Liz Almond didn’t know a single person at Clemson University when she left her hometown in New Hampshire to attend school there.
But she didn’t see that as a drawback. Instead, it was a chance to make new connections.
“It was exciting to me to get to know a whole bunch of new people,” she said.
Her ability to connect with people ultimately led to a career that blends science with relationship-building, taking her from campus laboratories to leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry.
Changed plans
Almond arrived at Clemson with plans to major in biology and then attend medical school. But after her first biology class, she realized that while she enjoyed science, medicine wasn’t for her. But she still wanted a career working with people.
She continued working toward her biology degree and decided to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales, where she could interact with people and apply her scientific knowledge.
In Clemson’s urban entomology lab, she raised insects that are usually classified as pests, such as mosquitoes, fire ants and termites, to find better ways to eradicate them. She mostly worked on the husbandry and inspection of cockroaches.
At the same time, Almond was developing leadership skills outside of the lab, serving as president of her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta.
“My time in a sorority helped prepare me for a career in sales because recruitment is all about selling your sorority and your organization,” Almond says.
After graduation, she applied for pharmaceutical sales jobs, but she kept getting the same response from potential employers: “You don’t have enough experience, and we don’t hire people right out of college.”
A friend from her sorority referred her to Turner Broadcasting, where she joined the sales department. In that role, Almond worked to expand distribution and visibility for lesser-known networks like Boomerang and CNN en Español. She started as a sales assistant and made her way up to an affiliate ad sales manager.
Another Clemson connection led her to Boehringer Ingelheim, where she entered a field sales development program in animal health. Boehringer Ingelheim is a family-owned company with both human health and animal health departments. The animal health department makes products such as heartworm prevention and vaccines for small pets. They also have a division for veterinarians with specialized cattle, swine, poultry and equine lines.
The development program involved workshops, training and calling veterinary clinics. Almond believes that her background in science has helped her better communicate with veterinarians about pharmaceuticals.
Background in science helped
“When I started training and understanding the heartworm life cycle, how vaccines are made and immunology, it came very easily to me because I had this science background,” she says.
Almond spent a decade in Houston as a sales representative before being promoted to sales manager, overseeing an entire district and its personnel. After three years, she moved to the company’s home office in Duluth, Georgia, where she now serves as a liaison between sales and marketing. In this role, Almond now leads workshops in field sales development and manages marketing activities and their translation to the field.
Reflecting on her path, Almond emphasizes adaptability and a willingness to learn.
“I honestly believe that anyone can do sales if they are willing to learn and keep an open mind,” she said.
As a hiring manager at Boehringer Ingelheim, Almond is always on the lookout for graduates with scientific backgrounds.
