Oncology Career
Curated books, podcasts, and articles — with one concrete move on every card.
Networking & Mentorship
85 cards on this shelf
Essentials · Book
Run your search with a small council — never job-hunt in isolation.
Terry's "job search council" method brings peer support and accountability to a lonely process.
Oncology is a small world; a few trusted peers open doors and keep you honest. This makes that structured.
Invite three peers to be your search council this week.
Essentials · Book
A data-driven system to land interviews without drowning in applications.
Dalton replaces spray-and-pray applying with a targeted list-and-contact method.
In oncology's tight networks, referrals beat portals — this systematizes getting to the right people.
Build your target list of 20 employers today, then rank them.
Essentials · Episode
How to stand out in a saturated MSL market: do what others won't.
Kunal Ramani shares his "do what others don't" philosophy with Tom Caravela — breaking into medical affairs through proactive networking, informational interviews, and relentless curiosity.
The MSL market is crowded; the candidates who go beyond the standard playbook are the ones who break through.
Do one thing in your job search this week that most candidates won't bother to do.
Essentials · Episode
A first-hand account of landing the first MSL role — what worked and what didn't.
Julie Chen shares with Tom Caravela her job-search journey into the MSL role — tailoring CVs, leveraging mentorship, networking, and managing the frustrations along the way.
For oncology candidates breaking in, an honest account of one person's path — including the missteps — is a practical guide.
Tailor your CV to one specific MSL role and ask a mentor to review it.
Essentials · Episode
An eight-step system to get more MSL interviews — from goals to follow-up.
Tom Caravela lays out an eight-step job-search process for aspiring MSLs: set goals, research the role, organize, tailor your resume, network strategically, and follow up well.
A scattered job search wastes effort; a structured eight-step process is how oncology candidates convert applications into actual interviews.
Pick the one of his eight steps you're weakest on right now and tighten it this week.
Essentials · Episode
A fresh MSL's inside account of how she actually landed the role from academia.
Amanda Vaughn shares with Tom Caravela exactly how she moved from academia into her first MSL role — the networking, the interview prep, and how she stood out.
For oncology academics eyeing industry, a real, recent first-hand account of the transition is more useful than generic advice.
Map the one networking step that someone who recently broke in would tell you to take — then take it.
Essentials · Episode
Break into your first MSL role by getting creative — the 70/30 networking rule and more.
Alec McCarthy shares his creative path into the MSL field with Tom Caravela — the 70/30 networking rule, sharp messaging to senior leaders, and using scientific publishing to stand out.
Breaking into oncology field medical is hard through the front door; creative, proactive tactics are what get first-timers noticed.
Apply the 70/30 rule — spend most of your job-search energy on networking, not application forms.
Essentials · Episode
One professional's journey from pharma sales to MSL — setbacks and all.
Jeremy McLemore shares with Tom Caravela how he moved from pharmaceutical sales to the MSL role despite setbacks, crediting networking, adaptability, and resilience.
For oncology sales professionals eyeing field medical, a real story of persistence through rejection is both map and motivation.
Write your MSL goal down and take one concrete step toward it this week, setbacks and all.
Essentials · Episode
First-MSL tips from someone who just landed the role — fresh from the trenches.
Kyle Householder shares with Tom Caravela exactly how he landed his first MSL role — the first steps, networking dos and don'ts, and resume and cover-letter advice.
Advice from someone who just broke into oncology field medical is current and credible in a way seasoned advice isn't.
Apply one "do" and avoid one "don't" from his networking advice this week.
Essentials · Episode
Why hiring aspiring MSLs is smart — and how to be the one who gets hired.
Alyson Evans makes the case to Tom Caravela for hiring aspiring MSLs, comparing them to experienced hires and advising newcomers to lean on networking and purposeful diversity.
For oncology candidates breaking in, understanding why a company would bet on an aspiring MSL helps you make that bet easy to say yes to.
Frame your "aspiring MSL" pitch around the upside a company gets from your fresh expertise, not your gaps.
Essentials · Episode
How two aspiring MSLs landed their roles by partnering up.
Sierra Birch and George Lehman share with Tom Caravela how an organic partnership helped them both land MSL roles — the strategies and accountability that made it work.
The oncology job search is isolating; a partner for accountability and shared strategy can accelerate it for both.
Find one job-search partner to share strategy and accountability with this month.
Essentials · Episode
Why breaking into oncology is so hard — and how to do it anyway.
Mary Miao shares with Tom Caravela the unique challenges of breaking into oncology field medical — how it differs from other therapeutic areas, and how to network and prepare for oncology MSL roles.
