Biggest Challenges For an Associate Director Digital Media Optimization at a Large Pharma Company
Amir's biggest challenge as Associate Director at a large pharma company is achieving "organizational alignment," requiring buy-in from numerous teams with potentially competing priorities, a stark contrast to the agility of smaller companies. This, coupled with the potential to feel less connected within a large organization, highlights the unique hurdles of navigating a corporate environment.
Project Management, Teamwork, Communication, Leadership, Organizational Alignment
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Amir Hemmat
Associate Director, Digital Media Optimization
Top-3 US Pharma Company
Yeshiva University, 2014
N/A
Marketing
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. The difficulty of achieving organizational alignment in large corporations is a significant challenge. Gaining buy-in from numerous teams with competing priorities requires strong communication and negotiation skills.
2. Feeling a sense of community and belonging can be more challenging in larger organizations compared to smaller companies. This highlights the importance of actively building relationships and participating in company culture.
3. Navigating the slower pace of projects and change implementation in large organizations is another key challenge. This emphasizes the need for patience, persistence, and effective prioritization strategies.
Transcript
What is the biggest challenge in your current role?
The biggest challenge in my current role is something I didn't initially take seriously. People told me that in a large organization, projects move slower and get blocked more easily than in a smaller company.
This is because the change you're trying to make doesn't move as fast. I think the key challenge is achieving organizational alignment. You'll hear this term a lot in corporate America.
It's certainly more challenging to get everyone on the same page. Instead of working with five or ten people across three teams, as you might in a smaller company, you're working with a hundred people across six different teams in a larger corporation.
If you have a priority for your team, you need buy-in from everyone. They may have competing priorities or benchmarks for success. The sheer scale of that is challenging.
Another challenge is feeling like part of a real community. I think my company does a good job of this, but in a large corporation, you can feel like a small fish.
It's not that you're actually a small fish, but when you're in a company with a hundred people, it's a very personal experience, unlike in a larger company.