Mary Birman
Fusion Brands Team Lead/Design Manager
Company Name: AstraZeneca
Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Communications from Allegheny College. Partner and Consultant for Berkeley Corporation, clients included McAdams, Richman and Ong, Campbell’s, Tyco and Weightman Advertising. Joined Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and established an in-house creative team of fifteen staff supporting marketing, R&D, and corporate initiatives. Joined AstraMerck in 1998 and established it’s first in-house team. Now AstraZeneca, we provide creative design to all brand teams and corporate customers. We also create and support interactive content for the tablet PC environment used by our sales force.
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What is the best thing about working in-house?
It provides an opportunity to learn about all aspects of business and get a purview of initiatives throughout the company. Since we interact with so many business units, we have the opportunity to see the big picture and anticipate needs of the business teams.
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What types of projects does your department do?
Creative design, production design, web content, e-detailing and interactive. We support some late life cycle brand teams who rely solely on in-house support. We also support blockbuster brands. Our projects run the gamut from corporate internal communications to supporting the needs of a launching brand.
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What keeps you motivated and inspired in your job?
Not knowing what I may walk into each day. The changing needs of the business.
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What do you consider the biggest success of your in-house career?
Building an incredible team of designers who have grown with the business needs. They are the cornerstones of the success we have achieved.
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What are you currently reading, watching and listening to?
The Starfish and the Spider by Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom. Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog, I have a three year old. Andrea Bocelli, Sentimento.