Oncology is the most competitive and specialized field-medical space; knowing what makes it hard is the first step to getting in.
Connect with one person already working in oncology field medical and ask what got them in.
Essentials · Article
A hiring freeze doesn't mean your recruiting stops — here's how to win talent while everyone else waits.
Pietrack argues hiring is a competition for the same pool, so even during a freeze your activity shouldn't freeze: keep networking and having informal conversations with top talent now.
Oncology hiring managers lose ground in freezes by going quiet. Staying active positions you to win the best people the moment the freeze lifts.
Connect with one person you'd want to hire when your freeze ends — this week, no opening required.
Essentials · Episode
The behavioral competencies that build a long, stable career.
Norwood Harris shares with Tom Caravela the competencies behind career longevity — networking, strong internal relationships, managing your manager, and navigating mergers.
Oncology careers weather mergers and reorgs; the relational competencies that build stability are worth developing early.
Strengthen one internal relationship this month that would help you weather a reorg.
Essentials · Episode
Your company just got acquired — now what? How to navigate the upheaval.
Steve St. Onge shares with Tom Caravela the realities of pharmaceutical acquisitions — the transition, the emotional and strategic aspects, and how to manage your career through them.
Acquisitions are constant in oncology; knowing how to navigate one protects your career when it happens to you.
Focus on what you control — your performance, network, and options — when an acquisition looms.
Essentials · Article
Recruiters search LinkedIn like a database — your headline and keywords decide whether you surface.
A strong LinkedIn profile is built for search and for humans: the headline (weighted heavily) should go beyond your job title to say what you do, who you help, and your specialty with real keywords; the About section uses its first ~200 characters as a hook, then tells your story in the first person with proof; a professional photo, a banner, target-role keywords throughout, and recommendations round it out — completeness alone surfaces you in far more searches.
87% of recruiters source on LinkedIn; for oncology professionals, the right therapeutic-area keywords in your headline and About are what get you found for the right roles.
Rewrite your headline to include your specialty and the keywords recruiters in your field actually search.
Essentials · Episode
How introverts can thrive as MSLs by stepping — authentically — out of their comfort zone.
Cathy Andorfer explores with Tom Caravela the introvert's path in the MSL role — overcoming fear, building resilience, and creating a personal brand that stays authentic.
Many oncology MSLs are introverts in an extrovert-coded role; this reframes that as a strength to leverage, not hide.
Pick one networking action outside your comfort zone and do it this week — authentically, your way.
Essentials · Article
The single most important conversation skill isn't talking — it's listening.
Radio host Celeste Headlee distills decades of interviewing into ten rules for better conversations: be present (don't multitask), don't pontificate, ask open-ended questions, go with the flow, say so when you don't know, don't equate your experience with theirs, don't repeat yourself, skip the weeds, and above all, listen — because if your mouth is open, you're not learning. It all boils down to being genuinely interested in other people.
MSLs live in conversations with KOLs and colleagues; truly listening — not waiting to reply — is what builds the trust that scientific exchange depends on.
Listen fully without planning your reply in your next conversation, then ask one open-ended follow-up.
Essentials · Article
Six research-backed levers — reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking, and social proof — quietly shape every “yes.”
Robert Cialdini's research distills persuasion into six principles: reciprocity (we repay favors), commitment and consistency (we align with our prior actions), social proof (we follow others, especially when unsure), authority (we defer to credible experts), liking (we say yes to those we like), and scarcity (we value what's limited) — with a seventh, unity, added later.
MSLs and medical-affairs professionals influence KOLs and cross-functional teams every day; understanding these levers helps you persuade ethically — and recognize when they're being used on you.
Pick one upcoming ask, and strengthen it with the principle that fits best — authority, social proof, or reciprocity.
Essentials · Episode
How to map and rank your KOLs — the foundation of effective engagement.
Keely Dahl shares with Tom Caravela her KOL-mapping expertise — identifying and ranking KOLs, cross-functional coordination, outreach methods, and conference networking.
Good KOL mapping focuses an oncology MSL's limited time on the relationships that matter most.
Re-rank your KOL list by strategic priority, and focus next week's outreach on the top tier.
Essentials · Episode
How breaking down silos — and elevating the patient voice — is reshaping oncology drug development.
Dr. Ramin Farhood and Dr. Kirk Shepard, co-authors of "Voices of Oncology," share with host Joe Pardavila how breaking silos and bringing every perspective to the table is reshaping oncology drug development.
