Roma Tretiak
Vice President of Compliance at Pfizer
“I am half-way through my goal to run 10 marathons. I started 5 years ago! I knew it would be hard, but I could never have anticipated the challenges and rewards that have presented themselves along my journey.”
Read Roma’s full profile below
What do you do every day?
I lead a group called Transparency at Pfizer, the global pharmaceutical company. My job is to share information with the general public about the clinical trials we run to test new medicines and to share the results of these clinical trials publicly. We also share information about the different universities, hospitals and healthcare professionals we work with to develop our medicines.
Why do you love it?
I am very proud to work for Pfizer. I am passionate about the work my company does to develop new medicines for patients around the world and I consider it a privilege to help other people understand the work we do. I also love the people I work with. Each person has a unique expertise and, I am always amazed how incorporating different perspectives in a discussion always results in a better solution than I can generate myself.
What were your moments of fear and challenges in your career?
In my first job after graduation, I made a big mistake on a project. It was an honest mistake, but still wrong. I spent days worrying about it, not sleeping, imagining how I would lose my job once my boss found out. I finally told him and, to my surprise, he asked me a bunch of questions to understand where I went wrong, and then we built a plan together to fix the mistake. I was lucky he was understanding. It taught me that when I make a mistake, I need to quickly take responsibility for it and then share it with someone who can help find a solution. There are very few problems without a solution. There is always a path forward.
My biggest challenge was working with someone I didn’t trust. It took so much energy to get anything done because I was always checking if that person did what they said they would do and trying to figure out what else they were doing, and not telling me. This added a lot of stress to my daily work.
What are some of the latest innovations in science that you are most excited about?
Vaccines! I think it is so cool that there are medicines that can trick the body into better protecting itself against disease. I am also fascinated by electric cars. Wow!
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a suburb of Montreal, Canada.
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
My favorite teacher was my 7th grade humanities teacher. She commanded respect, though she never raised her voice. She never said “that’s wrong” but would ask a series of questions challenging your assumptions to help you understand why you might not be right. In addition to creating a comfortable learning environment, she taught me not to jump to conclusions or rush to judgment. Even when you think you know the answer to a question, ask yourself (or someone else) a few more questions to test the answer. You will sometimes be surprised.
Describe an experience where you adapted your approach to resolve a sticky situation.
Once I was managing a project that with two team members who disagreed with each other. Each of them would come to me to explain why they didn’t agree with the other person’s approach. I was trying to be helpful but I was stuck in the middle. I finally realized that the only way to settle the disagreement was to get all three of us in the room at the same so each person could represent their own view. It still took time, but the more direct communication proved to be more efficient I was no longer accountable for other people’s views – only my own.
What is your unique talent?
It’s not unique, but I love to cook! I spend hours looking through recipes, crafting the perfect menu to cook for my friends and family. My favorite dessert these days is salted chocolate caramel squares! I am also a very fast typer which my children, (ages 8 and 10) find very impressive.
Tell us about your personal style.
My personal style is pretty classic. I stick to neutral colors and styles. It make it easier to mix and match outfits. I take my ten year old daughter shopping with my. When she tells me NOT to buy something, I listen! I guess that’s my tip. Pick someone you trust to tweak your style, you will learn something.
Is there a current book or book you love?
Current book: Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri; A book I love: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
What is your favorite website or fun activity?
One Kings Lane has daily deals on decorating for the home. I almost never buy anything but it gives me a good idea of what is current and trendy for my home. I have also been known to scan the TMZ website during my daily commute to see what the celebrities have been up to.
Who inspires you?
My mom! The older I get, the more she amazes me. She is the model of “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” She taught me that the path towards achievement is setting a goal and making a plan to FIND the help you need to get it done. If you wait until you have everything you need (time, resources) to try something new, you will never get anything done. She also taught me about the rewards of compassion and empathy. This is true for both personal and professional relationships. Understanding how another person experiences a problem takes you a long way towards finding the best solution. Being kind to everyone will always comes back to you.
What’s next for you?
I am half-way through my goal to run 10 marathons. I started 5 years ago! I knew it would be hard, but I could never have anticipated the challenges and rewards that have presented themselves along my journey. When I retire I would like to learn how to play golf.
