Tell us about your experience in the Talent Development space, including places you've worked, roles you've held, and organizations you're a part of.
Gene Lofton has over 30+ years of experience working in a variety of Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, and Medical Devices industries. He has worked for companies such as Merck, Biogen, Ajinomoto USA, and BioMerieux. He has experience in mammalian cell growth, medical devices, and ammino acids manufacturing. Fifteen years of his experience has been on the manufacturing floor and the other 15+ years has been in Training & Development creating learning modules, accessing learning gaps, and driving employee engagement.
What are some of your interests, strengths, and unique qualities that would help others get to know you better?
Gene Lofton has held various Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roles during the last 15 years of employment. He held various ERG roles such as Employee Resource Groups (ERG) Chair roles, Diversity Council Chair roles and Global ERG Chair roles (Merck & Biogen). He has recently completed his Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certification at Northwestern University. Mr. Lofton completed his bachelor’s degree at NC Wesleyan University and completed his Master(s) degree at Pfeiffer University (MSL) and University of Phoenix (MEd).
Favorite quote:
Do or Do Not, there is no try!
Are there specific people in the Talent Development space you follow and why?
I follow Todd Conklin "The Five Principles of Human Performance". Error is normal, Blame fixes nothing, Context drives behavior, Learning is vital, and How you respond to failure matters. I have incorporated this message into my HP training in 2026 as work to change the mindset and culture of my organization. Too often in organization we tend to look for who to blame or call it a training issue without truly getting down to the root cause.
Do you have a lesson you’ve learned in your career you’d like to share with others?
One lesson that’s shaped my career is this: your network is not just who you know, it’s who knows you, trusts you, and is willing to advocate for you when you’re not in the room.
Early on, I thought success was mostly about performance like doing great work, hitting targets, staying focused. That matters, but it’s only part of the equation. What I’ve learned is that relationships are what amplify your impact. The opportunities that changed my career didn’t come from job boards, they came from conversations, collaborations, and people who remembered how I showed up.
Building a network isn’t about collecting contacts. It’s about being intentional:
- Show up consistently and do what you say you’ll do
- Take time to understand what others do and what they need
- Offer help before you ask for it
- Stay connected, even when you don’t “need” anything
And just as important, your network should be diverse. Different perspectives challenge your thinking, strengthen your decisions, and open doors you didn’t even know existed.
If I could give one piece of advice, it’s this: invest in people early and often. Not just when it’s convenient, but as a habit. Because over time, your network becomes one of your greatest assets not just for career growth, but for learning, support, and long-term success.
Do you have any favorite books or resources that you think others would find helpful?
(1) Make it Stick by Peter Brown (2) The Adult Learner by Malcolm Knowles and (3) Map it by Cathy Moore.
LinkedIn:
http://linkedin.com/in/eugene-lofton-88310b9
.png)