Her Story
About RaShanda
RaShanda Cannon, MBA, is a pharmaceutical sales professional with nearly 26 years of experience in the industry, beginning her career in 2000. She currently serves as a Senior Territory Account Specialist with Novartis in the Birmingham, Alabama area, where she works in the solid tumor oncology division. Her current experience includes launching and selling therapies for metastatic breast cancer, as well as previous responsibility for products addressing advanced renal cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors. Earlier in her career, she held specialty pharmaceutical and hospital sales positions with Astellas Pharma US, Sanofi-aventis, Vanguard Medical Concepts, and Johnson & Johnson. RaShanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from The University of Alabama and earned her MBA in 2007. She has also completed managerial development and professional development programs through Emory University and Harvard University. Throughout her career, she has received numerous performance recognitions, including the National Apex Award at Novartis, the Summit Club Award at Astellas for finishing in the top 5% of the national sales force, and multiple regional and national sales awards. At Sanofi-aventis, she also served as a Certified Field Sales Trainer and participated in leadership and training responsibilities, including helping train new sales representatives. RaShanda attributes her success to combining her interest in science and medicine with her business background, while emphasizing the importance of mentorship, discipline, and dedication. She encourages aspiring pharmaceutical sales professionals to build strong outside sales experience and develop a foundation in business or science. Her professional experience spans oncology, cardiovascular, hospital, specialty pharmaceutical, and medical device sales, with a career centered on healthcare provider engagement, sales execution, and pharmaceutical education.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with RaShanda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for helping patients and my interest in medicine, combined with my background in business. I have always had a strong interest in science, and earning my degree in marketing gave me a business foundation that complimented that interest. Pharmaceutical sales has allowed me to bring those interests together while applying my business skills in a healthcare environment.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to find a mentor while building my career. I have been fortunate to have several mentors throughout my time in the industry, and their guidance has helped me continually develop professionally and perform in my role at a high level.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women interested in pharmaceutical sales to gain outside sales experience, ideally with a demonstrated record of sales success. In my experience, hiring managers look for candidates who have approximately two to three years of strong outside sales experience and documented success. I would also recommend pursuing a four-year degree in business, science, or a related field, as both business and scientific knowledge can be valuable foundations for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in pharmaceutical sales is gaining access to customers. Oncologists are extremely busy caring for patients, which can make it difficult to secure time with them. This can be particularly challenging in university settings, where oncologists often have demanding clinical and academic responsibilities, making access to these healthcare professionals especially difficult.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Discipline and dedication are extremely important to me. Pharmaceutical sales requires a high degree of self-motivation because I am responsible for managing my own schedule and making sure I get up, get out, and do the work each day. I value having the discipline to stay consistent and the dedication to perform my job to the best of my ability.
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