From the Lab to Business: My Journey into Veeva Business Consulting
by Luca Citrone, Associate Business Consultant
Transitioning from clinical work into Business Consulting is not the most common Career path but let me explain my journey…
Where it all started
After graduating from Newcastle University with a degree in Biomedical Sciences I was unsure of my preferred career path. With that degree type, a clinical or research-based career is the natural progression for many.
An industrial placement year at a Top 10 Pharma Company and a Senior Scientist position upon graduating helped me to decide. Although thoroughly enjoyable, I realized that despite my love for science & Pharma, the laboratory could be quite a solitary (I need social interaction!) and repetitive type of work.
Making the jump
As a result, I began to think more broadly. How can I apply the hard skills I developed throughout my degree (i.e., problem-solving, analytical thinking) into a different setting? Is it possible to stay ‘in-touch’ with science & Pharma without working in a lab?
This is when I started considering Consulting. I had no idea of what this entailed but after further conversations with a family friend and my own research, I was immediately drawn to the idea of a client-facing, fast-paced, and varied career.
After searching for a little while, I stumbled across a Veeva job posting for the Business Consultant Development Program (BCDP). The requirements resonated with my own skill set — academic background with strong analytical and communication skills — so I thought I would give it a shot!
After being invited to interview, I immediately resonated with the BCDP values. I learn most efficiently by throwing myself into things so the value of ‘Learn by Doing’ caught my attention. After a thorough and enjoyable recruitment process, I was delighted to be offered a position within the EU Commercial Strategy — BCDP track.
Easing the Transition
Making the transition from the laboratory to Business Consulting was quite the challenge. Not only was the terminology alien to me (too many acronyms to even begin to process!), I found the ‘business’/strategic type of thinking a shift in mindset from what I was accustomed to in science & academia.
I found three things to be essential:
1) The Veeva Team. Every single Veevan no matter their seniority, is always willing to help and assist you in any way they possibly can. I leveraged all their skills, expertise, and ways of approaching things to improve my knowledge of the Consulting, Pharma, and even the Veeva world! Seeking regular feedback from them was essential in ensuring I continued to progress as both a consultant and general person.
2) Embody a Growth Mindset. I learnt to understand and appreciate that I was embarking on a developmental journey. At first difficult, I grew open to the fact there would be ups (i.e., getting great feedback) and downs (i.e., a presentation not going so smoothly), but I always saw the bigger picture and the progress I was making.
3) Become comfortable with being uncomfortable. I eventually recognized that unfamiliar or new situations provide the greatest Learning opportunities. Rather than avoid potentially difficult opportunities or situations, I embraced them, putting myself forward for any challenge (no matter how daunting).
I think this skill is particularly pertinent for those transitioning from academia into Consulting. I for sure was accustomed to the academic mindset of becoming an ‘expert’ on your chosen subject, preparing extensively to feel confident on a given topic before delivering the work (i.e., exam preparation).
This is different in Consulting. Although preparation remains essential, when working with clients, there is always more pieces of the puzzle to uncover (i.e., uncovering their true business issues & needs). We are always going to be thrown curveballs or put in situations where we are ‘put on the spot’ and sometimes don’t know the answer. Therefore, as we continually iterate, we must be adaptable but also deliver whilst we continue to learn!
Overall, the transition into Veeva Business Consulting has been a fantastic journey. Although at times challenging, it is one I have embraced fully. This was certainly made so much easier by the support and guidance of the Business Consulting team and the overall Veeva culture!
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Veeva.
