From Stuck to Standout: The Real Path to Growth in Medical Affairs

In this milestone 300th episode, Tom Caravela welcomes Rachel Kennedy from Moderna to discuss her journey into medical affairs. Rachel shares her experiences as an MSL and highlights the role of curiosity in career advancement. They explore common causes of feeling stuck in the field, emphasizing patience and internal equity. Rachel stresses the importance of self-advocacy and effective communication in driving career growth. The conversation offers insights on standing out in a competitive market, handling frustration, and skill building during plateaus. Rachel provides advice for navigating challenging times and underscores the value of feedback and self-awareness. The episode concludes with gratitude to listeners. (0:00) 300th episode milestone, thanks to listeners, and guest introduction (1:16) Rachel Kennedy's background and role at Moderna (1:50) Rachel's career journey and transition into medical affairs (4:04) Rachel's experience as an MSL and career progression (7:38) The role of curiosity in career advancement (8:48) Causes of feeling stuck or plateaued in medical affairs (12:22) Importance of patience and internal equity (16:57) Advocating for oneself and the impact of communication (18:41) What drives career advancement beyond doing a good job (21:40) How to stand out in a competitive market (25:21) Handling frustration and the importance of taking a pause (28:36) Growth and skill building during career plateaus (30:31) Advice for navigating difficult times in career and life (32:36) Importance of feedback and self-knowledge (33:10) Closing remarks and gratitude to listeners