Why become a Medical Safety/PV Consultant?

Some of you have considered leaving your corporate PV job and moving to PV consulting. Here are some key points to consider for this critical career move.

- You have likely accumulated significant experience through a corporate career and can leverage this experience to help others. This is a very rewarding experience to help clients.

- If you have a passion for PV and science, you will love it. You will be exposed to spearheading innovation and incredibly motivating biotech companies with a variety of projects and therapeutic areas. You will rarely be bored. You will not be stuck into one specific activity or area.

- You will have the ability to make visible impact and obtain clear feedback: the distance between your work and the patient is the shortest when compared to mid-size or large pharmaceutical companies. Progress cycles are generally shorter, and you will be able to witness your achievements.

- Consulting is about learning and adaptation – being curious to learn more. You will learn something from each client/consulting engagement. Solutions for clients are not one-size fits-all, you must be driven to find the right solution for the client’s specific situation.

- You must be able to build and maintain relationships with a solid level of empathy and emotional intelligence. You want to leave an engagement as a trusted advisor, welcomed back when needed.

- You also need patience and commitment and be able to navigate through bad weather. Develop a business plan to ensure you survive financially for the next 6 to 12 months and get it vested by more than one business mentor you trust. Get advice from PV consultants you know or heard of.

- The consulting world is full of talented and bright people. I will be always thankful for the experts/mentors who gave me precious advice when I needed it.

With a solid PV knowledge base, a vision of what you would like to achieve, honesty with yourself and other about areas of weakness, and generation of high-quality deliverables, you will find success!