Silos slow oncology progress; this lays out the collaboration-first philosophy at the heart of the Oncology Voices Network.
Identify one silo in your work, and take one step to bring a missing perspective to the table.
Essentials · Episode
The highlights from Fierce Pharma Engage 2025 — and what they signal for medical affairs.
Tom Caravela and Patrina Pellett recap Fierce Pharma Engage 2025 — the sessions, keynotes, networking, and the future of AI in the industry.
Industry conferences set the agenda for oncology medical affairs; a recap keeps you current without attending.
Pick one takeaway from a recent industry conference recap and apply it to your work this month.
Essentials · Episode
How AI digital twins could speed up clinical trials — from an oncologist-author.
Dr. Chadi Nabhan shares with Michael Pietrack how AI digital twins can accelerate clinical trials and cut costs, plus lessons from mentorship and a multifaceted oncology career.
AI is reshaping oncology trials; understanding innovations like digital twins keeps you ahead of where the field is heading.
Learn one way AI is changing clinical trials in your therapeutic area.
Essentials · Article
An informational interview isn't an interrogation — it's a career conversation built on genuine connection.
In Harvard Business Review, Sean O'Keefe frames the informational interview as a “career conversation” — land it with a short, polite outreach, open with small talk and open-ended questions, and never ask for a job; let human connection drive it.
For oncology professionals exploring a new role or company, these conversations reveal what a job is really like — and quietly build the network that surfaces opportunities.
Set up one informational interview this month, and go in to learn — not to ask for a job.
Essentials · Article
Givers can be the lowest performers — or the highest. The difference is worth knowing.
Organizational psychologist Adam Grant explains that workplaces hold givers, takers, and matchers, and that givers cluster at both the bottom and the top of performance; the goal is building cultures where givers succeed, because you just have to find small ways to add large value to other people's lives.
In oncology's relationship-driven, reputation-long world, being a smart, sustainable giver compounds into the kind of network that lifts everyone — including you.
Find one small way this week to add real value to a colleague, with no expectation of return.
Essentials · Article
Most professionals build one kind of network — and it quietly caps how far they rise.
In Harvard Business Review, Herminia Ibarra and Mark Hunter identify three networks every leader needs — operational (to do your current job), personal (kindred spirits outside the org for learning and advancement), and strategic (relationships that help you spot and seize new opportunities) — and find most people over-invest in operational and neglect the other two.
Oncology professionals who only know their immediate colleagues miss the personal and strategic ties that surface new roles, collaborations, and direction.
Audit your network into the three types, and add one person to your weakest category.
Essentials · Article
Networking only feels transactional if you treat it that way — see people as humans first.
In Harvard Business Review, Susan McPherson argues the antidote to transactional networking is to treat everyone as a human rather than a work contact, nurture relationships even when you need nothing, and use listening to follow up on what others care about.
Oncology is a small, relationship-driven world; the people who build genuine connections — not contact lists — are the ones others want to help.
Reach out to one contact this week with no ask — just to follow up on something they care about.
Essentials · Article
The ask is everything: be specific about how much time you want, and make it easy to say yes.
Indeed's guide to requesting an informational interview advises being specific (“30 minutes about your experience in X” beats “a few questions”), acknowledging the person's time is valuable, and suggesting times while staying flexible on format.
Busy oncology leaders say yes to clear, respectful, low-burden requests; a vague ask gets ignored.
Draft one outreach message that names a specific time ask and why you chose that person.
Essentials · Article
The easiest way to start a mentor relationship: ask for a conversation, not a commitment.
The University of Miami's career center advises early-career professionals to seek both mentors and sponsors — “mentors talk with you; sponsors talk about you” — and to open a mentor relationship by asking for a single conversation rather than a formal commitment.
Aspiring oncology professionals often hesitate to “ask someone to be my mentor”; a low-pressure first conversation is far easier to say yes to.
Ask one admired professional for a single conversation about how they navigated their early career.
Essentials · Article
The strongest networkers give first — expertise, a resource, an introduction — before they ever ask.
Thunderbird's networking guide stresses leading with generosity: offer your expertise, share useful resources, and introduce people who'd benefit from knowing each other, rather than approaching networking as what you can extract.
In oncology's tight community, a reputation for giving first is what makes people glad to take your call years later.
Make one introduction this week between two people in your network who'd benefit from knowing each other.
Essentials · Article
A strong career isn't one mentor — it's a portfolio: boss, mentor, mentee, advocate, challenger, and more.
