Congresses are a typical and very important part of my job, because as a Product Manager you should be where your customers are. That is where I can talk directly to them, identify trends and see what the competitors are doing.
A typical congress day, looks like this:
Product Manager of Gastroenterology Endoscopes,
Medical Systems Division
"It has been important to me to help people. Today, I'm working in a company that attaches great value on contributing to society."
Q: Why did you join Olympus?
I was very interested in health topics, which intensified the wish for a more profound task.
I used to work in travel and aviation industries in the marketing area. At some point I asked myself the question about the meaning of what I was doing. Of course, it is nice to help make people's holidays unforgettable and to accompany them through the joyful parts of life. But it lacked a strong social component. At that time, I was also very interested in health topics, which intensified the wish for a more profound task. The medical technology industry as an answer to that is quite close and this is how I came to Olympus.
Q: What do you do at Olympus, what motivates you?
I have the opportunity to find out how my job can be contributing for patients, that's very rewarding.
As a Product Manager, I market gastroscopes and duodenoscopes, to put it simply. This requires a lot of strategical marketing, interaction with countries and customers, creativity and market observation. Thanks to that wide range of tasks, I don't just get to work with people all over the world, I also have the opportunity to find out what customers from different countries really need and how patients can benefit from it. That's very rewarding. Deeply impressive and motivating are also the opportunities in treatment that we have today with our endoscopes and treatment tools which are used with endoscopes during minimally invasive procedures; for example, treatments in the esophagus, the colon or other organs can be made without opening the patient's body during surgery.
Q: What is a typical day for you?
8.30~: It's the first day of the congress in Vienna. I travelled down from Hamburg yesterday and have already been helping to set up our stand. A team of colleagues from EMEA* and Japan will stand Monday through Wednesday, presenting our latest gastroenterology product innovations.
Midday: I've already had a number of conversations with various customers, the most recent with gastroenterologists from the Middle East. I explain the benefits of a duodenoscope we launched recently, putting the emphasis on the added value for the customer – both clinically and financially. After that, I take down their details on my tablet so I can send them more information later or refer them to one of my colleagues, the respective territory manager. This helps us to make new contacts or strengthen our relationship with existing customers.
14:00~: Time for a coffee! On my break I bump into my colleague from the head office in Tokyo. Working so closely with a colleague from headquarters is rewarding. If we have questions or feedback on a given technology, we just address them to the liaison then and there. Later I'll be attending a talk on Barrett's Esophagus. I think it's important to look around and see what the competition is up to.
17:30: Another stand shift done for another day. Now all my Olympus colleagues gather round for one last big meeting. At a trade fair it always strikes me how effectively the different Olympus countries work together. It's also a great opportunity to sound out new ideas and strategies with colleagues from other regions.
* EMEA: Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Q: What challenges you in your day-to-day work?
It's challenging to find the most effective marketing strategy and continuously expand as well as deepen your professional medical knowledge.
On the one hand, it is a challenge to find the most effective marketing strategy for a product in an international environment. Another challenge is medical understanding. During consultations with customers, my statements must have rhyme and reason. Especially at the beginning of this job, one should not expect too much from oneself and take the time to learn. With every demonstration, every interaction with customers and colleagues and our internal training at Olympus, you gain new knowledge. The professional depth comes with the practical experience – you have to be patient with yourself.
Q: Finally, how do you feel about contributing to society?
When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a police officer. From an early age onwards, it is important to me to help people. Today, I market products that support doctors and nurses to save people's lives in a company that attaches great value on contributing to society. I find it amazing how broadly Olympus is committed to that and to its employees. That makes me proud to work here.
