March Profile: Marie-Christine Geffroy, MCG Development & Consulting
For this month’s profile, Meggan Dissly spoke to Marie-Christine Geffroy, a doctor-cum-entrepreneur, about her new company.
M.D.: Marie-Christine, when I first met you at a Thursday cocktail in June 2009, you, a medical doctor, had taken a sabbatical leave, hoping to find a new direction in your professional life even if it meant going abroad. What has happened since then?
M-C.G.: That’s true! I was completely open to a new adventure and was searching for ideas. Shortly after we spoke, I settled on what I wanted to do in the next phase of my career: a consultancy in the health industry. Drawing on my long experience in marketing and streamlining businesses while working for various big pharmaceutical companies and my background as medical doctor, I decided to offer my senior expertise to optimize business growth strategy as well as implement reorganization changes and manage projects for pharmaceuticals and HealthCare companies.
M.D.: Whew. What does that entail exactly?
M-C.G.: With MCG Development & Consulting, my objective is to answer Pharmaceutical companies' needs- whatever size- through temporary assignments in developing the business or optimizing the operational implementation of projects. In the current environment, things have to be reorganized to leverage tomorrow‘s opportunities; This is where I think I can offer added value to some organizations willing to maintain motivation. I can help by driving implementation and results during transitional periods when companies are facing limited resources and need flexibility.
M.D.: You and I joined the EuropeanPWN at about the same time, I think. What were your reasons for joining?
M-C.G.: I like the underlying philosophy of the organization, which is to help women progress professionally. This is backed up by appropriate programs & events in line with the objective. I find it easy to share information and to communicate within the network -- the website certainly facilitates such exchanges -- and I like the diversity of members' profiles and their international backgrounds.
M.D.: Did the Network ever help you out in getting started in your new career or personal development?
M-C.G.: This past year I attended a few events that I thought would be worthwhile, like the Best of 2009 and some speakers' events. I found it rewarding to hear so many positive experiences. The women I met were very upbeat; listening to them is, I believe, critical to maintaining one's own motivation to progress, learn, recognize one's own strengths and play down limitations. In order to truly benefit from the network, you have to get involved personally, devote time to building relationships. I did not have as much time as I would have liked to do that this first year.
M.D.: What would you like to see by way of change?
M-C.G.: I would like to see more events that bring members together face to face, such as Business After Work meetings or Business Quick meetings, where the effectiveness of networking is well- established and where sharing best practices and problem solving ideas gives entrepreneurial women something solid to take home.
Marie-Christine created MCG Development & Consulting in 2009. She had previously worked in leading pharmaceutical groups with activities in innovative ethical business segments and was a member of the Executive Committee for Schering-Plough in the 1st subsidiary responsible for all Marketing, Strategic & Sales Operational support Departments. Prior to working for Schering-Plough, Marie-Christine worked for CIBA-GEIGY France (1989-1994). She received training as medical doctor at the Faculty of Medicine, Paris, specializing in child psychiatry. She earned an MBA from the University Hartford Business School (USA) and has participated in a medical humanitarian mission in sub-Saharian Africa.
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