It’s Meet the Team time again and to kick off 2023 we’re hopping across the pond to meet one of our US-based team members, Tom Moore, SVP Account Management – Americas. Tom’s worked at Evaluate since the beginning of time (roughly) but he’s disappointingly discreet when it comes to shedding light on any skeletons in cupboards. However, there’s plenty to talk about on matters like AI, building a great team and hoppy IPAs.
What do you think is going to have the biggest impact on the pharma industry in the next five years?
Naturally, I believe Norstella and Evaluate will have the biggest impact. That’s probably not allowed as an answer though, so as a close second I would say Artificial Intelligence. AI is fascinating and even a bit scary because not only does it continue to learn from itself but this learning accelerates every day. While AI has already had many positive impacts on the industry, it is the unforeseen impacts of the future that I am excited to be part of. Its potential in identifying the more promising assets and then speeding along clinical trials is immense. Closer to home for Evaluate, its ability to improve forecasting and identify probability of regulatory and commercial success is also a gamechanger.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give a biotech CEO?
Having worked with biotech CEOs for the last 13 years, I think I can summarise my advice into three simple messages:
- Make sure your science is sound
- Surround yourself with an intelligent, passionate and dynamic team
- If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
What’s the best thing about your role?
Can I pick two? They are related, though because it’s people; my colleagues and our customers.
I love being part of a team and at Evaluate we truly work as one team and we actually like each other! I get energised seeing my colleagues excited about what they do every day and having fun doing it. The best thing about being a sales leader is that I am excited when an individual succeeds in a goal and it’s also really rewarding to see what we can achieve as a team.
However I need an external focus too. I also love interacting with and learning from our customers. We work with people from lots of different backgrounds, with many roles, goals and perspectives. In addition to pharma and biotech companies, we also work with banks, consulting companies, VCs and more so there’s plenty of variety in the challenges we’re trying to solve.
What’s your favourite drink?
Those who know me well would tell you that I am a beer snob. Shortly after graduating from college a friend of mine and I started an informal beer tasting club. To date we have tasted more than 750 unique brews from around the world. And my friend has kept every bottle and can! My tastes have changed over the years but currently I’m enjoying some great lagers after many years of the more hoppy IPAs. I’m always open to trying something new so recommendations welcome!
What really irritates you?
Unkind people. I have a sign up by my desk that says “work hard and be nice to people” which I think is a great rule to live by.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I have sung in Carnegie Hall. Not recently (fifth grade, to be precise) I was a choirboy and we used to sing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra each year. They say if you make it to Carnegie Hall, you’ve made it. I guess I peaked early!