Rachel B. Simon describes the eight essential professional connections everyone needs — a boss, a mentor, a mentee, a trusted colleague, an advocate, a person of influence, a challenger, and yourself — arguing no single relationship is enough on its own.
Oncology careers are long and winding; a deliberate portfolio of relationships — a personal board — carries you further than any one connection.
Map your eight essential connections, and identify the one role you're missing.
Essentials · Article
“Mentors advise; sponsors act” — and most people have far more of the first than the second.
Drawing on Sylvia Ann Hewlett's research, Northwestern Mutual notes that sponsors actively advocate and open doors (and expect you to deliver), that sponsorship may matter even more than mentorship for advancement, and that many professionals are over-mentored but under-sponsored.
In competitive oncology organizations, advancement often hinges on someone with power championing you — not just advising you.
Deliver visibly on one high-stakes project, so a potential sponsor has a reason to advocate for you.
Essentials · Article
The hiring market is turning back toward candidates in 2026 — here's how to be ready for it.
Riley argues the brutal 2023–2025 employer's market is shifting as pipelines mature and activity accelerates into 2026 — and execution requires people, so demand for talent is rebounding.
Timing matters in an oncology career. Reading the market turn early lets you move before the crowd does — whether you're hiring or job-hunting.
Re-activate your network and search now, before the market fully turns — don't wait out the downturn.
Essentials · Article
A mentor gives you advice; a sponsor advocates for you when you're not in the room.
In Harvard Business Review, Janice Omadeke clarifies a distinction people often blur: mentorship is mostly advice and feedback, while sponsorship is someone directly advocating for you — and sponsorship can grow out of a strong mentor relationship.
Many oncology professionals invest only in mentors and wonder why their visibility stalls; knowing the difference tells you what to seek and when.
Name your current mentors, then identify one person with influence who could become a sponsor.
Essentials · Book
Clarify your message so people instantly get who you are and what you offer.
Miller's framework makes the audience the hero and you the guide — clarity over cleverness.
Whether branding yourself for a pivot or positioning your team's work, a muddled message gets ignored. This sharpens it.
Write your one-liner: who you help, the problem you solve, and the result.
Essentials · Book
Build a real network of relationships — generously, not transactionally.
Ferrazzi's relationship-first approach: give before you ask, and stay connected before you need anything.
Oncology is a small, relationship-driven world; generous people become the ones everyone wants to hire and collaborate with.
Reconnect with one dormant contact this week — with something useful for them, and no ask.
Essentials · Book
Reposition and rebrand your career when you're ready for the next thing.
Clark's playbook for deliberately shifting how you're known and moving into a new professional identity.
Oncology careers pivot often — clinic to industry, scientist to leader; being intentional about your reputation makes the move land.
Ask three colleagues what they think you're known for — then decide if that's what you want.
Essentials · Book
A candid career playbook for women of color — the success advice usually left unsaid.
Harts names the specific obstacles women of color face at work and gives direct, practical strategies.
Oncology's workforce is diverse and its leadership often isn't; this speaks to professionals navigating that gap.
Identify one "success table" you're not at yet, and one person who could help you reach it.
Essentials · Episode
From novice MSL to global medical excellence leader — a journey built on mentors and sponsors.
Dr. Tanya Johnson shares with Tom Caravela her rise from novice MSL to global medical leader, crediting networking and the distinct roles of mentors and sponsors in proactive career management.
Understanding the difference between mentors and sponsors — and using both — is what propels oncology careers to the top.
Identify whether you need a mentor or a sponsor for your next step — and start cultivating that specific relationship.
Essentials · Episode
How one brave LinkedIn message turned into a real friendship — and what it teaches about networking.
Josh Yoder and Kirsten Borbe tell Tom Caravela how a single LinkedIn message became a genuine friendship, making the case for authentic, brave networking built on brevity, authenticity, and altruism.
Oncology's network is small and relationship-driven; the courage to reach out authentically — not transactionally — is what builds the connections that last.
Send one genuine, brief, no-ask LinkedIn message to someone you'd like to know in the field.
Essentials · Episode
The best of 100 episodes — the MSL insights and career tips that mattered most.
In MSL Talk's 100th episode, Tom Caravela revisits the podcast's most valuable threads — emotional intelligence, career transitions, field medical excellence, job-search strategy, and networking.
A distilled best-of is a fast way for oncology professionals to absorb years of field-medical career wisdom in one sitting.
Pick the one recurring theme here that's your weak spot — EQ, networking, or job search — and go deeper on it.
Essentials · Episode
How DEMA and networking are expanding diversity in Medical Affairs.
