Going slow to go fast: Finding time to reflect and rededicate our organization

Hustle, hustle, hustle. When business is on the go, and great results are flowing in, it’s natural to want to keep up the pace. It is equally important to recognize that thoughtful planning is as important as busy execution in producing great results. There is a time to think carefully about what we are hustling toward. When we take time to look at what’s ahead, we can find new opportunities to take bold actions.

With the turnover of our fiscal year that runs from July to June, this is a chance to take one of those moments to pause, reflect on what we have achieved, and take stock of where we are as we prepare for our next big push.

A year of fast-paced growth.

The fiscal year we just concluded was marked by fast pace and exciting growth. Our Canada operation is the fastest-growing country within Merz Therapeutics, on a pace to double our compound annual growth rate.

That growth has been driven by plans we put in place during another time of reflection. When the pandemic enforced a pause in our business, we took the opportunity to look carefully at where we could bring value to our customers and improve care for patients. We recognized that long-term care facilities were a place where providers and patients had unmet needs in education and training.

So, we went into hustle mode. We built partnerships with key opinion leaders and practicing physicians to generate insights about the nuances of administering injectable treatments and worked closely with them to create innovative educational sessions that could benefit both experienced specialists and physicians just beginning to delve into the medicine of movement disorders. Together, we designed thoughtful education and training experiences that incorporated ultrasound and virtual reality. Our fast-paced plan is bringing training initiatives to the facilities where we could make the most impact.

Impacting whole communities.

We recently expanded to our 100th long-term care home. In the course of this program, we work closely with staff in these facilities, and their dedication to the well-being of the people in their care is inspiring. We have seen firsthand that long-term care homes are more than medical facilities – they are communities that include both the residents and the people working there. Movement disorders, spasticity and associated pain can take a real toll on both patients and the staff who care for them in every setting, and our nurses, account representatives, and medical science liaisons who build relationships with those people deeply understand their challenges. Managing those conditions as effectively as possible is a priority for all of us. Accompanying the Merz Therapeutics nurses who visit long-term care homes reminded us how fulfilling it is to be able to help members of their community stay connected and involved. Pausing to appreciate those human experiences reminds us how important our work is – and motivates us to push ahead in offering these trainings even more broadly.

Looking inward to look ahead.

As we look toward the year ahead, sustaining this successful focus on adding value to healthcare providers so patients are provided with better outcomes remains a priority – and our success there inspires us to look carefully for other opportunities to make a similar impact. Taking the time to nurture our own internal community is vital. Growth has allowed us to bring in people with new experiences and insights, and incorporating these fresh perspectives into our company is important to all aspects of our culture at Merz Therapeutics. Our company takes a proactive and mindful approach to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am proud to serve as Executive Sponsor for the Merz Therapeutics Multicultural ERG in North America, supporting an inclusive environment that welcomes diverse identities. People who can see our work and our communities from a different perspective can help us see new opportunities to make our company better and take better care of our customers and patients.

Taking time to find our focus.

Taking time for self-awareness and reflection is what makes the hustle effective. As we close one fiscal year and open a new chapter, I want to share my deepest gratitude to my team, who continue to put so much thought and consideration into how Merz Therapeutics Canada can continue both our fast pace and our focused progress.?