By Vinoothene Chandrasekaran
Pix Izwan Azwan

BANGI, 4 May 2016 –  You can have a successful career in the pharmaceutical or other sectors of industry without the necessary background if you are willing to learn new things and be ambitious, says Michaela Dinboeck, Managing Director of  Norvatis Corporation Malaysia.

Dinboeck said she did not have any background in medicine or pharmaceuticals but rose to her present position by dint of hard work.

“I was told that I was chosen for the job because I was complete honest on the fact I didn’t know much about medical industry yet I have the drive to know more on this field. Plus, my experience in Bolivia also contributed as it shows I have done something different and dared to take risks,” she said at the launch of the company’s second annual apprenticeship programme to train undergraduates for sales and marketing, here recently.

She stressed that the company is not necessarily looking for high scorers, but a pleasant personality and good soft skills.

Known as  Best Sales and Marketing Apprentice Training 2016 (B.SMArT) it  offers exposure to final year students of The National University of Malaysia (UKM) and other universities, to the pharmaceutical industry via comprehensive modules from sales and marketing to patients’ access including corporate communication and grooming.

The B.SMArT programme was opened by Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Industry and Community Partnership) Prof  Dato’ Dr  Imran Ho Abdullah, who agreed that  personality plays the most important part in hiring employees, including communication skills, team work and commitment.

Some 20 undergraduate students out of 60 applicants from various universities such as The National University of Malaysia (UKM), University of Malaya (UM), University of Perlis Malaysia (UniMAP), University of Nottingham, Taylor’s University and International Medical University (IMU), took part in the four-day training.