Blog

Name:   Sara Lazare
Title:    Senior Project Manager 
Organization:    Express Scripts, Home Delivery
Sector:   Pharmacy Finance and Business Development

1)     How did you get started in project management?

When I was a facilitator at Express Scripts, my leader tasked me with developing a training curriculum for a new department. At the time, I didn’t view it as project management, but in retrospect, it absolutely was. I defined deliverables and set timelines, stakeholdered, facilitated collaboration across departments, and monitored performance during and post-training. As I grew in my career, I continued to volunteer for stretch opportunities, which often (if not always) required creating, managing and executing on a project plan. I’m grateful for my leaders who believed in me and challenged me to expand my scope and take on new challenges.

2)      What is your favorite project that you worked on or would like to work on?

I love any project that allows me to learn something new, but Strategic Business Framework was a program that I found especially rewarding because the program enabled leadership development while transforming the business. It was so special seeing leaders emerge from the program with new skillsets, knowledge, and professional relationships, while simultaneously solving real business opportunities with some truly innovative ideas.

3)      What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is knowing that our work directly impacts our customers (existing and future!). I love putting the patient first and ideating with coworkers on how we can refine the ideal pharmacy experience for our patients.

4)      Where do you see yourself professionally in the next 3-5 years?

In the next 5 years, I’d like to take on more managerial responsibilities. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a lot of amazing leaders, so developing into a great leader myself is something I really desire.

5)    Who is a leader that you admire and why?

I admire many of our leaders at Express Scripts, however, Celeste Player is an individual that I find truly inspiring. She manages countless responsibilities both inside and outside of work, and is always fun to work with no matter how demanding the situation at-hand is. She possess the ability to deliver any message with grace and compassion. No matter what escalations arise, I can always count on Celeste to remain sincere and poised, while keeping the team focused on simplifying the path forward.