to transform your team, get in touch with Lightbulb Teams today.