Rachel Kennedy, Lashondra Taylor, and Nirav Shah share with Tom Caravela the mission of DEMA and how networking opens doors for new MSLs and job seekers.
Diversity strengthens oncology medical affairs; networking organizations like DEMA help widen who gets in.
Join one professional community that broadens your network beyond your current circle.
Essentials · Episode
How clinicians make great MSLs — including in medical devices.
Maria Abunto shares with Tom Caravela her path from clinical practice to MSL in the medical device industry, on why clinicians fit the role and the value of mentors and coaches.
Medical device is an under-known MSL path; for oncology clinicians, it widens the options beyond pharma.
List the device or diagnostic MSL paths your clinical background could open.
Essentials · Episode
What separates good MSLs from great ones — attitude, gratitude, and proactivity.
Sanaz Cardoza explores with Tom Caravela the nuances between good and great MSLs — the role of attitude, gratitude, proactivity, and mentorship.
The gap between good and great in oncology field medical is often mindset, not knowledge; this names what to cultivate.
Pick one "great MSL" trait — proactivity or gratitude — and practice it deliberately this week.
Essentials · Episode
One MSL's journey in — mentorship, networking, and transferable skills.
Lana Lucidi shares with Tom Caravela her transition into the MSL role, stressing mentorship, networking, leveraging transferable skills, and targeting the right companies.
For oncology professionals eyeing the MSL role, knowing how to target the right companies focuses an otherwise scattered search.
Build a short list of companies whose therapeutic focus matches your background, and target them.
Essentials · Episode
How collaboration accelerates cancer cures — from the creator of the Oncology Voices Network.
Dr. Kirk Shepard shares with Michael Pietrack the mission behind the Oncology Voices Network and "Voices of Oncology" — how uniting cross-functional stakeholders accelerates cancer drug development.
Collaboration across oncology functions is what speeds therapies to patients; this is the vision behind OVN itself.
Identify one cross-functional partner whose collaboration could accelerate your current work.
Essentials · Episode
How to land a US MSL role as an international candidate — visas and all.
Matteo Ottolini shares with Tom Caravela the realities of transitioning into a US MSL role as an international candidate — visa types, work authorization, and the networking strategies that help.
International oncology professionals face extra hurdles breaking into the US market; practical visa and networking guidance is rare and valuable.
Learn which visa pathways your target employers actually sponsor before you apply.
Essentials · Episode
Imposter syndrome hits even the accomplished — here's how to navigate it.
Tom Caravela candidly shares his own imposter syndrome and practical ways through it: self-awareness, recognizing real achievements, and leaning on a supportive network.
Oncology is full of brilliant peers, which makes imposter feelings common even among the highly capable. Naming and managing it keeps self-doubt from stalling your career.
Write down three concrete achievements you've earned — and revisit the list next time self-doubt hits.
Essentials · Episode
The MSL role can be lonely — here's how to cope and stay connected.
Trish Gorecki shares with Tom Caravela the isolation that can come with the MSL role — and coping strategies built on mentorship, networking, and handling setbacks.
The autonomy of oncology field medical can be isolating; building connection deliberately protects wellbeing and performance.
Reach out to one peer or mentor this week to counter the isolation of the field role.
Essentials · Episode
How to ask for a job referral the right way — without the awkwardness.
George Lehman shares with Tom Caravela the etiquette of referrals — whom to ask, how to reach out even with no prior connection, and how to avoid awkward requests on LinkedIn.
Referrals open more oncology doors than applications; knowing how to ask well multiplies your job-search reach.
Ask one person for a referral this week using a specific, low-pressure, easy-to-say-yes message.
Essentials · Episode
Why mentorship is one of the biggest accelerators in an MSL career — and how to actually find it.
Prashant Desai joins Tom Caravela to unpack how mentorship shapes an MSL career, with practical strategies for finding mentors, using LinkedIn, and bringing passion and accountability to the relationship.
In oncology field medical, the right mentor can shortcut years of trial and error. This is how to seek one out rather than wait to be found.
Identify one person you admire in the field and send a specific, low-ask message to start a mentor relationship this week.
Essentials · Episode
How an industry MD found medical affairs success — and the mentorship that made it possible.
Mena Boules shares with Tom Caravela his journey from clinical practice to pharma, crediting mentorship for navigating the learning curve and offering advice for aspiring MSLs.
For physicians moving into oncology industry roles, this maps the transition and the mentorship that smooths it.
Schedule one mentorship conversation this month — to learn from someone ahead of you or guide someone behind.
Essentials · Episode
Why the people around you shape your career — and how to choose them.
