"Inspire a generation"

This motto for the London 2012 Olympics seems like the perfect title for a blog post about how I won the amazing opportunity to attend the Games.  My once-in-a-lifetime trip is being paid for by my company, GlaxoSmithKline, which also happens to be the "Official Laboratory Services Provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games".

Back in January, GSK set up an internal contest for employees to nominate their co-workers for the opportunity to win a pair of Golden Tickets to the London 2012 Olympics.  In 150 words or less, the person submitting the nomination had to describe how the nominee demonstrates a set of ideals associated with the Olympics, namely Integrity, Friendship, Equality and Excellence.

One of my colleagues (who I won't name in case he doesn't want the publicity) decided that nominating me for this competition would be a great way to recognize the way he sees me model these behaviors both inside and outside work.  One day in early January, he asked me to come by his office to talk.  When I arrived, he said that he had seen the contest on the GSK website and wanted to nominate me to win the Golden Tickets.  I was stunned that someone would take the time to nominate me, much less when that person had no vested interest in me winning the competition.  He offered to let me see the nomination before it was submitted to help him make it as clear and powerful as possible. Having kept up with my PULSE assignment and having watched the activities I started up or joined after I returned, it was difficult for him to condense down his thoughts to the 150-word limit.  But after a few iterations, we arrived at the text below:


Building Relationships to Advance Science in GSK and Around the World

Michelle Wobker has a passion for science and engineering and a desire to give back outside of GSK. She is recognized for her excellent contributions to R&D projects through her role as an accomplished Chemical Engineer and her strong teamwork and people skills. She mentors college women through GSK Women in Science Scholars program. Last year as a PULSE volunteer in Ghana, Michelle trained middle school teachers to use the Internet to find relevant science and math lessons and to build sustained partnerships with US teachers. Since then, she led the launch of RTP Science in Schools, which supports GSK employees in sharing science in the community, and is on the Board of Advisors for Give Back Africa Foundation, a non-profit started by a fellow GSK employee. Through these activities, she is improving learning and development opportunities for less-advantaged children. She is a strong believer in people, the power of appreciation, and the value of a simple thank you.

I was truly surprised that he had noticed these activities, especially since I participate in these endeavors not to be recognized for them but out a sincere desire to make a difference in the world.


The efforts put into writing up this nomination must have touched someone on the reviewing committee for on a day in late March, I received an email telling me that I was one of the select few to have won a pair of Golden Tickets.  I read the email a few times to make sure that the 36-point font of the email really did declare me to be a winner.  My next move was to head upstairs and thank the guy who nominated me.  (Side note: I'm still trying to figure out what to bring back for him.  Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.)

Over the next few months, the team organizing the winner's trips contacted me to sort out travel details and to let me know that LJ and I would be attending Women's Beach Vollyeball and Men's Basketball Preliminaries.  Unfortunately, it looks like we'll miss Team USA, but I'm not sure that it really matters to me.  Just experiencing the Olympics is a phenomenal opportunity.  I am incredibly thankful to both the unnamed co-worker and my company for giving me this trip.  I'm sure that I'll have a million memories to share from this Bucket-List-worthy trip.