In episode #54 of the Over a Pint Podcast, Julie Pekarek joins takes us on a deep dive of the complex and quickly changing healthcare industry.
About Julie Pekarek
Julie Pekarek is the Director of Strategy and Product Management for Merative. She is also a badass.
She has a crazy impressive background with degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago tours of duty at:
- Baxter Healthcare
- GE Medical
- Merge Healthcare
- IBM Watson
The company she currently works at, Merative, focuses on the data and software needed in the healthcare space.
What We Cover
Our discussion with Julie was awesome, and the big takeaway was this thing she said,
An idea is something people can get behind. A product is something people will buy.
Whoa! How often have we gotten swept up with an idea…that can’t make a buck? Is this new info? Hells no. But does it need to be repeated? Hells yes! Until you can prove your idea can make money, the idea doesn’t count for much. Sorry! And yet, how many of us have fallen into that quicksand trap? Show of hands? I know I have.
We also hit on the difference between her role as Director of Strategy vs. Product Management. That was fascinating. There’s a great segment on how to understand your customers. Not enough marketers spend enough time in our customer’s shoes, and how to keep your team focused on the right goals.
To connect with Julie reach out here.
