When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an architect. My mom and I always lived in apartments, so I was mystified by the idea of living in a house. I used to have very vivid images of the house that I wanted to build and that I’d one day live in — I can still remember it all: the living room, bedroom, the backyard. I also always loved to build and create, and I loved to draw. Because I loved making things, I figured that I could have my dream house if I just made it!
What would you do if you didn’t work in healthcare?
I would have been a sculptor. In college I majored in Sculpture and minored in Psychology. I knew I had to work in a creative industry, and even thought about going to grad school for sculpture, but at the end of the day I was no Camille Claudel or Rodin. And life as an artist can be very unpredictable. I ended up thinking to myself that there had to be an easier way for me to use my creativity to make a living … and that’s how I discovered the wild wonderful world of advertising.
What do you like most about working in healthcare marketing?
Of all the areas to work within marketing and advertising, healthcare is easily the most fascinating. I feel like I’ve been given the gift of constantly getting to learn. This is a field in which there’s constant innovation within a specific category or even a specific molecule. I love that intellectual challenge. I also find that healthcare marketing is full of purpose in a way that many other industries just aren’t. The things we market or advertise really change people’s lives for the better. I feel so proud to contribute to something like that every day.
What frustrates you most about working in healthcare marketing?
I’m frustrated bythe perception that people who work in healthcare marketing aren’t as creative as people that work in other categories. The opposite is in fact true. There is a wonderful book by Adam Morgan and Mark Barden, A Beautiful Constraint, that overturns the perception that constraints make people less creative. In reality, constraints trigger more creativity because there is something to push against. In the healthcare marketing space, we must be even more creative in the way that we solve problems and bring ideas to life, because of the regulations within which we work.
Who was your mentor? What made her or him an effective mentor?
My mentor was the wonderful Douglas Atkins. He is a brilliant strategist, an incredibly provocative thinker, and an overall amazing human. What made him such an effective mentor was that he was so easy to work with. You wanted to spend time with him, and then, in just being around him you didn’t even realize how much you were actually learning.
What are you doing to mentor others — to send the career ladder back down, so to speak?
The best thing my mentor did for me was to literally bring me into the room with him when he was solving a problem. We learn by observing and absorbing. Whether it’s planning out research, writing a brief or crafting a presentation, regardless of title or level, I bring my team members into the room with me. I never just send a document back to someone with a list of notes and changes — I work through the things I’m questioning with them, so they can grow in their thought processes as opposed to just executing revisions.
What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?
I’m a Swiftie!
What are the three things in your daily workspace that you can’t live without?
1. A really comfortable chair
2. Coffee
3. Lots of natural light
What is your favorite book (or TV show, movie, band or song)? What about it resonates strongly with you?
Midway through the pandemic, I received a package from an anonymous sender containing the book Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. I read it in one single sitting — couldn’t put it down; it was so good. It examines the common misconception that leaders must have all the answers, and reveals that truly great leaders embrace their vulnerability, place trust in those who earn it, live by their values and show resilience in the face of obstacles. To this day I don’t know who sent me this mysterious and wonderful gift. If anyone knows, please reach out!
What’s on your to-do list for when you retire?
I’m obsessed with learning new things (I think all strategists are!). When I retire, I want to take piano lessons and ice-skating lessons. I want to cook every night — I love to cook but rarely have the time! I plan to spend time at the beach, which is where I go to truly relax. I also want to volunteer with kids living with disabilities. I hope to continue doing the thing I love most: spending time with my amazing daughters who I’m grateful to have and who blow my mind every single day with their unique perspectives on life.
