When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a sports journalist. I loved sports and read every newspaper in New York City — the Daily News, The New York Times and the New York Post — growing up. Back then, the New York Post had the best sports section. I had reams of clippings of my favorite sportswriters in scrapbooks. I was less interested in stories about the facts of games like scores and plays, but instead loved reading the feature articles about the players and how they overcame adversities to get to where they were and the challenges that they faced in their everyday lives.
What would you do if you didn’t work in healthcare?
I would probably do something working with children or teenagers — possibly be a teacher or guidance counselor. They are our unsung heroes and are so important to the lives of young people. During my formative years in junior high school, I was part of a group facilitated by our counselors to give us a safe space where we could talk about issues that we were facing. We met at lunch and I just loved the opportunity to support each other and to hear stories from my peer group. Kids today need safe spaces like I had where they can talk and get support.
What do you like most about working in healthcare marketing?
I love that I am helping people. We’re giving people who are suffering the information they need to make health decisions with their doctors. We help them understand their conditions and the benefits of different medicines. My mother has cancer. She was diagnosed early, got treatment immediately and is supported by an amazing group of physicians. The fact that I know about the treatments available to her is very empowering. I want the average consumer to have this information too so they can make informed decisions with their doctors.
What frustrates you most about working in healthcare marketing?
Pharma is a highly regulated industry. I understand the importance of regulations to protect people’s health and safety. But at times I wonder if those regulations might hinder us in getting out messages about life-saving treatments.
Who was your mentor? What made her or him an effective mentor?
I’m very fortunate that I’ve had many mentors in my life. One that sticks out for me was my very first mentor who was a managing director and took me under her wing when I was an associate. She would constantly encourage me to voice my opinions, lean-in, learn from past experiences, while also giving me a runway to excel with projects that I was leading and owning. She gave me a lot of that foundation that I needed to establish confidence in myself to do the work and challenge myself — which has helped me throughout my career.
What are you doing to mentor others — to send the career ladder back down, so to speak?
Mentoring others for me is a daily practice. I lead by example, give feedback when needed while consistently providing acknowledgment and support. People need to see they’re supporting them. That’s daily mentoring. Actions speak louder than words. I was moved recently when I was home sick (but still working) and two of my leaders sent me flowers thanking me for being who I am and everything that I do for the team. I couldn’t be more humbled to work with such an amazing group of people whose careers and lives that I’m hopefully positively benefitting.
What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?
I love to travel. I love experiencing new places and sites. I love meeting new people, seeing how they live and the spirit they bring to their lives. Since I live and work in New York City, one of my favorite vacation trips is to go hiking. Being outdoors, being with nature and taking in the amazing views recharges me. I recently hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, as well as Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. Lake Placid is a treasure and closer to home with amazing views and energy for the soul.
What are the three things in your daily workspace that you can’t live without?
My phone (which is my lifeline), amazing colleagues who inspire me and the music that is piped into our office throughout the day and provides nice energy.
What is your favorite book (or TV show, movie, band or song)? What about it resonates strongly with you?
I have many favorites. They depend on my mood. One song that brings me back to my youth is “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen. It’s about hope and trying to find your path, believing in yourself, and taking risks. That song inspired me during my younger years. I love romantic comedies for the laughs and documentaries because I love learning new things. One of my favorite movies is The Way We Were with Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. It’s all about people standing up for their principles. Katie, the role Barbra played, was such a principled person. I love her character, fire and passion.
What’s on your to-do list for when you retire?
When you’re working, you’re so time-crunched trying to fit everything into a week’s vacation. When I retire, I want to take six months with my husband and tell everyone we’re going to see all the places that we haven’t been able to go while we’ve been working. One of those places on my list is to hike the Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan.
