Businesses often face challenges in bridging communication gaps and streamlining processes, and Arielle Smith, Vice President of Growth at Event Cadence, offers a unique perspective. With years of experience working with healthcare, pharmaceutical, and tech organizations, Arielle has discovered that the key to organizational success lies in one word: cohesiveness. This article explores how fostering alignment and collaboration can not only solve common business challenges but also create meaningful, lasting impacts.
From Medicine to Technology: A Journey Shaped by Connection
Arielle’s career path didn’t start in the boardroom—it began in a Starbucks with MCAT books spread out across the table. A chance encounter with a stranger led her to pivot from pursuing medicine to a role in healthcare technology. Reflecting on her journey, she shares, “I feel that what I had always wanted out of medicine was fulfilled by my now role and path. I absolutely love what I do.”
This unexpected career shift has allowed Arielle to approach business challenges with the same curiosity and empathy that initially drew her to medicine. It’s also what helped her realize that while organizations may have unique goals, they often face the same underlying issue: lack of cohesiveness.
What Does Cohesiveness Mean in Business?
Cohesiveness, as Arielle defines it, goes beyond simply working together. It’s about breaking down silos within large organizations, fostering alignment, and creating clear communication pathways. “When you really boil it down, they're saying we need help talking to each other,” she explains.
For industries like healthcare and pharmaceuticals—where companies are massive and departments operate independently—this can be particularly challenging. Teams within the same organization often fail to communicate effectively, leading to wasted time, resources, and opportunities.
Arielle highlights how her company’s platform addresses this issue: “We want to go into the account...and realign to make them cohesive together. We want to make them work in ways that might be uncomfortable at first, but eventually, they will always find the value in it.”
Building Trust Before Technology
One of Arielle’s guiding principles is that trust is the foundation of any successful business relationship. This approach, which her team refers to as “Does your platform listen?”, emphasizes empathy and active listening as the first steps toward driving change. “First the trust, then the adoption,” she says, underscoring the importance of meeting clients where they are before introducing new tools or processes.
For industries resistant to change, this philosophy is particularly effective. As Arielle explains, “Technology can be scary, especially if you’re so used to being stuck in a certain way or process. Somebody telling you, ‘What you used to do, you're not doing that anymore,’ is petrifying.” By building trust and taking the time to understand a client’s unique needs, Arielle’s team creates smoother transitions and higher levels of adoption.
Maximizing ROI at Industry Conferences
Cohesiveness isn’t just a buzzword—it has tangible business benefits. Arielle shares how her team applies this concept to help pharmaceutical companies maximize their return on investment (ROI) at industry conferences. These events, which cost organizations millions of dollars annually, often fail to deliver the expected value due to lack of coordination.
Arielle’s platform solves this by consolidating all necessary information in one place.
“Everything from their travel itinerary to their schedule, to which healthcare practitioners they’re meeting with...it’s all focused around intention,” she explains.
By streamlining processes and ensuring alignment, the platform helps companies achieve meaningful outcomes, like fostering key opinion leader (KOL) engagement and advancing medical research.
Cohesiveness as a Competitive Edge
For Arielle, the concept of cohesiveness is not just a tool for problem-solving—it’s a competitive differentiator. She recalls instances where clients came to her team feeling defeated, assuming their unique challenges were unsolvable. “It’s amazing to be able to show a platform or a case study and say, ‘Is this what you’re looking for? Because it sounds very similar, and here’s why it worked.’”
This approach not only helps clients feel heard but also demonstrates the adaptability of the platform, which has been refined over years of addressing niche needs. “I’m willing to bet that our platform right off the shelf is going to give you 90% of what you need,” she says confidently.
Key Takeaways
Cohesiveness Drives Success: Breaking down silos and fostering alignment within organizations leads to better communication, higher ROI, and stronger relationships.
Trust is the Foundation: Building trust through active listening and empathy ensures smoother adoption of new tools and processes.
Intention Matters: Thoughtfully designed solutions focused on clear objectives create meaningful and measurable impacts.
Adaptability Wins: A flexible approach that considers unique client needs is essential for long-term success.
Ready to Transform Your Organization?
If you’re looking to improve alignment and foster meaningful connections within your organization, start by asking: Are we cohesive? Take inspiration from Arielle Smith’s insights and consider how you can prioritize trust, intention, and collaboration in your own processes.
To explore more about these concepts and the solutions Arielle’s team offers, visit Event Cadence or connect with them on LinkedIn and Instagram. You’ll find resources, videos, and case studies that can help you take the first step toward transformation.
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