A career as a marketer

Over the last two decades I’ve been lucky enough to have several intertwining careers that both connect and reflect each other, but as I look back the journey was entirely serendipitous even though it has worked out pretty well.

It all began at school with a keen interest in science and biology and chemistry in particular. At the time, I rather fancied being a biochemist and my parents used to joke I would end up at Aldermaston in germ warfare. Thankfully, that was not to be!

By the time I finished my doctorate, it was clear that:

a) there was a noticeable brain drain to America
b) staying in research didn’t pay enough
c) being a lab rat in a dungeon didn’t appeal

So I started idling through the New Scientist looking for alternative ideas and inspiration. There were a lot of Pharma jobs going around at that time, mostly in clinical research, but that didn’t appeal much. The Daily Telegraph in the local library was full of more interesting things such as analyst for several intelligence services, both at home and abroad. Jane Bond? Ooh er, that sounded more interesting! What is surprising is that I actually managed to get some interviews with the foreign ones, but never quite landed the final winning slot. Perhaps it’s just as well, who knows what would have happened.

‘What Colour is My Parachute?’ was the favourite book of many career services advice centres at that time (early 90′s), so I dutifully did the tests and was amused to see it suggested outdoorsy things like horticulturist and zoo keeper (eh?), but also said I was good at data and communication as well as being more extrovert than introvert. Hmmm, botany was not my best subject in biology unless it was an edible herb, while the thought of sharing a pen daily with fierce rhinos and mean camels really didn’t appeal either.

Back to the drawing board.

More head scratching and contemplation followed over 13 months of being unemployed or as it seemed at the time, unemployable. Getting on the first rung of the salary ladder is hard for everyone, no matter when you start.

Then one day I saw an ad for a project coordinator at a Pharma company and an interesting description requiring analytical and communication skills to work with multiple teams. That sounded much more appealing, so I applied and much to my surprise got an interview and thoroughly enjoyed it. Must have been the wild card or joker in the pack as the other 6 were all already employed in the industry. The second interview asked for a presentation on any subject we liked, as long as we were really excited about it. Of course, my topic was football, much to the interviewers initial surprise! They must have liked it as the job was mine a few weeks later, w00t! My first salaried job netted the princely sum of 16K, a fortune to a poor struggling scientist with bills to pay. My Dad was quite pleased too

The next 13 years were a whirlwind – strategic planning, sales, marketing, new product development across a variety of therapy areas and two in countries. Most of the time it was a very enjoyable and rich experience, thanks to great colleagues and bosses. Every day involved using my life science background, going to conferences, interpreting data, working with large groups of people etc; we had a ball.

That’s also how I ended up consulting now, in new product development, after my last role in the industry – one follows the other and life goes full circle since much of the work involves analysing data and advising clients on market and launch strategy in oncology and hematology (ie cancer related diseases). My new skills that I’m working on are developing an entrepreneurial flair and learning the mechanics of running a small consulting business. Thankfully, it’s going from strength to strength so far.

To those with kids at college wondering what to do with their lives, my advice is don’t worry about it – do lot’s of research, listen with open ears and heart, trust your instincts and hang onto your hats for a wild and interesting ride because you never know quite what might be around the corner!

Sally Church, Ph.D

Icarus Consultants Inc.