Sarah Snyder shares with Tom Caravela the case for building a motivational network — surrounding yourself with people who challenge and support you.
Career satisfaction in oncology is shaped by who's around you; a deliberate network of supporters and challengers compounds.
Identify one person who challenges you and one who supports you, and invest in both.
Essentials · Episode
The hard truths about the MSL role that no one warns you about.
Kirsten Gurtowsky shares with Tom Caravela the less-glamorous realities of the MSL role — the challenges behind the flexibility — alongside strategies for KOL relationships and networking.
A realistic view of oncology field medical helps you enter it with eyes open and prepare for the hard parts.
List one downside of the MSL role you'd struggle with, and plan how you'd manage it.
Essentials · Episode
Why networking is the MSL's most underrated career skill — from a hem/onc field leader.
Amy Misnick, a hematology-oncology MSL director at Janssen, joins Tom Caravela on how networking drives an MSL career — from breaking in to moving into management.
In oncology field medical, who knows you shapes your opportunities as much as what you know; this is networking advice from someone who hires.
Reach out to one person in a role you aspire to, with a specific, genuine question.
Essentials · Episode
The 2025 job market, decoded — and how to navigate a tough one.
Bridget Rasmusson gives Tom Caravela a read on the 2025 job market: the economic forces squeezing it, and strategies to navigate — networking, reading hiring-manager expectations, and showing genuine enthusiasm.
Oncology job-seekers need an accurate market read to set expectations and tactics; this is a recruiter's current-state briefing.
Adjust your search to the current market — lead with networking and visible enthusiasm, not just applications.
Essentials · Episode
How to choose the right conferences — and prepare to get real value from them.
George Lehman shares with Tom Caravela how MSLs decide which conferences to attend, set clear goals and deliverables, network effectively, and stay compliant.
Conferences are prime oncology KOL and networking opportunities; preparing with goals turns attendance into impact.
Set three specific goals and a short list of people to meet before your next conference.
Essentials · Episode
How a successful MSL actually builds the relationships that define the role.
Bernadett Mamone shares how she became a successful MSL — through continuous development (HBA, MSL Society, Toastmasters), strong KOL relationships, and deliberate networking.
KOL and peer relationships are the engine of oncology field medical; this is a concrete look at how a top MSL builds and sustains them.
Join or re-engage one professional development group — the MSL Society or Toastmasters — to sharpen your relationship skills.
Essentials · Episode
What a "community" MSL team is — and why it's an opportunity for aspiring MSLs.
Bobby Faison explains community MSL teams to Tom Caravela — their role in KOL mapping and engagement, and how they create entry-level openings for aspiring MSLs.
Community MSL roles are an under-recognized on-ramp into oncology field medical; knowing they exist opens a door many candidates miss.
Look into whether community MSL roles exist in your target companies — they may be your way in.
Essentials · Episode
You landed the MSL role — now what? How to start strong.
Julie Chen shares with Tom Caravela the early-MSL experience at Janssen — the training, building relationships with teammates and mentors, and using emotional intelligence to forge strong KOL ties.
The first months as an oncology MSL set your trajectory; knowing how to start strong matters as much as landing the role.
Prioritize one relationship with a teammate and one with a mentor in your first 90 days.
Essentials · Article
Smart, hard-working, and hitting targets isn't enough — promotions run on visibility and sponsorship.
In Harvard Business Review, executive coach Michael Wenderoth explains that beyond doing good work, advancement depends on being politically savvy, networking strategically, and building social capital: study who actually gets promoted, learn who holds sway over the decision, and then make your relevant work visible while securing a sponsor who advocates for you.
In oncology organizations, the field or lab work that earns respect often happens out of leadership's sight; deliberately building visibility and sponsorship is how that work gets rewarded.
Study the last few people promoted in your org, and map what they did, with whom, and how they showed up.
Essentials · Book
How givers — not takers — end up ahead at work.
Grant's research on how generous givers build the relationships and reputation that drive success.
In oncology's tight network, a reputation for generosity compounds into opportunities for years.
Do one five-minute favor for a colleague this week with no expectation of return.
Essentials · Book
Why your 20s and 30s matter more than you think — and how to use them.
Jay argues early-career choices about work, identity, and relationships compound powerfully.
Early oncology choices — specialty, first role, mentors — shape decades; a nudge to be intentional now.
Make one "identity capital" move this month — a skill, relationship, or experience.
Essentials · Book
Thrive when careers no longer climb a straight ladder.
Tupper and Ellis on navigating non-linear careers through strengths, values, and networks.
