Profile: Catherine Allshouse
Meet Catherine Allshouse. Global CIO & Head of Operations, Veeva Systems.
Name: Catherine Allshouse
Job: Global CIO & Head of Operations, Veeva Systems
City: Columbus
Hometown: Oak Ridge, TN and Pleasanton, CA
Q: What do you do at Veeva?
Veeva Systems is a $1.5 billion Silicon Valley-based enterprise software cloud company. Veeva provides enterprise SaaS solutions to life sciences companies around the world.
Our software manages the entire R&D process from a chemist's idea for a new molecule to the launch of an approved product; and the entire Commercial process of managing sales and CRM. 49 of the 50 largest global pharma manufacturers run on Veeva, and 80% of the FDA approved drugs go through Veeva for approval each year.
The clinical trials for all of the world's COVID-19 vaccines ran through Veeva software as they were approved in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. We also provide Quality systems to other non-discrete manufacturing industries like food, beverage, CPG, cosmetics, and chemicals.
We set up a large regional hub in Columbus one year ago and we love it! In my role, I head up our global teams in IT, Security, Technical Operations (product cloud data center), Facilities and Real Estate, and Quality and Compliance.
Q: What’s a problem you're working to solve?
Lilly's 5 hour test, Gilead's Remdesivir, Roche's antibody tests, the Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca vaccines - those trials, approvals and launches are happening through Veeva's systems. It is really invigorating to be a partner to the companies finding these solutions.
Veeva opened up our CRM Engage product that manages secure video meetings for free to our customers - it allows doctors to connect to pharma reps and discuss new drugs in a regulatory-compliant environment. We also launched a capability that allows clinical trial results to be sampled and studied entirely remotely. Anything that improves cycle time for HCPs and pharma companies and lets them run fast during these critical innovation cycles is where we are focusing.
Q: What’s a lesson you’ve learned that's shaped your work?
Listen in a focused way and think deeply before acting. We are big fans of Daniel Kahnemann's Thinking Fast and Slow, and try to apply Systems 2 thinking to solving our big problems.
Q: What’s a trend in technology or innovation that doesn’t get enough attention?
Aside from the technology, Veeva is actually focusing on its core purpose: on February 1, Veeva became the country's first large company to convert to a Public Benefit Corporation.
Veeva is now accountable for both shareholder value and for our public benefit purpose: to help make the industries we serve more productive and create high-quality employment opportunities. Veeva is becoming increasingly important to life sciences’ mission to improve health and wellbeing.
Our public benefit purpose aligns with this mission and gives customers confidence to partner with us over the long-term; and it lets our employees know they work for a company that isn’t all about the money and is focused on making a positive impact on society.
Q: What’s one moonshot idea that could help make Ohio a world leader in technology and innovation?
We need to be focused, and build on what we have and what we know. We know flight and aircraft, for one thing. The work that goes on at the Air Force Research Laboratory and its partners like GRILL is really amazing.
And, more recently, we know vehicle automation. We are leading in that space, so let's keep going - let's make Ohio the place everyone ships their driverless vehicles to test on advanced roadways, where they pilot their consumer testing for taxis (Johnny Cab, anyone?), where they lower the first Chipotle burrito down by drone. Bring it on!
Q: What’s a recent book, podcast or news story that you found interesting?
My IT leadership team all read Be Our Guest to learn from Disney and rethink the way we build a truly customer-centric model throughout all of IT. It is an excellent reminder that we are here to support the rest of the Veeva team, give them energy and make their work experience as productive as possible.
Q: What's your favorite place in Ohio?
Hocking Hills in the fall. My husband and I used to go on hiking trips there while we were dating. We got engaged there as well. Beautiful place to connect with nature.
Q: What makes Ohio special to you?
Ohio has it all - outstanding public education system primary through tertiary, friendly people, affordable housing, all four seasons, and a great and innovative technology ecosystem. No wonder our talent is sought after all over the country! As companies start to think differently about Work Anywhere, we'll have Ohioans working for companies all over the world.
Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn.