Alumnus from the International Master in Marketing, Daniel Krug, is now working as First Line Sales Manager in AstraZeneca. With vast experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Daniel has worked for Bayer for 5 years. After that he worked for the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson for almost a year. Finishing his work at Janssen, he came to Barcelona to study the International Master in Marketing at EADA and once he graduated he went back to Berlin, where he’s from and started working in AstraZeneca.
We caught up with him and asked him what his current job is and how it is affected by COVID-19. This is what he told us:
1. Tell us about your current job position at AstraZeneca. What are your daily responsibilities as First Line Sales Manager?
Working as a First Line Sales Manager is a very diversified position which allows you to cover a huge array of tasks and responsibilities. Together with my team of Therapeutic Area Specialists we are on the one hand responsible to strategically navigate operations in our region while on the other hand working closely together with customers and the cross-functional team to carry out scientific activities and events.
2. How has the pandemic affected your job?
Starting in a new organization and taking over leadership responsibility for the first time certainly is a challenge itself. For sure, the pandemic made it more difficult to get to know the team in person in the beginning. However, through creativity and passion from each and everyone we quickly found our very own team spirit!
3. What is the most challenging part of your current position? And the most rewarding?
Working as a link between my team and other First Line Sales Managers, the Head of Marketing and Sales as well as back office departments such as Marketing, Medical, and Digital for example can be a stretch sometimes and needs you to cover a variety of different topics. In the end, however, the biggest reward is to see your team strive and to celebrate every team members’ success – either big or small – as a team.
It was the study program at EADA that gave me the confidence to apply for my first leadership position. The mix of hard and soft skills paired with specific leadership development modules made me curious to take over this responsibility in real life."
4. How did you get the opportunity to work for AstraZeneca?
In fact, it was the study program at EADA that gave me the confidence to apply for my first leadership position. The mix of hard and soft skills paired with specific leadership development modules made me curious to take over this responsibility in real life. Fortunately, AstraZeneca puts great efforts and emphasis on talent development and enables young professionals to take over responsibility at an early stage.
5. Why did you decide to come to Barcelona and study the International Master in Marketing?
After my cooperative study program in International Business Administration in Germany I was always convinced that I wanted to deepen my knowledge in marketing specifically. With its very international focus and its student diversity, the International Master in Marketing at EADA with its city campus in the heart of Barcelona was appealing to me from the very start.
I can only recommend trying to get early insights for example from peers working in the industry already or doing an internship. Of course, I am always happy to share some insights and my perspective! "
6. What advice would you give to future students interested in working in the pharmaceutical industry?
Since the pharmaceutical industry and market are highly regulated, marketing and sales activities are very different from “Fast Moving Consumer Goods” (FMCG) for example. However, putting patients first in your everyday actions is such a rewarding purpose and thus I can only recommend trying to get early insights for example from peers working in the industry already or doing an internship. Of course, I am always happy to share some insights and my perspective!