Oncology careers zigzag — clinic to industry, function to function; this makes the squiggle a strategy.
List your top five strengths and where each could take you next.
Essentials · Book
Manage your career like a start-up — adapt, network, take smart risks.
The LinkedIn founder's framework for treating your career as a venture in permanent beta.
In a fast-moving field, the adaptable and well-connected outlast those who stand still.
Identify one "small bet" — a project or connection — that could open a new path.
Essentials · Book
The people, paths, and turning points of careers across oncology — in their own words.
Voices from across the whole ecosystem — clinicians, researchers, industry leaders, advocates — showing that oncology advances through people and relationships, not science alone.
It's the map of the world you're building a career in. Wherever you sit — bench, bedside, industry, or advocacy — you'll find someone whose path rhymes with yours, and see how the pieces connect.
Find the one voice whose career you want, and name the single move they made that you haven't yet.
Essentials · Episode
How an unconventional background can become your MSL advantage.
Marc Bernarducci shares with Tom Caravela his unconventional path into the MSL role, stressing networking, tenacity, patience, coachability, and learning from mistakes.
Many oncology MSLs come from non-linear paths; this validates the unconventional route and the traits it rewards.
Reframe one "unconventional" part of your background as a distinctive strength in your pitch.
Essentials · Episode
What "career currency" is — and why your internal network is the bank.
Rachel Couchenour of Travere Therapeutics shares with Tom Caravela the idea of career currency — why a strong internal network matters and the opportunities it unlocks.
Oncology careers advance through internal relationships as much as external; building career currency early compounds over time.
Invest in one internal relationship this week that builds your long-term career currency.
Essentials · Episode
Why gratitude — done consistently — is an underrated engine of career advancement.
Tom Caravela makes the case that genuine, consistent gratitude — in emails, after meetings, throughout the year — strengthens professional relationships and quietly advances MSL careers.
Oncology runs on relationships; the professionals remembered warmly are the ones who expressed real appreciation. It's a small habit with outsized career returns.
Send one specific, sincere thank-you to a colleague or mentor today — not for anything owed, just earned.
Essentials · Episode
Ten tips to make yourself the obvious choice for your next promotion.
Bridget Rasmusson gives Tom Caravela ten promotability tips for MSLs — setting realistic timelines, vocalizing your goals, and leaning on mentorship and servant leadership.
Oncology promotions go to those who make their ambitions visible and earn them; this is the concrete how.
Vocalize your next career goal to your manager — out loud and specifically — so it's on their radar.
Essentials · Article
You don't need a title to lead — you need deep expertise and real relationships.
Harvard Business School Online explains that influencing without authority starts with developing expertise so deep you can speak to it — and making sure others know what you know — then building genuine relationships that let you understand colleagues' motivations.
MSLs and medical affairs professionals influence KOLs and cross-functional teams without any authority over them; expertise plus relationships is exactly how they lead.
Pick one cross-functional partner, and invest in understanding what actually motivates them.
Essentials · Book
The coaching playbook of Bill Campbell, who mentored Silicon Valley's best.
Campbell's principles for building teams, trust, and people who outperform.
As you move from doing to leading in oncology, coaching others becomes the job.
Ask more than you tell in your next 1:1 — lead with a question.
Essentials · Episode
How to make the leap from MSL to people manager — intentionally.
Annette Ogbru shares with Tom Caravela her path from MSL to medical affairs leader: showcasing leadership early, leaning on mentorship and formal programs, and leading with humility.
The MSL-to-manager jump is a pivotal oncology career step; doing it intentionally — not by accident — is what makes it stick.
Showcase one leadership behavior now, before you have the title, so the promotion feels inevitable.
Essentials · Episode
When — and why — to bring in an executive coach for your career.
Coach Dana Paskalis explains to Tom Caravela the role of coaching in career development — the difference between a mentor and a coach, and when professional guidance is worth seeking.
Oncology professionals often confuse mentors and coaches; knowing when a coach helps can unlock a stalled career.
Decide whether your next growth challenge needs a mentor or a coach — and seek the right one.
Essentials · Episode
A pioneer's view of immuno-oncology's future — and the leadership behind it.
Dr. Mark Frohlich, a Harvard-trained oncologist and CEO, shares with Michael Pietrack his pioneering work in immuno-oncology and leadership lessons — focusing on what only the leader can do, and seeking mentors.
Immuno-oncology is reshaping cancer care; hearing from a pioneer connects the science to the leadership driving it.
Identify the one task only you can do in your role, and protect time for it.
