Women in Pharma Health Marketing Leaders Spotlight

Happy International Women’s Day from our team at PulsePoint! Today (and every day) we celebrate the women in our work lives who wear many hats: leader, mentor, coach, partner, expert, and role model.

Our clients are doing their best to move the industry forward and improve patients’ livelihoods; we are proud to work with so many women leaders who are changing the world.

This International Women’s Day, we talked to four of our clients about their experiences working in pharma marketing—from challenges to successes—and their advice for the next generation of women leaders.

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Lindsay King , Vice President of Programmatic, CMI Media Group

Can you please introduce yourself? Briefly describe your role and how you got into this industry.

As a VP, I am charged with bringing best-in-class programmatic strategy and thought leadership to several high-value clients, while helping to develop and expand the discipline within the agency and increase growth opportunities as a team leader. After 15 years in media, working at agencies and programmatic vendors across multiple verticals, I found my way to healthcare a year and a half ago and couldn’t be happier to have found my home at CMI Media Group. 

What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

My biggest piece of advice is to never stop advocating for yourself. Be proactive in elevating yourself and your career. Raise your hand when opportunities come your way, especially when it isn’t directly related to your day-to-day. Be vulnerable, be open-minded, be curious, be generous with your time and attention, and be willing to make yourself uncomfortable. These opportunities to expand your knowledge and footprint in the industry are invaluable. Keep saying yes! 

My other piece of advice is to cultivate a trusted network of other women for support. Turn to them for questions, advice, and mentorship, and continue to expand this circle as you grow in your career and can expand your influence on others. Be a leader who helps others to achieve their goals.

How can women support other women in their organizations?

Celebrate each other’s wins! I’m a huge fan of Shine Theory, a philosophy that originated from Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman that focuses on collaboration instead of competition—“I don’t shine if you don’t shine.” If we highlight successes and support other women, the more representation and opportunity we all have in the industry. Be a mentor, start and join Employee Resource Groups, amplify marginalized voices, and encourage others to come together and build community within their organizations.

Glenniss Richards, Senior Director of Media Activation, Bayer Pharma

Can you please introduce yourself? Briefly describe your role and how you got into this industry.

I’m Glenniss Richards, Senior Director of Media Activation, Bayer Pharma. I’m a wife, mother, and career-driven woman who is committed to my family, community, and team. In my current role, Bayer Pharma is currently in-housing all media capabilities, and my team and I are responsible for the biddable media tactical strategy, activation, and trafficking operations for all Bayer US pharma brands.

I have close to 20 years of marketing experience spanning across multiple industries such as memberships, privacy offers, consumer brands, and financial services. I got into the industry through my network; a respected friend and previous coworker referred me as a contractor for an agency before COVID. As a result, when COVID hit, I became a full-time contractor for this agency that specialized in pharma brands. After working with the agency for 1 to 2 years, I decided to transition back to a brand, Bayer, to take part in the in-housing initiative.

What would you say is the biggest factor in your success?

The biggest factor of my success is being identified as a leader. I’m motivated by my children and my team; knowing there is a level of trust and respect is a huge factor of success. In my role, I have the ability to mentor and coach teams for an organization that develops impactful treatments.

What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

To the younger generation of women, I would advise them to plan! Also, think ahead by knowing the type of person you want to be. Once you have developed that goal, it’s critical you plan various projects and find individuals who can help you achieve those goals.

How can women support other women in their organizations?

Women can support other women in their organization by being present, vocal, and available. A great support system is one that is available to provide guidance, coaching, and advice.

Beck Spencer, Practice Lead, Head of Integrated Media Planning & Activation, Real Chemistry

Can you please introduce yourself? Briefly describe your role and how you got into this industry.

My name is Beck Spencer and I’m the Head of Integrated Media Planning & Activation for Real Chemistry in addition to being a wife, mother of two young children, and digital native. I started at Real Chemistry in late 2020 as the Head of Performance Media, which encompassed all biddable channels. My role has expanded, as has the team, until I stepped in to oversee planning in addition to media activation (investment) last year. After a number of years on the client and then on the publisher side, I decided to try the agency side because, relying on my agency to educate me on media, I wanted to be closer to partner evaluations and understanding the technical aspects of the industry.

As a female leader, how have you overcome obstacles in your career?

I rely on a small cohort of mentors and peers to be my personal board of directors. With their guidance, I’ve been able to clearly identify obstacles and decide what my desired outcome is before figuring out how to approach the challenge.

What would you say is the biggest factor in your success?

Critical thinking has been a huge foundation for my ability to make career moves. I’ve been able to navigate pivots in the industry as well as in my job function because I’ve been able to assess my skills and how they apply to a challenge an employer has. I also am not shy about asking for what I need to succeed and to feel valued, but that comes with some challenges. You need to be able to read the room and the landscape to know when your asks are reasonable and relevant.

