When Alcon spun out of the grasp of Novartis, the company’s relationship with physicians around the world needed repair, according to Michael Onuscheck, president, global business and innovation at Alcon. “There was a separation between what the company was doing, and what the physicians and the community really needed us to do as leaders in the industry,” he said.

In this episode of the OIS Podcast, Onuscheck tells host Ehsan Sadri, MD, that he sat down with physicians and listened to them to learn how to rebuild the relationships and restore customer value. He says Alcon’s responsibility as a leader in the segment is to understand what physicians need, and turn their ideas into products.

Onuscheck discusses his path to Alcon, including a decision to target his career toward technologies that lead to immediate perceptible outcomes for patients. He says it’s “pretty unique” to work in a field where patients experience such an immediate difference after a procedure. 

He also outlines his current strategic responsibilities with the company, determining:

• Where to take the company.

• Where to make investments.

• How to continue the growth trajectory shareholders expect. 

• What start-ups to consider for potential M&A or BD&L deals.

The discussion includes the effect of COVID-19 on the eye-care market, the importance of mentorship, and, finally, some pearls for start-ups to consider, such as:

• Determine where strategic gaps exist.

• Be sure there is intellectual property behind the ideas you consider.

• Have relationships with other companies, investors, and mentors.

• Don’t be afraid to kill a project if it has a problem that can’t be solved.

Click “play” to hear these valuable insights from Michael Onuscheck!