Essentials · Episode
The five C's of leadership — and the coaching-tree approach to growing others.
Josh Schwartz of BeOne shares with Michael Pietrack his "five Cs" of leadership — caring, communication, culture, challenge, and career development — and the coaching-tree approach to mentorship.
Oncology leaders who develop others build lasting coaching trees; the five Cs give a clear framework to lead by.
Pick one of the five C's — caring, communication, culture, challenge, or career development — and strengthen it as a leader.
Essentials · Episode
"See one, be one, teach one" — how to grow into a leader by lifting others.
Abi Adenola shares with Tom Caravela how mentorship — given and received daily — drove her path from pharmacy to MSL leadership, alongside networking and persistence.
Teaching and mentoring others is how oncology professionals deepen their own expertise and visibility as leaders.
Teach one thing you know to a more junior colleague this week — leadership starts there.
Essentials · Episode
How to make the leap from MSL to Medical Affairs manager — politics and all.
Gina Ferrari shares with Tom Caravela her path to MSL manager, stressing taking on extra responsibility, mentorship, and mastering internal networking and company politics.
The IC-to-leader jump in oncology requires skills beyond the science; this names the political and relational ones that matter.
Take on one stretch responsibility now that signals you're ready to lead.
Essentials · Episode
Build your own personal "board of directors" to guide your MSL career — here's how.
Marieke Jonkman shows MSLs how to assemble a personal board of directors — a hand-picked group of advisors — and how to select, approach, and nurture those relationships over time.
No single mentor covers everything an oncology career needs. A small board gives you varied guidance for the different decisions you'll face.
List the three roles you'd want on your personal board — a sponsor, a skills coach, a truth-teller — and name one person for each.
Essentials · Episode
Why some medical affairs professionals consistently rise — and the career advice you should ignore.
Drawing on three decades and hundreds of placements, Tom Caravela tells Dr. Kirk Shepard what really moves MA careers in oncology: intentional relationships, cross-functional communication, and a growth mindset matter as much as scientific expertise.
In oncology medical affairs, technical brilliance alone plateaus; the professionals who rise pair expertise with relationships. This names what to actually invest in.
Invest in one relationship this week that has nothing to do with an immediate deliverable — the network that compounds.
Essentials · Episode
One MSL's pivot into recruiting — and what it reveals about both roles.
Sarah Snyder shares with Tom Caravela her move from MSL to recruiter, on the parallels between the roles, the value of networking, and building recruiter-candidate relationships.
Understanding how recruiters think — from a former MSL — helps oncology candidates work with them more effectively.
Reach out to one MSL recruiter and start a relationship before you need them.
Essentials · Episode
Be layoff-ready before you ever need to be — proactive career planning for MSLs.
Chad Schroer of BeiGene shares with Tom Caravela how to stay "layoff ready" — positioning yourself, building the right skills, and planning transitions before they're forced on you.
Oncology layoffs come without warning; the MSLs who prepared in advance pivot fastest when they hit.
Build your "layoff-ready" kit now — an updated resume, a warm network, and a clear sense of your next move.
Essentials · Episode
Surviving pharma's rocky road — the grit and mindset to handle instability and job loss.
CoraLynn Trewet shares with Tom Caravela how grit carried her through the MSL path — trusting her instincts, weathering unexpected job loss, and leaning on networking and referrals.
Oncology careers rarely run smooth; the resilience to absorb setbacks and keep moving separates lasting careers from stalled ones.
Build one referral relationship now, before you need it — grit is easier with a network behind you.
Essentials · Article
A mentor gives advice; a sponsor changes careers; an ally takes action.
Mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship are distinct: a mentor gives advice, a sponsor uses their influence to advocate for someone when they're not in the room — opening doors to stretch assignments and promotions — and an ally takes consistent action to support and amplify colleagues from underrepresented groups, with them rather than for them. The often-cited gap: talented people from underrepresented groups are over-mentored and under-sponsored.
In oncology and biopharma, careers turn on visibility and access; choosing to sponsor and amplify others is one of the most concrete ways to build an inclusive profession.
Sponsor someone with less visibility than you — name them for an opportunity when they're not in the room.
Essentials · Episode
How to build a DEI program in pharma — from structure to company-wide buy-in.
Tara Gonzalez shares with Tom Caravela how to establish DEI programs — the challenges, how to structure the function, and how to engage the whole company.
Diverse teams strengthen oncology medical affairs; knowing how DEI programs are built helps you contribute to or lead one.
Identify one concrete action that would make your team or hiring more inclusive, and propose it.