Collaborating for Success: Cindy Baksh, VP, Product Management

What’s your role at ConnectiveRx?

As Vice President, Product Management, my role is to help create and shape the overall strategic vision and direction for our Hub (Patient Support) and Affordability (Copay and Buy & Bill reimbursement) products. Our Team develops products to help patients gain access to the medications they need and provides financial assistance through copay offers to help offset high medication costs. We are focused on cultivating a deep understanding of the industry, our customers, patients, and providers so we can develop a suite of products to meet their needs as well as support ConnectiveRx’s mission to help patients get on and stay on therapy. We work closely with many internal teams, such as Marketing, Sales, Operations, and Technology to develop ConnectiveRx’s product roadmap, which is a shared plan that outlines the vision, direction, and impact of our products and an action plan to bring these products to market.

You’ve been in the healthcare industry for a number of years, including time at PSKW, one of our legacy companies. What’s the most important change you’ve seen in that time?

I have been in the healthcare industry for over 20 years including almost 12 years at ConnectiveRx, beginning at PSKW, our legacy affordability company. Over these years, I have seen our organization evolve from a small company of less than 100 people to a company with almost 2,000 people. I can talk about a lot of things that have changed over the years (our size, locations, technology – yes, there was a day, a long time ago, when we didn’t have JIRA!) But what’s most compelling is what has remained the same. ConnectiveRx is a large organization that has managed to keep that “small company feel.” It’s a company that supports its Teammates, maintains a culture of innovation, respect, and collaboration while keeping our commitment to our clients and the patients we serve at the forefront of everything we do.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

There are many aspects of my job that I really enjoy, but the most rewarding part is the ability to have an impact on others within our organization. Throughout my almost 12 years at ConnectiveRx, I have had the opportunity to work closely with many Teammates. I thoroughly enjoy being able to mentor others and have a positive impact on their career and personal growth. Having the opportunity to work with many different people, to learn from them as well as mentoring others has been the most rewarding part of my job at ConnectiveRx.

Which ConnectiveRx value resonates with you the most and why?

Collaboration and being a Cultivator of Talent are the two ConnectiveRx values that resonate most with me. I truly believe that to be successful, you must be open to learning from others and be generous enough to share your expertise. Doing this creates a truly collaborative working environment. When you have collaboration, you can evaluate problems and solutions from all different perspectives. Along these same lines, I feel very grateful to work for an organization that is focused on bringing high-quality professionals to the organization but also focuses on cultivating the talent that works at ConnectiveRx. I believe an organization’s greatest assets are the people who contribute every day and I’m grateful to work for an organization that continues to invest in its employees, their growth, and accomplishments.

What advice do you have for someone looking to begin or advance a career in product management?

My advice for anyone who is looking to begin or advance a career in product management is to have a passion and vision for what you want to accomplish, know who you want to impact, and have a plan for how you are going to get there. Then don’t be afraid to change along the way.