Generation Veeva | Meet Erica: CDP: What I've Learned

This video features Erica Tang, an alumna of the Generation Veeva program, reflecting on her four-year tenure at Veeva Systems and the profound impact the Consultant Development Program (CDP) had on her career trajectory. The primary purpose of the testimonial is to highlight the non-technical, developmental aspects of the program, positioning it as a transformative experience that goes beyond standard professional training. Erica describes the CDP as a mechanism that "jump-started" her career, emphasizing that it taught her not only about the consulting field but also about her personal aspirations and future goals.

A central theme explored is the necessity of personal growth and self-trust in a demanding professional environment. Erica notes that prior to joining Generation Veeva, there were many things she "didn't know about myself and didn't trust myself to be capable of." The program’s structure and challenges actively pushed her to try new things, take on increased responsibilities, and ultimately build confidence in her abilities within the workplace. This suggests that Veeva's internal development strategy focuses heavily on cultivating resilient, self-assured consultants who are prepared to handle the complex demands of the life sciences technology sector.

The speaker distills her four years of learning into two core pieces of professional advice: the importance of seizing opportunities and the necessity of fostering a supportive community. She stresses that staying "open to new opportunities" and actively "chasing them" is a career game-changer. Often, the difference between success and stagnation is simply the willingness to ask for what one wants. Furthermore, Erica highlights the ethical responsibility of successful professionals to "give back" and create growth opportunities for others, asserting that the best work is achieved when teams support each other and remember to "bring other people with us as we move forward." This underscores a culture of mentorship and collective advancement within Veeva's consulting arm.

Key Takeaways: • Veeva’s Consultant Development Program (CDP) is a critical talent pipeline: The program, marketed as "Generation Veeva," is positioned as a comprehensive, career-accelerating initiative designed to build long-term consulting talent for the life sciences industry, which is a key competitive factor for firms like IntuitionLabs.ai. • Focus on Holistic Professional Development: The CDP is described as being "so much more than just a consultant development program," indicating that Veeva invests heavily in soft skills, personal confidence, and experiential learning (e.g., mentioning white water rafting) alongside technical platform expertise. • Cultivating Self-Trust is a Core Outcome: The program’s structure deliberately pushes participants outside their comfort zones to build confidence, enabling consultants to take on greater responsibility and trust their judgment in complex client situations. • Proactive Opportunity Seeking is Encouraged: Consultants are advised to not only look for new opportunities but to actively "chase them" and "ask for what you want," suggesting a high-initiative, entrepreneurial mindset is valued within Veeva’s consulting culture. • The Value of Openness to Change: Staying "open to new opportunities" is cited as one of the most important lessons learned, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of Veeva consulting roles, particularly in the rapidly changing pharmaceutical technology landscape. • Emphasis on Community and Mentorship: A strong cultural directive exists to "find ways to give back" and ensure that successful individuals create growth opportunities for others, suggesting a robust internal mentorship framework that aids in knowledge transfer and retention. • Teamwork as a Performance Driver: The video explicitly states that professionals "do our best work if we support each other [and] work together," reinforcing the importance of collaborative effort and shared success in large-scale Veeva implementations. • Strategic Talent Retention Insight: By focusing on personal growth and career acceleration, Veeva uses the CDP as a powerful tool for talent retention, ensuring that their consultants feel challenged and valued over a multi-year period (Erica mentions four years).

Key Concepts:

• Generation Veeva: The branding for Veeva Systems' career development and recruitment initiatives, specifically aimed at attracting and training new talent.
• Consultant Development Program (CDP): A structured training and mentorship program designed to rapidly onboard and elevate the skills of new consultants, focusing on both Veeva platform expertise and essential consulting competencies (e.g., client management, problem-solving, professional confidence).