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

This video provides an internal perspective on the experience of being a consultant within Veeva Systems, specifically highlighting the structure and benefits of the Consultant Development Program (CDP) during the transition to a fully virtual work environment necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker, Abby, an associate in the Research & Development (R&D) practice CDP, emphasizes the program’s role in fostering strong communication and connectivity among peers, skills that proved essential not only for professional projects but also for maintaining personal relationships during an "unusual time." The narrative centers on the importance of community and structured professional development in supporting new consultants navigating complex, high-stakes client work in a regulated industry, even when working remotely.

A significant portion of the video details the internal structure of the CDP workshops. These sessions are designed to bring together R&D practice CDP peers to discuss a range of topics, ensuring holistic skill development. The curriculum is balanced, covering both highly technical subjects relevant to Veeva’s R&D suite (which includes clinical, regulatory, and quality applications crucial for life sciences compliance) and essential soft skills. This dual focus underscores Veeva’s commitment to producing well-rounded consultants capable of handling both the deep technical requirements of pharmaceutical software implementation and the necessary client-facing communication and project management skills. The speaker shares a personal lesson learned during her time in the program: the critical need for work-life balance, illustrating this by taking a dedicated break for a walk.

The speaker highlights the unique value proposition of the Veeva CDP, differentiating it from other corporate development programs. The program is characterized by its flexibility and emphasis on self-determination, teaching associates to "find your own path and in some instances create your own path for your career." This suggests an internal culture that empowers consultants to identify gaps or emerging needs within the Veeva ecosystem and proactively develop new service offerings or career specializations. If a current career path or opportunity does not exist, the CDP structure actively supports the creation of one. This focus on entrepreneurial development within the consulting ranks is a key insight into how Veeva cultivates its talent pipeline.

Furthermore, the video stresses the enduring nature of the professional relationships forged within the initial cohort. Abby emphasizes the importance of catching up with the "ladies I started with back in August 2019," noting that these connections made in a first job are often lifelong. This focus on cohort bonding and peer support is crucial for a consulting firm like Veeva, which relies heavily on team collaboration and knowledge sharing to manage complex, multi-year implementations across the regulated life sciences landscape. The success of the CDP in maintaining this community, even when associates transitioned from traveling to client sites to working completely virtually, speaks to the robustness of Veeva's internal communication infrastructure and cultural emphasis on support.

Key Takeaways: • Veeva’s R&D Consulting Focus: The video confirms the existence and importance of a dedicated R&D practice within Veeva’s consulting arm, indicating a strong focus on solutions related to clinical data management, regulatory affairs, and quality systems, which aligns directly with the compliance needs of IntuitionLabs.ai's target pharmaceutical clients. • Holistic Consultant Training Methodology: The Consultant Development Program (CDP) utilizes a balanced curriculum, integrating both highly technical training (likely related to Vault R&D products) and essential soft skills development, confirming that Veeva invests heavily in creating consultants who are technically proficient and adept at client management. • Emphasis on Internal Connectivity: Veeva successfully leveraged its internal communication strategies to maintain strong peer connections among new consultants during the shift to remote work, suggesting robust internal platforms and a culture that prioritizes community and mental well-being (work-life balance). • Empowerment in Career Pathing: The CDP model is designed to be flexible and empowering, encouraging consultants to "create their own path" within the organization, which implies that Veeva values proactive, entrepreneurial thinking and specialization among its consulting staff. • Talent Pipeline Insight: Understanding the CDP structure provides insight into how Veeva trains its next generation of consultants. This knowledge is valuable for a consulting partner like IntuitionLabs.ai, as these CDP graduates will eventually become the client-facing Veeva experts they collaborate with on projects. • Importance of Cohort Bonding: The emphasis on lifelong connections made within the initial cohort suggests that Veeva fosters deep, long-term relationships among its employees, potentially leading to strong internal networks that external partners can leverage when seeking specialized expertise or internal champions. • Virtual Transition Success: The successful transition of consultants from traveling to client sites to completely virtual work, facilitated by the CDP’s communication training, demonstrates Veeva’s operational resilience and capability in managing large-scale remote consulting projects, a critical factor for global life sciences implementations. • R&D Practice Workshops: The regular CDP workshops serve as a mechanism for continuous learning and knowledge sharing on both technical topics and soft skills, ensuring that Veeva consultants remain current on product updates and best practices in a rapidly evolving regulatory and technological landscape.

Key Concepts:

• Veeva Consultant Development Program (CDP): An internal training and mentorship program designed to onboard and develop new consultants, focusing on both technical expertise related to Veeva products and essential professional soft skills.
• R&D Practice: Refers to the specialized consulting division within Veeva that focuses on implementing and optimizing solutions for Research & Development functions in life sciences, including Clinical Operations, Regulatory, and Quality Management (e.g., Veeva Vault R&D Suite).