Nick, Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech: Advize Career Interview

This interview highlights the dynamic career of a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech, offering a glimpse into a world where engineering expertise meets business acumen.

The career journey began with medical device design, progressed to an MBA, and culminated in a role focused on shaping the future of medical technology.

Daily responsibilities include collaborating with engineers, engaging with regulatory teams, and even traveling to observe products in action.

Key skills include technical fluency and thoughtful communication, allowing one to bridge the gap between technical experts and business strategy.

This role offers the chance to stay on the cutting edge of technology and exert influence over product development.

The healthcare industry provides immense satisfaction through the opportunity to improve patient lives globally and it's a field where detail-oriented, intellectually curious individuals thrive.

While the path to market can be slow and challenging, the rewards are immense. Entry-level opportunities abound in technical roles for those with relevant science backgrounds.

Ultimately, being proactive and decisive is key to success in this fast-paced environment and embracing intellectual vulnerability and resilience are crucial for long-term achievement.

Advizer Information

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Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

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Nick Schleiger

Global Strategic Marketing Manager

Johnson & Johnson Medtech

Georgia Institute of Technology

UCLA Anderson MBA

Engineering - Biomedical

Healthcare

Communication and Marketing

Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School

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Career Path of a Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson MedTech

After graduating from Georgia Tech with a degree in biomedical engineering and material science, Nick spent eight to nine years in engineering, designing medical devices, including diabetes care pumps in New Hampshire and cardiovascular implants at Edwards Life Sciences in California. Driven by "a very strong interest in being a business leader," Nick pursued an MBA at UCLA Anderson while working as an engineer, which ultimately led to a current role as a strategic marketing manager at Johnson & Johnson MedTech.

Career Path of a Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson MedTech

Main responsibilities of a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson

As a Strategic Marketing Manager (also known as Upstream Marketing in some healthcare settings), the role focuses on understanding cutting-edge technology from Johnson & Johnson and competitors to address unmet needs for physicians and patients. Responsibilities include gathering feedback from users, hospital administrators, and patients to improve current products and identify "the next best innovation" while also analyzing the market and competition to strategically differentiate Johnson & Johnson.

Main responsibilities of a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson

A Day in the Life of a Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech

A strategic marketing manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech wears "a lot of hats", ranging from collaborating with engineering on product development and working with regulatory teams on corporate strategy to traveling abroad to observe products in use and attending conferences to stay ahead of the technology curve. Ultimately, the goal is to "create the best products for patients" by understanding market dynamics and how Johnson & Johnson's products fit within them.

A Day in the Life of a Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech

Most Important Skills for a Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson and Johnson Medtech

According to Nick, the two most vital skills for a Global Strategic Marketing Manager in healthcare are "technical athleticism" - the ability to quickly learn and speak the language of various technical fields - and "thoughtful communication," which involves translating information between physicians, engineers, and other stakeholders to guide product development and progress. This translation is critical because the manager sits at the "epicenter of all those groups."

Most Important Skills for a Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson and Johnson Medtech

Favorite Parts of Being a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson and Johnson Medtech

Nick enjoys flexing technical and engineering skills while also acting as "a business leader." This allows Nick to remain "on the cutting edge of technology" while also having strategic influence over product development and business decisions.

Favorite Parts of Being a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson and Johnson Medtech

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech

As a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech, the biggest challenge is influence—specifically, "influencing others without authority." This requires communicating vision and guiding experts in various fields like medicine, engineering, and regulatory affairs, despite not directly managing them and often learning from their expertise.

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech

Favorite Parts Of Working In Healthcare As A Global Strategic Marketing Manager

Working in healthcare, specifically within cardiovascular disease at Johnson & Johnson Medtech, is "extremely gratifying" for Nick. The profound impact on patients across the world and the altruistic nature of the healthcare industry are what drive Nick to take pride in their work and consistently "put [their] best foot forward."

Favorite Parts Of Working In Healthcare As A Global Strategic Marketing Manager

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Healthcare Industry According To A Marketing Manager At Johnson & Johnson

According to Nick, thriving in the healthcare industry, particularly at a company like Johnson & Johnson Medtech, requires being detail-oriented because "everything we do...is a likely a lifesaving technology," and possessing intellectual curiosity to keep up with the "constantly changing" medical field. The field isn't for someone who finds "comfort in being the expert day in, day out," but rather for people who are constantly learning.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Healthcare Industry According To A Marketing Manager At Johnson & Johnson

What a Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson and Johnson Medtech Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Healthcare Industry

As a Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Nick wishes someone had emphasized the slow and "arduous" nature of the healthcare industry, noting the extensive regulations, costs, and rigorous processes involved in bringing technology to market, requiring patience and long-term vision to focus on projects with potentially lengthy development cycles but also yielding gratitude and reward.

What a Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson and Johnson Medtech Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Healthcare Industry

Entry-level positions for aspiring Global Strategic Marketing Managers at Johnson and Johnson

Nick, a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech, suggests that entry-level opportunities abound in the technical space for those with backgrounds in biomedical, electrical, mechanical, or material science, including roles in design engineering, testing, and quality manufacturing at both startups and large firms, while noting that those without a technical background may find breaking into healthcare marketing and strategy "a bit challenging" but ultimately rewarding due to the industry's dynamic nature and complex user base.

Entry-level positions for aspiring Global Strategic Marketing Managers at Johnson and Johnson

Significant Career Lesson From a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech

Nick, a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech, emphasizes that leaders often fail not because they are wrong, but because they fail to make decisions; being "proactive and action oriented" with the information available is critical, especially in a dynamic field like healthcare where the ability to quickly understand new information, compare it to existing knowledge, and then adapt plans or products is essential to avoid stagnation and ensure products reach patients.

Significant Career Lesson From a Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Johnson & Johnson Medtech

College Experiences That Helped A Global Strategic Marketing Manager At Johnson And Johnson Medtech Succeed

To prepare for a successful career, working hard in undergrad and developing comfort with failure in a graduate program were key. In grad school, "intellectual vulnerability" and learning from collective mistakes alongside having "grit" and "resilience" were essential for long-term goals.

College Experiences That Helped A Global Strategic Marketing Manager At Johnson And Johnson Medtech Succeed

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