We recently connected with Lorie Spence and Carolyn Pritchard and have shared our conversation below.
Lorie Spence and Carolyn Pritchard, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
In the early days of establishing our firm, we made it a priority to focus a lot of time on building our co-founder partnership dynamics. We knew that business for us would be better with a partner and recognized the significance of aligning our strengths and aspirations to achieve our shared goals. Clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and the division of labor was the first place we started. We learned about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We got to understand how we each handled challenges and discovered how we could leverage each other’s strengths to create a unified team. While this process may seem laborious, particularly when compared to the autonomy of a solopreneur, for us, investing in our co-founder partnership ultimately became a source of strength.
As we delved into business planning, the importance of solidifying our service offering became evident. Crafting a comprehensive business plan not only clarified our objectives but also served as a guiding document that directed the evolution of Bridge Medical Communications. It was during this phase that we defined not only our corporate strategy but also our personal and corporate values, ensuring a harmonious alignment that would guide our decisions and actions.
Navigating the legal and financial landscape posed its own set of challenges. Establishing a corporate entity required a meticulous approach, involving the creation of legal documents, setting up financial structures, and understanding the intricate requirements to ensure long-term success. This initial hurdle emphasized the importance of laying a strong legal and financial foundation, a crucial aspect often overlooked by many aspiring entrepreneurs.
Reflecting on our journey over the past two decades, we can confidently say that having a partner and co-founder has made this experience more enjoyable and successful than we could have ever imagined completing on our own. Like any great partnership, it requires constant refining and attention. Over time, we learned the importance of having regular check-ins and mutual accountability to help us sustain a unified vision over the long term.
For young professionals contemplating the path of entrepreneurship, we highly recommend you consider bringing on a co-founder to complement your skills and talents. Our own experience has shown us that two can truly be better than one. With a partner and co-founder, you have someone to share your successes and also lift you up during the hard times. Building a great partnership takes time and dedication so do not decide on bringing on a co-founder without spending a great deal of time considering the person. And once you find a great partner, ensure that you invest in the partnership by creating regular opportunities for communication and skill-building.
Lorie Spence and Carolyn Pritchard, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Carolyn’s Journey: Balancing Healthcare and Growth My journey began in the 1980s with the economic uncertainties. Guided by my mother, I chose nursing for stability. While fulfilling, I wanted to advocate more for the patients and saw myself gradually transitioning from a nurse into the Medical Communications industry. The late 90s tech boom enticed me to transition to the pharmaceutical industry, aligning my healthcare passion with professional growth.
Lorie’s Evolution: From Law to Healthcare Communications
I initially aimed for a legal career but pivoted to public relations during university. Consumer PR and healthcare communications sparked my passion. An MBA deepened my expertise, and agency experiences fueled a desire for autonomy. This led to the founding of Bridge Medical Communications and CONNECT Communications, where we leverage industry connections for impactful healthcare communication.
Our Collective Mission: Empowering Patients and Evolving
Together, our mission is clear: empower patients with knowledge, resources, and skills for active disease management. What sets us apart is our commitment to longevity and evolution. Proudly profitable for over 12 years, we’re a rarity in entrepreneurship. Our journey is ongoing, a narrative of growth, adaptation, and a steadfast commitment to making a lasting impact in healthcare. What we started with is not where we are today, and the next five years hold exciting evolution for us.
How’d you meet your business partner?
We initially met while working in the healthcare communications industry. Carolyn worked with AstraZeneca, delving deeply into the commercialization of medicine and medical communications. Meanwhile, Lorie was actively advancing in consumer PR and healthcare communications, where her passion for the field was truly ignited. Our professional collaboration sparked a short while later when Carolyn was working at a Medical Communications Agency and was looking to expand the Toronto team. At that juncture, Carolyn’s boss highly recommended Lorie as an ideal match for the position.
Reaching out to Lorie proved to be a pivotal moment, and our partnership began to flourish as we worked together seamlessly for eight years at the agency. Despite the geographical and professional shifts, the camaraderie we developed during those years laid the foundation for a connection that extended beyond the workplace.
The idea of venturing out on our own had been germinating for a while, a notion that gained momentum over two years of discussions. Though Carolyn took the plunge first by leaving the agency, the decision was a joint one, reflecting both our aspirations and the trust we had built over the years. Thus, the inception of Bridge Medical Communications and CONNECT Communications was a natural progression of a partnership forged in the crucible of healthcare communications.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
Bridge Medical Communications and CONNECT Communications were founded with a core mission to revolutionize medical communications within healthcare, driven by a belief in the life-saving potential of medical innovations and evidence-based practices. This mission is close to our heart and with over 30 years of collective experience in the healthcare sphere, we recognized the pressing need to address complex industry challenges, leading to the establishment of a specialized medical communications consultancy in 2012. Our fundamental aim is to bridge the gap between the healthcare industry and patients, emphasizing the pivotal role of tailored communications in maximizing the impact of medical advancements on patient care. Through innovative communication tools, strategic collaborations, and a shared vision with reputable clients, we strive to empower healthcare professionals and ultimately optimize patient outcomes by transforming the healthcare landscape.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bridgemedcomms.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bridgemedcomms
- Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/bridge-medical-communications
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BridgeMedComms
Image Credits
Lorie Spence, Co-Founder, Bridge Medical Communications and Carolyn Pritchard, Co-Founder, Bridge Medical Communications