Pharmaceutical Market Europe • July / August 2020 • 46
PEOPLE
Q&A
Anna Korving
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
At the moment, it’s our two semi-feral kittens, Solo and Chewie. My husband and I get woken up every morning by them bombing up and down the stairs to remind us it’s breakfast time.
What’s the best thing about working in healthcare comms?
The work we do has real purpose. We help improve people’s health through access to clear, well-balanced information, and that’s an extraordinary privilege.
What’s the worst thing about working in healthcare comms?
I do feel our work isn’t as highly valued as it might be, simply because of the highly regulated nature of our industry. Right now, access to trustworthy information about health couldn’t be more important.
Which buzzwords/office jargon get on your nerves?
I can’t bear it when people talk about ideation in the sense of coming up with creative ideas. And don’t get me started on blue-sky thinking…
What’s your favourite bar or eatery?
Paul Ainsworth at No.6 in Padstow, Cornwall.
Just perfect in every way.
Which book/film would you recommend above all others and why?
A Matter of Life And Death, Powell and Pressburger’s wartime classic, the story of a pilot arguing for his life in front of a celestial court.
A visual treat with real meaning.
Which person, living or dead, do you admire the most and why?
My brother Jake. When he unexpectedly survived a serious head injury he had to relearn even the most basic of skills, and his recovery has been extraordinary, defying all expectations.
Who is your healthcare comms hero/heroine?
Marjorie Wallace, the campaigning journalist whose articles in The Times, The Forgotten Illness, exposed shocking treatment of people with schizophrenia. She then founded the mental health charity SANE, which is how I met her very early on in my career. Her passion and commitment made a huge impression.
What has been your career highlight to date?
Too many to choose from! There was the day Resolute won PR Week Consultancy of the Year, the day we opened in New York, or even the day Paul Blackburn and I signed our partnership agreement. More recently I’ve loved chairing the judging at Communiqué. Winning 2016 Communiquétor of the Year was pretty cool too!
What’s your golden rule/piece of advice for someone starting a career in healthcare comms?
Don’t be in too much of a hurry – the first few years are all about learning your trade, developing skills that you’ll need throughout your career. The effort and energy you put in at the beginning will pay dividends later.
Anna Korving is an agency entrepreneur and founder of Women in Health Agency Management