Emily's first six months at GKA as a Project Coordinator

I joined GKA in October 2021 as Project Coordinator, part of the Fieldwork team, the team that delivers the projects for our clients.?

It has been a truly insightful few months, learning the ins and outs of medical market research, becoming part of a really collaborative team and putting my skills and experience into practice. So here’s my perspective on what it’s really like to be part of the GKA team!?

A culture of support, ambition, and collaboration?

The first day in any new job can feel quite daunting, but that just wasn’t the case at GKA. Before I even officially started, I was invited to one of GKA’s regular staff socials; not only was it a lot of fun, but it was great to get to know everyone in a relaxed environment, and I genuinely felt part of the team from day one. GKA’s culture has far exceeded my expectations: my team are super supportive, working together to problem-solve and share experience. I always feel like I can ask anyone, anything, which is so invaluable!?

But I’ve also learnt that no team is an island at GKA. Our Directors are ever-present, accessible, and here to offer support and advice whenever you need it. You can see that they have put the time in to building an ambitious and open working environment. They inject years of sector experience, take on board new ideas and take time to bring the team together, whether it’s to be part of an internal project or to celebrate success over a glass of fizz!??

Delivering for all at GKA??

I can already see from the projects I have been part of just what a difference medical market research makes to patients, medical professionals, and pharmaceutical companies. Working directly with clients has been really insightful, learning lots about different medical conditions and new innovations. The other side of my job is engaging with patients and medical professionals. I genuinely feel like I am giving patients a voice, and a chance for them to share their experience of living with a condition on a day-to-day basis. I am so proud of the feedback we get, whether that is hearing what individuals have got out of taking part, their rewarding experiences from participating in research, or the personal feedback on how I have supported them which is such a privilege. It feels so motivating to know that the things I do are making a real difference to people’s experiences and outcomes of living with a range of medical conditions.?

Investing in delivery?

Technology and innovation are hot topics at GKA. A lot goes on behind the scenes to make sure we have access to the right tools, and for me that means working with the latest project management software and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) compliant data transfer and storage technologies. These technologies drive real collaboration with the project teams, letting everyone progress their own work, across multiple projects. I also see how these technologies improve the ways in which we recruit respondents, engage with our panel, and conduct research to support our clients’ goals.?

Looking ahead??

It’s been a great 6 months, I have learnt so much and am super excited about taking all that forward into future projects!?