Summary
“Do not lead with no. If you feel like you're going to say no, just don't say anything. Wait a little, then start asking questions to help bring out what they really want to know.”
Effective communication, especially in a leadership role is critical to success. It is not about imposing your opinions, but encouraging an open, collaborative conversation where each team member feels empowered to contribute their best ideas.
In this episode, Tony Watson shares career tips for QA/RA professionals in the medical industry. Tony spent 19 years at the FDA, rising through the ranks to reach the level of a Division Director, before transitioning into the pharma industry. In this episode, we discuss how QA/RA professionals can advance their careers, including the importance of understanding the organization's goals and filling gaps in leadership skills.
Chapters
00:00 Introducing Tony Watson
03:00 A Risky Career Move
04:05 Overcoming Gaps in Business Acumen
08:52 Managing Change and Understanding the New Role
14:43 Communicating to Facilitate, Not to Impose Your Opinions
18:04 Building an Effective QA/RA Team
20:46 Making Difficult Decisions
25:43 Career Advice for QA/RA Professionals
29:00 Closing Comments
Key Takeaways
Building business acumen is crucial for QA/RA professionals to achieve career success in the medical industry.
Understanding the hierarchy and norms in the organization is important for transitioning from a military or FDA background to medical industry.
Effective communication and teamwork are essential skills for QA/RA professionals, including the ability to pick the right team members and communicate effectively within the organization.
Transitioning from the FDA to the industry requires adapting to different organizational cultures and understanding the role of a regulatory professional in the industry.
Building and leading teams requires being a servant leader, creating a culture of open communication, and being willing to make difficult decisions for the benefit of the organization.
Mid-career QA/RA professionals should focus on understanding the organization's goals, filling gaps in leadership skills, and being authentic in their approach to leadership.
Keywords
business acumen, QA/RA professional, career success, FDA, pharmaceutical industry, leadership, communication, teamwork, organizational culture, servant leadership, decision-making, building teams, leadership skills
About Anthony Watson
Anthony Watson is a senior global regulatory affairs executive, focused on software as a medical device (SaMD) and drug-device combination products. Currently, he is the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality at Windgap Medical, Inc., where he leads QA/RA aspects of the autoinjector platform commercialization in challenging applications. He spent 19 years at the US FDA, first as a scientific reviewer, gradually rising into leadership roles to reach the position of Division Director. Later he moved to the pharmaceutical industry working on combination products. Tony is a “builder of teams”, specializing in developing talents and building organizational capability. He holds a B.S. degree in General Engineering, an MBA and an M.S. in Management Information Systems.
Disclaimer
Information and insights presented in this podcast are for educational purposes only. Views expressed by all speakers are their own and do not reflect those of their respective organizations.
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