What separates a good pharma sales rep from a great one? According to Jennifer Muszik, it's the ability to understand the question behind the question — the real need behind what a customer is asking.

In this episode, Jonathan Kaskey sits down with Jennifer Muszik, Head of Learning & Development at Alkermes and board member of LTEN, to unpack what it takes to build world-class training programs in the pharmaceutical industry. Jennifer shares her journey from 17 years at Pfizer to leading L&D across some of pharma's most recognized organizations — and why she almost always hires people who've actually done the job they're training others to do.

They get into the nuances of training new hires vs. seasoned veterans, how to engage your highest performers without making them feel attacked, and why former teachers and coaches often make the best pharma reps. Plus: a candid conversation about where AI can genuinely help — and where human connection is still irreplaceable.

Topics covered:

• Why field experience makes better trainers
• The "pull-through" problem after POA meetings
• Using AI for knowledge transfer (and its limits)
• How LTEN is shaping the future of pharma L&D

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Frank Sorce, Chief Commercial Officer at UPM Pharmaceuticals, to share insights into the critical decisions involved in selecting contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs).

Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice.

The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.

Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

Episode Resources:

• Frank Sorce on LinkedIn
• UPM Pharmaceuticals Website
• Jonathan Kaskey on LinkedIn
• XSUNT Corporation Website

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Dr. Simon Chowdhury, a Consultant Medical Oncologist based at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, to talk about Open Medicine, a platform designed to take what’s inside the minds of the world’s leading oncologists and make it accessible to any clinician on a mobile phone.

Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice.

The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.

Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.

Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/

Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:
www.pharmasessions.substack.com