"The Leadership-Learning Connection" Is SPBT's Largest Meeting Ever
In May, hundreds of trainers, training managers and directors met in Boston for the 34th Annual Conference of the Society of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Trainers (SPBT). The meeting, held May 9-12, was attended by more than 600 members and 400 vendors. This marks the largest attendance in SPBT's history.
The meeting, which carried the theme 'The Leadership-Learning Connection,' focused on organizational development, performance and other challenging issues facing learning professionals.
Meeting highlights
On Tuesday, May 10, SPBT President Steve Rauschkolb opened the meeting by highlighting the symbiotic relationship between leadership and learning.
'It takes an inspired leader to not only recognize the importance of learning, but to prioritize it and build it into all aspects of a business,' Rauschkolb said. 'It is no surprise that many of the most admired and successful companies are known for their commitment to leadership, learning and developing their employees.'
Later that morning, Dr. Noel Tichy, author of the bestselling book, The Leadership Engine, presented a keynote entitled 'Great Leaders Are Great Teachers.' Dr. Tichy is professor of organizational and human resource management at the University of Michigan Business School. During his presentation, he drew examples from his experience as the former manager of management education for General Electric.
On Wednesday, May 11, the agenda included two keynotes. The first was a Medicare overview from health policy expert, Richard Stefanacci, DO. Dr. Stefanacci is the founding executive director of the Health Policy Institute at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, as well as a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) health policy scholar. During his presentation in Boston, Dr. Stefanacci addressed how the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) will change pharmaceutical market economics, driving substantially more drug spending through commercial plans and payors.
Following Dr. Stefanacci was a popular presentation by Bill George, the legendary former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic. George offered a discussion on leadership based on his book, Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value. He described the five essential qualities of authentic leadership: purpose, values, heart, relationships and self-discipline.
Then on Thursday, May 12, Steven Wiley of the Wiley Group and colleagues closed the meeting with a 'history lesson' -- a discussion of leadership during the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg.
Members honored
Awards were also presented at the meeting to outstanding members of the training profession. Marie Mickey was inducted into SPBT's Hall of Fame. For more than 22 years, Mickey has designed, developed and delivered leadership and training for sales, marketing and headquarters personnel in the pharmaceutical industry. Through her tour of the industry -- including stops at GlaxoWellcome, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and Pharmacia -- she's worked in all the major therapeutic areas and helped develop leadership talent at all levels. She also served on the board of directors of SPBT, including a stint as Vice President. More recently, she has worked as a principal with The Avery Group, applying her well-honed skills to help pharmaceutical people perform to their potential.
In addition, three training directors were recognized as SPBT's Outstanding Members of the Year: Mani Chidambaram, Director of Learning and Development at Odyssey Pharmaceuticals; Jim Fingar, Director of Sales Training and Development at Berlex Labs; and Barb Casey, the former Director of Training and Development at Solvay Pharmaceuticals. The three were instrumental in starting a networking group specifically for directors at small- and mid-sized pharma and biotech companies.
In addition, the 2005 meeting featured more than 70 workshops on topics such as adult learning, technology, management development and career development.