Q&A with Maliha Aqeel, Director of Global Communications at Fix Network World

MEDIA 7 | January 16, 2020

marketing metrics
Maliha Aqeel, Director of Global Communications at Fix Network World is an award-winning, communication and marketing professional who helps companies harness the power of their brand to drive engagement and achieve measurable business results. 

She has developed and led content and marcomm programs for B2B companies in the financial and professional services sectors in her over 15 years of industry experience.

MEDIA 7: When did you start working and what was it?
MALIHA AQEEL:
I started my career in 1996 right after high school, freelancing as a journalist and features writer for a magazine in Dubai, UAE. Over time, I expanded my services to include scriptwriting for corporate videos and TV productions, writing and designing client newsletters and promotional collateral.

M7: What made you want to pursue a career in branding and marketing communications? What aspect about your role brings you the most joy?
MA: I didn’t consciously decide to pursue a career in marketing and communication as my plan was to become a filmmaker. However, I had great curiosity about what makes people prefer one brand over the other when a feature-by-feature comparison didn’t show a huge difference between similar products or services. I had taken a few advertising courses during university and it broadened my understanding of how powerful brand experiences and storytelling can drive business objectives. That balance of strategy and creativity is what I enjoy most about what I do and why I’ve continued to find purpose in my career.


"Marketing professionals have to act as conveners, and connect the dots so that there is alignment between stakeholders like sales and operation teams and executive leadership on what products and services will drive growth in any given quarter."

M7: How has branding changed over the years to become what it is today? What marketing metrics do you value most for brand management?
MA:
Branding used to be focused on the tactical: aesthetics of an ad, wordsmithing copy and “selling” a vision that was less about what the customer needed and more about what the brand wanted you to purchase. Much of this was driven by the rise of a consumerist society in the 1980s and part of the 1990s. But the new millennium witnessed boom-bust economic cycles, changing demographics and technological advances at a relentless pace than ever before. Gradually, the brand’s point of view started to become less relevant and empowered consumers took back control of their brand experience and their buyer journey.

Now brands have to look outward, focusing on the needs, behaviors and motivations of their end customers. They’re also recognizing that purpose and having an impact on society in a positive way is what will drive their enterprise value instead of share price alone. The institutional investors are also taking notice and aligning their investment criteria and evaluation accordingly. This was one of the outcomes of the Embankment Project for Inclusive Capitalism, a multi-year initiative that looked into making capitalism more dynamic, sustainable, inclusive and trusted. As a result, the brand metrics that I value most are outcome-focused like contribution to reputation value, net promoter score, brand perception (a combination of brand recall and service delivery) and employee engagement/advocacy scores.


"One of the most common mistakes companies make is implementing a brand strategy that isn’t aligned to the organization’s overall business goal."

M7: What are the common mistakes that companies make when implementing their brand strategies?
MA:
One of the most common mistakes is implementing a strategy that isn’t aligned to the organization’s overall business goal. This can be challenging in large corporations where there are multiple competing priorities, but marketing professionals have to act as conveners, and connect the dots so that there is alignment between stakeholders like sales and operation teams and executive leadership on what products and services will drive growth in any given quarter. And then create and implement holistic marketing campaigns that drive specific results that support the key performance indicators (KPIs) that the executives are measured on.

A second mistake is running campaigns that are not aligned from a macro or micro environmental perspective. For example, an oil company runs a social media campaign on their corporate citizenship initiatives at a time when the industry (not necessarily the company) is under regulatory scrutiny for bad environmental practices. The timing, not necessarily the content, of the campaign can appear tone deaf and unsympathetic to sentiment in society. Another instance is if a company runs an employer branding campaign about its great culture at a time when it might be going through litigation for a workplace harassment issue. To counter this, marketing and communication professionals need to create business partnerships across all layers and functions of the company so that they’re planning and executing brand strategies that are contextually appropriate and reputationally sound.


"Marketing and communication professionals need to create business partnerships across all layers and functions of the company so that they’re planning and executing brand strategies that are contextually appropriate and reputationally sound."

