My Journey In Pharma - The Early Years, Part 1

I bid the pharma company that I had been working for, for 10 years adieu yesterday. It was very bittersweet. As I walked to HR to turn in some final paperwork, I didn't see a sole that I knew. As I was walking back toward the exit, I looked up and saw the word,"Journey" hanging on the ceiling. How appropriate. The end of one journey...and the start of another. As I was about to descend on the escalator, I remembered thinking, "Wow. I'm not going to see a single soul I know before I leave this building.". Suddenly, I glanced to my right and saw a familiar face. My former director, who had always been so kind and helpful toward me. She smiled when she saw me and said, "I bet I know where you're coming from!". We laughed. She too, had turned in her final paperwork to HR. It was very nice to see a familiar face, on those final steps to the exit.

Looking back over my tenure, I'd have to say the first you I worked there as a contractor and had a ball! I thought it was the greatest gig ever! I could wear blue jeans, the supervisor was awesome and fed us brownies (when our metrics were good), we ordered shakes from McDonald's or Frosty's from Wendy's, had chili cook-offs, and egg omelets made to order! There was a different activity every single month! I LOVED going to work every day. Then...suddenly, some permanent positions opened. I didn't apply because I didn't think I'd get it. My supervisor TOLD me to apply and within 2 months, I was a full-time employee! My family was so proud and I was in shock. I thought I'd work there forever...until...my supervisor left exactly one month later and EVERYTHING changed.

The next year was the total opposite of the first. No celebrations, no accolades, just more work, more pressure and worse leadership. I mentally began to change for the worse and it began to affect my health. Thankfully and unexpectedly, I made a career change from IT to Training. This new training group was a bit hard to break into. It was much different than IT. In IT, you were drilled to do the work, hit the metrics and complete the projects on time and on budget. This new training group was pretty laid back. I think I hid in my cubicle most of the time because there was a sudden supervisor change less than 2 months after I arrived. Was I really expected to answer phone calls, file and data entry? I thought to myself, "What the hell did I get myself in to?" After a blow out with one of the Associates, I spoke to the Director and tried to convince him that I had made a mistake in applying for this position....and yes, I felt I was OVER qualified for it. He convinced me to stay...at least for a year and promised things would get better. I settled in, however, it was still a very rocky start. If it hadn't been for the trust I had for the new supervisor, I would have exited...quickly.

While attempting to grasp this new training department, I began to gain allies who actually saw my potential and realized I could do more than what was asked of me. A Nigerian (aka MO) and an "egalitarian genius" (aka MM) befriended me, had faith in me, trusted me and allowed me to do more and learn more. My supervisor (aka JO) was probably getting tired of me asking to do more and on one occasion where me and another associate had to present something, JO was in the audience. After JO saw me in the "zone", she began to really realize my potential. With MM guiding me, teaching me and sharing knowledge, I began to grow more confident in my new found abilities to facilitate and present. It was also MM, who began to teach me about adult learning principles and instructional designing. I was like a sponge. I sucked up everything she had to show me and began to facilitate classes with her...and even traveled with her.

Based upon the feedback from MO and MM, I gained more and more responsibility. It was JO that suggested that I finish my degree to become a training associate. She promised (yes, I said promised) me, that I would advance in my career, if I could prove to be able to do the same work as the other associates AND finish my degree. I can gladly say, she kept her promise.

In the years to come, I soared! MO left the company. MM got a promotion. I felt a bit alone but I also felt like the baby bird that got kicked out of the nest to learn to fly...and fly I did! I traveled all across the U.S., to Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico, facilitating and presenting on behalf of our department. The feedback that JO was hearing was great! For about 3-4 years, I was living my dream job and excelling at it! Then...it happened. That thing called "reorganization".