One reason for writing this is that I am often asked what I do for a living, and if my husband doesn’t jump in first to mansplain my work (yes, seriously he does), I will usually tell people that I help companies and innovators get new products to market in UK health and care. In a similar way to the character David in Cold Feet, this doesn’t really tell you what I do, but it’s easiest for all concerned. If for instance at the time I am working on a project relating to urine testing, eye surgery, or the effluent fluid that is created during the process of peritoneal dialysis, most people don’t want to hear about that over drinks or dinner.
Another reason is that I am frequently contacted by graduates fresh out of university looking to become business consultants. I would encourage anyone with the skills to self-manage, think laterally and put clients first to have consultancy as a career goal, but what I do is based on nearly 25 years in pharma and medtech experience, and eleven years’ management work before that.
The projects I work on are many and varied, at any one time I can be working on up to eight projects. Usually, one of these will be relating to urine (leakage, infections, testing), or lack of urine (renal dialysis) – not glamourous, but I find these subjects fascinating, which is fortunate for the many that don’t. Today I also arranged some training for myself and my virtual PA, Kerry Lummus to learn how to effectively load blogs (including this one) onto my company website, and quite honestly told her that I was working on a report relating to liver transplantation, which I found far easier, and more interesting – by the way, Kerry thinks I am weird.
So, what is an average day actually like? There really isn’t an average day.
Today
| 0600 | Feed dogs and cat and make tea | I am not crazy, but one dog is geriatric and wakes up early |
| 0630 | Work out | I have been involved in far too many lifestyle tenders to avoid exercise, and this is the only time free |
| 0800 | Shower and dress | |
| 0830 | Breakfast | |
| 0850 | Switch on computer | Check emails, LinkedIn and Slack, respond to urgent ones or those I’m likely to forget if I don’t action immediately |
| 0905 | Call Route to Web | Arrange training for website uploads and am asked to write three blogs for posting |
| 0920 | Call Kerry | Virtual PA and superhero who keeps me on track and will also be taking part in training. Discuss dates and recruitment for Peer Networks |
| 0940 | Write report | Open files with research to date, open hyperlinks saved on reference document I have previously written, plan the flow of the document and start writing a cogent argument for health economics. Choose relevant information from peer-reviewed journals and validated websites (e.g. NICE, NHS BT), reference as I write |
| 1100 | Open Zoom call | Booked through Calendly – no one joins, check and email person that booked the call. This was an error on their part, so I have the gift of time |
| 1105 | Repost previous blog | One of my current projects reminds me of the advances made in mental healthcare, so repost blog relating to this from 2016 |
| 1110 | Start writing this blog | |
| 1210 | Lunch | |
| 1230 | Enrolment Peer Networks | Speak with individual who expressed an interest in joining Peer Networks and complete form with them over the phone. Email for signature |
| 1250 | Compile contact list for hospital project | Create a list of contacts of different roles and stakeholders for agreed hospital in order to start booking appointments for calls to answer research questions |
| 1330 | Write more of the report | Continue with report started earlier in the day |
| 1630 | Team call | Project team working on Peer Networks recruitment |
| 1645 | Compile contact list for hospital project | |
| 1740 | Finish |
Throughout the day I also answered emails, Slack messages, and phone calls, relating to other projects I am working on, or associates I work with. I find I am pretty tired at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t change what I do and enjoy it tremendously.
