Meet the Leaders: Nishma Patel on building a home for Asian heritage at Gilead

Nishma Patel (she/her) is Senior Manager, Employee Engagement, Public Affairs at Gilead Sciences, based in London. She also co-leads GAIN UK, the Gilead Asian Interest Network, which she and Brad Sasaki launched in late 2025 so that UK colleagues of Asian heritage finally had a network of their own. A year on, it has grown from a call for volunteers into a community with senior leadership backing and events that regularly fill the room, and Nishma has been named a Changemaker finalist at the European Diversity Awards 2026. We spoke to her about why she stepped up and where GAIN UK goes next.

You and your network

Tell us about yourself. What made you want to lead a network?
I've been at Gilead for 15 years. I have South Asian heritage and family roots in Kenya, so I know what it's like to sit in a room and wonder whether your story fits. Until late 2025, our UK colleagues of Asian heritage didn't have a network of their own. Colleagues told me about the stereotypes they still came up against, like the idea that Asian colleagues are quieter or less likely to lead. I wanted to change that. In 2025 my co-lead Brad Sasaki and I put out a call for volunteers, and GAIN UK grew from there.

What is GAIN UK's mission, who does it support, and how can allies get involved?
GAIN UK celebrates Asian heritage and builds belonging through culture, learning and community. It's open to colleagues of South Asian, East Asian, Southeast Asian and other Asian heritage across our UK sites, and to allies. Allies are at the heart of what we do. Most of our events are hands-on and open to everyone, so the best way to get involved is simply to show up, help run an event, or share your own traditions.

What are the network's main areas of focus?

• Cultural awareness: celebrating festivals and traditions from across Asia
• Community building: connecting colleagues across our UK sites
• Giving back: volunteering and donation drives with local charities
• Growth and leadership: sharing stories about how identity shapes the way we lead

Activities and impact

What have been the highlights of the past 12 months?

• Launch and Diwali: It was standing room only. A senior leader shared how her Chinese heritage shaped her leadership, and we finished with Bollywood dancing and Diwali sweets.
• Lunar New Year: Around 160 colleagues joined across three UK sites for stories, a quiz and calligraphy.
• Holi: 64 colleagues took part in a colourful splatter paint workshop.
• Eid and Nowruz: A Chai & Chat, plus guidance on supporting Muslim colleagues during Ramadan.
• Vaisakhi Month of Service: We partnered with the charity Nishkam SWAT to support people experiencing homelessness.
• Onam: A floral design competition and a traditional Kerala feast. The event was oversubscribed.

Which awareness days and cultural moments does the network mark?
We mark Diwali, Lunar New Year, Holi, Eid, Nowruz, Vaisakhi and Onam. We focus on celebrations everyone can take part in, through food, dance, art and storytelling, so colleagues of every background learn something new.

Which initiative are you proudest of?
Our launch. It was standing room only and scored 9.5 out of 10 for how likely people would be to recommend it. Afterwards, one colleague told us that for the first time they felt South Asian colleagues were truly seen. That one comment is why we do this. In just one year, GAIN UK has grown from an idea into a network with senior leadership backing and a dedicated volunteer team.

Awards and recognition

What recognition have you and the network received?

• European Diversity Awards 2026, Changemaker: Finalist (Nishma Patel)
• Gilead Cultural Champion Award: Won in two consecutive years from 2024, through peer nomination

Looking ahead

What's coming up next for GAIN UK?

• November 2026: Diwali and GAIN UK's first birthday, with all our UK sites celebrating together
• 2027: More cultural, learning and community events, which we'll share as dates are confirmed

Who do you collaborate with beyond the network?

We work closely with Gilead's global GAIN network and our other UK employee networks, including on shared events such as International Day. We're also proud of our partnership with Nishkam SWAT.

Final thoughts

What advice would you give someone thinking about joining or leading an employee network?
Start with people, not plans. Ask colleagues what would help them feel seen, and build from there. Find a senior champion early, because passion starts a network but backing keeps it going. And share the load, so lots of people get the chance to lead.

What would you say to someone from your community who is considering a career at Gilead?
People are rarely one thing. You might be Asian, LGBTQ+, a parent or neurodivergent, and at Gilead you don't have to choose which part of you shows up to work. You'll find colleagues who want to hear your story, and a community you can help shape.

Explore careers at Gilead: see our open roles on myGwork