What is your background and current role?
I started my career as a staff nurse working in hospital theatres, then went on to join the pharmaceutical industry and never looked back. I launched Pi Healthcare in 2011 after nearly 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical sector, latterly as head of Advocacy for Wyeth UK/ Pfizer. Our expertise is in the development and implementation of stakeholder strategies including involvement of Patient and Professional organisations to ensure the patient is always the key focus. Pi Healthcare’s immersive approach to stakeholder strategy for the global healthcare industry has benefited numerous products/devices across the life cycle – from established to ‘future’ products optimising brand impact and ensuring compliance. As managing director of Pi Healthcare I am invited to speak internationally on the stakeholder environment, stakeholder engagement and best practice.
Why did you decide to launch Pi Healthcare?
I am totally passionate about stakeholder strategy and getting it right, so decided to bite the bullet and set up a company which deals only in bespoke projects around stakeholder strategy.
What is your vision for the company?
To empower people to know their healthcare communities and stakeholders and bring them closer together.
To what do you attribute your professional success?
As a nurse, I have had to convey the worst news for which no training can ever prepare you for, so I know how important communication is. This drives my passion about getting stakeholder strategy right and breaking down internal company silos to make it happen. I am not afraid to challenge clients to get it right – who are they working with and why? Who are they missing that could be key to them? Making sure they don’t forget about the patient!
What are you most proud of having achieved in your career so far?
Building a successful company from scratch and making sure stakeholder strategy is implemented correctly across the industries we work in. Anyone who has started their own company will understand the pressure, hard work and drive you need to make things happen. When you get repeat business you know you’re doing it right! And we’re professional and fun to work with!
How do you promote a healthy work-life balance for your team, and why is this important?Last October I introduced a four-day week to promote a healthy work-life balance. The clients are also impressed that we are looking after our employees without it impacting on the quality of what they receive.
