Deborah Profit
VP, Otsuka Information Technology, Otsuka
What would you do if you didn’t work in healthcare?
I’d work in the automotive industry, one of the oldest industries in this country, but also one of the most innovative. They have recognized the need for change and the value of leveraging data and embracing technology to improve customer satisfaction and drive overall business growth.
Talk about the last time you experienced a fist-pumping victory moment.
Approval by the FDA of the very first digital medicine – Abilify MyCite – in October 2017. It is an impressive example of the intersection of medicine and technology.
When was the last time you endured an “agony of defeat” moment? What did you learn from it?
I don’t believe in defeat. Every day we should challenge ourselves to do and be better for our patients, consumers, and ourselves – personally and professionally. We should take every opportunity to learn something from our “wins” and our “walls.”
How long ago was the last time you recharged your batteries?
I took a large family cruise to the Caribbean in January. We laughed a lot, ate too much, and seriously enjoyed no access to the internet.
What do you find frustrating about working in healthcare marketing?
The pharmaceutical industry as a whole is traditionally slow to change and often married to its legacy. There is a reluctance to adopt transformative technologies such as AI, robotics, and machine learning that could increase success and bring improved treatment outcomes to patients sooner. We need to partner and move the needle faster.
To ensure pay parity and career advancement for women, I will…
Continue to treat everyone equal regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, and religion – diversity and inclusion is absolutely key to any organization’s success.
What are your words to live by?
Economist Paul Romer is quoted as saying, “Everyone wants progress, no one wants change”. Our job as leaders is to influence change, and that is often the hardest but most important job of all for any leader.
What is one thing you would tell young women starting their careers in healthcare marketing?
Don’t be afraid to take risks. You own your destination. Don’t underestimate or overestimate your value or worth. Be authentic, agile, and someone you would look up to.
Favorite drink?
Morning coffee.
What three people, alive or dead, would you like to host at a dinner party and why?
Winston Churchill was a complex leader in a complex time. His insights and advice would be fascinating to learn.
Helen Keller, because adversity never became her limitation. It would be fascinating to learn who or what inspired her.
Walt Disney, a visionary who could also execute on strategy, could share how he overcame the challenges of building and growing a business from a cartoon character into a pop culture staple.
