Sharon Montgomery, a licensed pharmacist and Principal Advisor, started in the pharmaceutical industry at a young age. Her first professional job was as a pharmaceutical sales representative, where she was recruited at her college’s career day. With over 30 years of managed pharmacy and healthcare experience, she’s worked for and with companies that include hospital systems, health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, consulting firms, home health care, and retail pharmacies.
As a Principal Advisor, Sharon’s primary responsibilities include consulting with strategic business partners and clients and supporting national account business development. Sharon’s areas of expertise include utilizing her multifaceted background to partner with clients to develop pharmacy benefit strategies tailored to suit their individualized healthcare benefits goals. According to Sharon, “The most challenging and most fulfilling aspect of my job is truly understanding the client’s needs and solving for those needs.”
All these years in the industry can translate to many lessons learned. For Sharon, she explains the most significant lesson in her career wasn’t just one thing, but multiple.
“I have learned many lessons, from the reward of taking calculated risks to the importance of speaking up to the value of perception. The two biggest lessons I tell my pharmacy students are: 1) always ‘work outside of your job description,’ meaning never say that is not my job, stretch yourself by asking for additional responsibilities, and always be curious and eager to learn more, and 2) the importance of building and cultivating relationships, including having a mentor and a sponsor.”
While Sharon is a true Washingtonian, born and raised in Washington, D.C., she currently resides in Georgia. Her new special interest is anything and everything wedding-related. Her two daughters are engaged, with one having set her date for next year! Sharon also loves to travel, visit museums, and watch movies and is a big foodie. During the pandemic, she took up making flower arrangements and started a list with her husband of the best things to do and best places to eat in Georgia. She also enjoys reading, shopping, and donating resources and time to help pharmacy students with their career planning and homeless women in Georgia.