What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

Take a breath and realize that some experiences need to come with time. Recognize the difference between being a strong advocate for yourself versus grandstanding. Most career paths today are not linear, and that’s perfectly alright.

How can women support other women in their organizations?

Make time, tailor your advice, advocate for them, and lead by example.

Tricia Savio, Vice President, Programmatic Practice Lead, EVERSANA INTOUCH

Can you please introduce yourself? Briefly describe your role and how you got into this industry.

I lead our internal programmatic team at EVERSANA INTOUCH where I have spent most of my career in the programmatic/pharma industry. I first learned about programmatic buying at my first job in Chicago; I remember watching someone draw out the concept on a dry erase board and although it seemed so foreign at the time, it was exciting to be a part of something so innovative!  

What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

Put yourself out there! Speak up and with purpose. Take calculated risks and stick to your principles. Be willing to be challenged and learn, but place accuracy and accountability above all else. Listen, take notes, and hone your trade over time. I like the quote, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken,” because it is a solid reminder to be authentic and have confidence in what you are bringing to the table.

How can women support other women in their organizations?

I think it’s really important to remember that there’s space for everyone. I am a big believer in women affirming each other and that together we can shine even brighter. I have been lucky enough to have extremely strong women managers and mentors to date who have shown me how this works by example. I cherish my solid female peer relationships as well—we lift each other up, consult with each other on how to move forward per the current challenge at hand, and, above all, we cheer each other on and celebrate each other’s successes.

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Maria Simeone, Vice President of Marketing, PulsePoint

Can you please introduce yourself? Briefly describe your role and how you got into this industry.

I am head of marketing for PulsePoint, where I lead the brand, communications, product marketing, and growth teams. I think many of us assume when we are little that a successful career comes from a clear and linear path. That was never my journey. How I got to where I am is too long and random for this medium, but let's just say I started working for the City of New York investigating police misconduct... and 18 years later I am a B2B marketing professional with expertise on the intersection of healthcare, data, and technology. My journey is a byproduct of being a naturally curious person, driven by the “story”—whether that’s the story of learning something new or helping to define the story of what exists. 

As a female leader, how have you overcome obstacles in your career?

I get frustrated. Sometimes I cry. I usually vent. I am emotionally wrapped up in the problem until I figure out a path forward that I am comfortable with. If I can't overcome it myself, I look to my support system at work and the amazing network I’ve built over the years for insight. I also think a lot about analogies to put into perspective whatever I'm struggling with. Most often it's “What would this problem look like if I owned a pizza parlor and how would I go about solving it there?” The answer is usually one of the fundamentals: planning, communications, or relationships.  

What would you say is the biggest factor in your success?

Creating new opportunities that play to my strengths and interests and fill a need. I didn’t wait for someone to invite me to participate or offer me an opportunity—I put together a plan and rationalized why the benefit outweighed the investment and why I wanted to be a part of it. Looking back, some of the big opportunities and pivotal moments in my career probably resulted from a mixture of hubris, sound business logic and lack of anyone else to do it. 

What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?

Share your stories and experiences often and in an open and genuine way. I recently had my first child after undergoing IVF and throughout the process of fertility treatments, my pregnancy, and now as a working mother, I always felt it was very important to share my experiences as a way to help normalize the conversation for others. It also helped me feel less alone with what I was experiencing internally in relation to the professional work environment. I think it’s really important to show the delicate balance of being a female in the workplace, a leader in an organization, and a mother who also works outside of the home. The vulnerability that comes with doing so can help someone else envision a future where they’re able to balance work and family life.

The caveat and unfortunate truth is that unintentional (and sometimes completely intentional) biases still exist. I am fortunate enough to work alongside people and for an organization that I didn't worry would actively discriminate against me because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age, or genetic information. Where there may be risks associated with speaking about your experience, remaining silent poses an even greater risk for our under-represented populations in the workforce. And it prevents an opportunity to develop deeper human connections. 

How can women support other women in their organizations?

Find a sponsor and become a sponsor. Sponsorship helps expand a person’s visibility within the organization and provide access to experiences and opportunities for career advancement. Sponsors have the power to advocate for the other person’s work when they are not in the room (or invited to the “important” meeting themselves). Those relationships can happen at any level and act as social proof to help collectively raise up individuals. 

There are so many conversations that focus on mentorship, which, while important, is only a portion of the equation. I believe the best way to support others is to create space and put systems into place that encourage people to excel. There is no scarcity of success or achievements in the world. 

One common thread from these interviews was that nobody succeeds alone. Even industry leaders rely on strong networks of support to help them continually learn, grow, and become sources of support for others. When women support other women, we all benefit and we all shine.

The future of pharma marketing is bright thanks to these women, their peers, and the women who came before them. International Women’s Day might only last 24 hours, but PulsePoint is proud to work with these passionate and hard-working women every day. 

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