Jane Portman is VP, health analytics of Merkle.
What would you do if you didn’t work in healthcare?
I would open a full-service home remodel business and pitch it to HGTV. Assuming it’s a success, I would kick back and enjoy a life of daily snowboarding after my kids go to college.
Talk about the last time you experienced a fist-pumping victory moment.
Not to downplay truly exceptional moments in my life — running the New York City marathon, seeing my team get promoted, and watching my kids master the slopes — but nothing feels like true victory to me like getting a good bargain.
When was the last time you endured an “agony of defeat” moment? What did you learn from it?
Living an agency life has toughened me up professionally. Losing a pitch where I invested my heart and soul to create the perfect content and tell the perfect story is agonizing, but ultimately, it’s just a setback. I assess, learn from it, and tweak for next time. But as a parent, I feel the “agony of defeat” almost daily, especially when I cannot live up to my own expectations. I do my best to reset, remind myself that tomorrow is a new chance to succeed, and try to be more practical in my daily planning (take on less, accomplish more).
How long ago did you last recharge your batteries? What did you do?
Last April, my husband and I and our closest friends somehow made time for a long weekend of wine tasting in Willamette Valley for my birthday. For a group of extremely busy individuals with various obligations, it was a truly unique experience to be able to whisk away to unplug and reset.
What do you find frustrating about working in healthcare marketing?
The pace of change and adoption is too slow to truly innovate from an analytics perspective. We are always a few steps behind telecommunications, retail and other industries to take advantage of analytic solutions that can significantly impact behavior, such as machine learning.
To ensure pay parity and career advancement for women, I will…
Continue to support and promote exceptional work from both women and men and ensure they are equally recognized and rewarded. I also recognize the importance of creating empowerment initiatives for future female leaders and will continue to facilitate such opportunities and be a mentor where I can.
What is one thing you would tell young women starting their careers in healthcare marketing?
If you are truly looking for a fulfilling career, then work really hard. Hard work pays off. Be open and receptive to new ideas and other people’s viewpoints, and never forget to advocate for yourself.
Favorite drink?
Horribly difficult question – depends on the occasion or what I am eating. My go-to is a rye neat when out socially and a full-bodied red at dinner.
