We are still leading from the foot of the table, not the seats of power
The Woman of the Year event hosted by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) always leaves me feeling empowered, and this year was no different.
Mike Kaufmann, 2012 Honorable Mentor, told the packed room that it’s important to get men involved in women’s initiatives in the workplace. He also said that he was given the biggest break in his career from a woman who was willing to take a chance on him. Carolyn Buck Luce was honored as Woman of the Year and gave an inspiring speech. I’ve pulled a few highlights but you can also read the whole speech.
Buck Luce noted that it’s an exciting time in the pharmaceutical industry “as we move from focusing on what we make to whom we serve.” She discussed the progress that women have made in business and the changes still to be made. “Regardless of our numbers in the ranks, the progress of getting women to the top has stalled and we still make up only a minority of leadership in all public and private sectors. We are still leading from the foot of the table, not the seats of power.”
On March 7, 2012 I attended a Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) event, “Strengths-Based Leadership.” The panel featured Freda Lewis-Hall, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Pfizer; Nancy Santilli, Vice President Scientific Engagement at HealthTronics a subsidiary of Endo Holdings; and Debra Weiss, Vice President, Global Quality Assurance at Shire Pharmaceuticals. These charismatic women had the sold-out crowd at Pfizer captivated for more than an hour. I’m going to summarize a few of the key takeaways.
Dr. Lewis-Hall started the session by saying the three qualities that make her an effective leader are being a connector and having courage and tenacity. She noted that instead of tenacity she had unsuccessfully tried to think of another word that started with the letter “c.” To the delight of the audience, moderator Eve Dryer then suggested the word “chutzpah!” Weiss said that being able to influence others is another essential quality. Santilli garnered laughs when she attributed being unafraid to fail to the fact that as a child she always had to stand up to her older twin sisters.
Stacy Busking, Account Supervisor at Siren Interactive, was recently recognized as a Rising Star by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA). Its Rising Star Award recognizes women whose outstanding accomplishments make a difference in the industry. Stacy received her award at the 22nd Annual Woman of the Year Luncheon on May 5 at the Hilton New York where more than 2,000 people gathered to celebrate women in health care.
As an Account Supervisor, Stacy leads strategy development, as well as the day-to-day management of clients’ interactive programs. I asked Stacy about her “secret sauce” that helps her develop and build trusted relationships with clients.
