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

This video features Erica Tang, an alumna of the Generation Veeva program and its Consultant Development Program (CDP), reflecting on her four years at Veeva Systems and the profound impact the development track had on her career trajectory. The primary focus is not on technical product details but on the holistic personal and professional growth fostered by the program, positioning Generation Veeva as a transformative experience rather than just a training course. Erica emphasizes that the CDP provided foundational life lessons alongside professional skills, citing examples of being pushed to try new things and develop confidence in her abilities.

A central theme of the reflection is the necessity of proactive engagement and self-trust in accelerating one’s career within the fast-paced life sciences technology sector. Erica highlights the difficulty of summarizing four years of intense development but distills the most crucial lesson: the power of staying open to new opportunities and actively pursuing them. She notes that often, the only difference between those who achieve significant milestones and those who do not is the willingness to simply "ask" for what they want or to chase a desired role or project. This perspective underscores the high-initiative culture expected of consultants working on complex Veeva implementations for pharmaceutical clients.

Furthermore, the speaker stresses the importance of community and reciprocal support within a consulting environment. Recognizing that success is never achieved in isolation, Erica advocates for the necessity of "giving back" as soon as one is able and actively creating opportunities for others to grow. This commitment to mentorship and collaborative advancement is presented as essential for achieving the best collective work. The video ultimately serves as a motivational testimonial, demonstrating how Veeva’s structured development programs aim to build not just technically proficient consultants, but confident, proactive, and socially responsible leaders ready to tackle the challenges of the life sciences industry.

Key Takeaways: • Holistic Consultant Development: The Generation Veeva program is designed to be more than a technical training track; it focuses heavily on personal development, confidence building, and pushing participants beyond their comfort zones, which is crucial for consultants handling high-stakes pharmaceutical client projects. • The Imperative of Proactivity: A core lesson imparted to new consultants is the necessity of actively seeking and "chasing" new opportunities, rather than waiting for them to be assigned. This proactive mindset is vital for success in the dynamic environment of Veeva CRM implementation and customization. • Value of Self-Trust: The program aims to instill a deep sense of self-trust and capability in its participants, enabling them to take on greater responsibility and complex challenges, such as integrating AI solutions or managing large-scale data engineering projects. • Ask for What You Want: Consultants are encouraged to practice self-advocacy, recognizing that simply asking for desired roles, projects, or resources can often be the deciding factor in career advancement within the consulting structure. • Mentorship and Reciprocity: Success in the Veeva ecosystem is viewed as a collective effort. Consultants are advised to prioritize finding ways to "give back" and create growth opportunities for colleagues as soon as they are in a position to do so, fostering a strong, supportive team environment. • Culture of Continuous Growth: The emphasis on trying new things and taking on more responsibility suggests that Veeva cultivates a culture of continuous professional evolution, which is necessary for consultants who must stay current with evolving regulatory requirements and technology (like LLMs). • Resilience through Challenge: The speaker’s reflection on being "pushed to try new things" highlights that the program uses challenges and new experiences to build resilience, a necessary trait for managing the complexities and pressures of pharmaceutical commercial operations consulting. • Teamwork for Optimal Results: The final takeaway reinforces that the best work is achieved when team members actively support each other and remember to "bring other people with us as we move forward," ensuring knowledge transfer and sustained organizational success.

Tools/Resources Mentioned:

• Generation Veeva Program: A talent development initiative at Veeva Systems.
• Consultant Development Program (CDP): A specific track within Generation Veeva focused on training new consultants.

Key Concepts:

• Veeva Systems: The foundational technology platform for pharmaceutical and life sciences commercial operations, central to the speaker's career context.
• Consultant Development Program (CDP): A structured training and mentorship program designed to rapidly onboard and develop high-potential employees into client-facing consultants.