It’s Internet week in NYC. Always falling the 1^st week in June I try to make the most of perusing through all the topics & trends, speakers, panels, and networking events to narrow down to what I’m most focused on learning and who I’m most focused on meeting and having conversations with in person; sometimes it’s nice to give twitter a break.

A friend asked me an interesting question last night regarding my professional focus on health, wellness and pharmaceuticals. He observed my passion and creative interests within the technology, social and startup fields and wondered why I chose to work in such a regulated environment vs. something more “exciting” and creative related to “real” brands within the consumer sector. He asked about the type of information I gathered at these week-long geek out events and what I was able to apply to my industry- what was the relevancy if most of the focus was 90% consumer based?

He made a few analogies relating to the challenges of a triathalete; hurdles and multiple skill sets needs to finish a race— if that was my motivation? Spot on yes, but in addition, the term “real brands” stuck with me. (more…)