Her Story
About Jessica
Jessica Flaherty, MBA, is a talent acquisition professional in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry, currently serving as a Senior Associate Talent Acquisition professional at Novo Nordisk. Her expertise encompasses early talent and campus recruiting, full-time recruitment, candidate engagement, talent pipeline development, and collaboration with hiring managers and HR business partners. Over the course of her career, she has supported recruiting initiatives involving interns, co-op students, fellows, and professional talent while developing strong relationships with candidates throughout their career journeys. Jessica began building her recruitment experience through early talent programs at Novo Nordisk, where she supported fellowship, internship, co-op, and rotational development programs. Her responsibilities have included creating job descriptions and postings, reviewing resumes, conducting candidate outreach and phone screenings, coordinating interviews, and supporting recruitment processes. She has also taken on broader talent-focused responsibilities, including serving as Global Early Talent Development Program Lead and Commercial Sales Execution Recruiter through short-term assignments. Her work has been recognized through multiple RippleMatch awards, including Rising Star recognition and recognition for Novo Nordisk's early-career recruitment programs. Jessica holds a Master of Business Administration from Rider University, where she graduated with Distinction, and a bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management and Management and Leadership, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Her leadership experience includes serving as President of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, as well as participating in Rider University's Leadership Development Program. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Jessica has supported SOSA for approximately six years through donations and wish-list contributions. She attributes much of her success to relationship building and takes pride in maintaining meaningful connections with the hundreds of interns she has supported. Her professional philosophy centers on authenticity, networking, loyalty, respect, and helping others succeed.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jessica
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to relationship building, particularly within the early talent space. Throughout my career, I have connected with and supported more than 600 interns as they navigated their professional journeys. Many of those relationships have continued well beyond their internships, including staying connected with individuals more than four years later. Seeing people I have supported continue to grow professionally and personally—including former interns who have reached major life milestones—reinforces why I value this work so deeply.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I have been fortunate to have several mentors throughout my journey. Morgan McGlynn Wagner and Jacquie Illig have been important professional mentors, while Laura Seplaki served as a meaningful mentor during my college years. Each mentor has provided different perspectives, encouragement, and lessons that have helped shape who I am professionally. Their influence has reminded me that none of us builds a successful career entirely on our own.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to be your authentic self and intentionally build as many meaningful connections as possible. Have conversations with everyone, reach out to people on LinkedIn, and actively share your professional perspective. Success is not only about what you know; relationships and visibility also matter. Building a strong network can help ensure that your name and contributions are being discussed in rooms where you may not be present.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One challenge I see in talent acquisition is the increasing use of AI to modify resumes so that candidates appear to be a stronger match for particular positions. While AI can be a useful tool, candidates need to ensure that the information they present remains truthful and accurately reflects their actual experience and qualifications. Authenticity should remain an important part of the recruitment process.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value loyalty, respect, and being willing to help others regardless of who they are or how long I have known them. I have been described as fiercely loyal and willing to take on whatever responsibility is placed in front of me. I strive to treat everyone with respect and to help people in whatever way I can, both professionally and personally.
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