M7: Which strategies do you count on to help leaders understand the value of communications?
MA:
I’m a huge advocate of data-driven decision making and offering informed insights and recommendations. C-suite executives see data analytics as a distinct competitive advantage for their business, and it can be the main strategy we use to help them understand our value. Gut instinct has a role to play in planning and execution, but to convince others and demonstrate our importance, we need to have a common understanding of business goals and use language that senior leaders will understand. Examples of this include showing how strategic communications resulted in cost efficiencies, margin improvement and contribution to revenue or increase in sales. These are tangible financial results that any executive function will recognize and appreciate. In addition to the above, I also use benchmarking data (internal and external) and forecasting as part of my communication and resource planning so that I have a framework for reporting to leadership on communication-driven outcomes.

M7: With over 15 years of progressive experience in strategic communication, what advice do you have for leaders who are trying to improve their performance?
MA:
My advice is to bring the brand promise and purpose into your decision-making process. Often, not always, performance is directly impacted by the culture of an organization. And your culture is a reflection of your purpose. It conveys why what the organization does matters; make evangelists out of your customers and convince employees to be part of the journey not just show up for a pay cheque. Research by Gallup found that highly engaged teams are 21% more productive, but low employee engagement results in 65% lower share price over time.

Communication professionals are enablers of the brand. As strategic advisors, we have to help make the connection between culture and business performance—between the intangible and the tangible. The cost of getting it wrong can have a negative impact on reputation capital, share price and even the balance sheet. Research from the Engagement Institute showed that disengaged employees cost US businesses up to $550 billion a year, which is a little over half the nominal GDP of The Netherlands in 2019 ($900 billion). That’s not a comparison that you want someone making at your annual general meeting of shareholders.

ABOUT FIX NETWORK WORLD

The Fix Network global family of brands includes collision repair franchise networks Fix Auto and Pro Color, glass repair and replacement brand NOVUS Glass and mechanical shops Speedy Auto Service, as well as the full suite of SRP glass products. With more than 2,100 points of service in over 40 countries worldwide, Fix Network is the global aftermarket services leader. The Network continues to grow internationally, thanks to a solid foundation based on entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information, visit Fixnetwork.

More THOUGHT LEADERS

'AI is only as smart as the data and the people behind it', says Kyle Ryan

Media 7 | May 17, 2023

Kyle Ryan believes that innovative concepts, data-driven insights, precise engineering, and efficient execution combine to create great products. He also believes that leadership is essential for innovation. Read on to know his thoughts on the role of leadership and technology in healthcare industry....

Read More

Botco.ai's Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Anu Shukla says, 'Instant' is the new mantra

Media 7 | November 15, 2021

Anu Shukla, Co- Founder & Executive Chairman at Botco.ai explores the latest features on Botco.ai 2.0 and how it helps marketers in health and wellness verticals make more personalized, analytical and actionable insight-driven campaigns. Read on to find out about the biggest challenges in the current COVID-19 influenced product marketing landscape....

Read More

Q&A with Fredrik Sundberg, Global Director Strategic Customer Relations at Cytiva

Media 7 | September 17, 2021

Fredrik Sundberg, Global Director Strategic Customer Relations at Cytiva, is responsible for working with the pharmaceutical industry to improve current workflows with innovative bioanalytical solutions. He also advises on R&D projects and business development activities. Fredrik is the author of several publications on drug discovery and biosimilar strategies. He is also a member of an EMEA Pharmaceutical Industry Expert Panel, and he lectures and discusses regulatory issues with government officials and health authorities....

Read More

'AI is only as smart as the data and the people behind it', says Kyle Ryan

Media 7 | May 17, 2023

Kyle Ryan believes that innovative concepts, data-driven insights, precise engineering, and efficient execution combine to create great products. He also believes that leadership is essential for innovation. Read on to know his thoughts on the role of leadership and technology in healthcare industry....

Read More

Botco.ai's Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Anu Shukla says, 'Instant' is the new mantra

Media 7 | November 15, 2021

Anu Shukla, Co- Founder & Executive Chairman at Botco.ai explores the latest features on Botco.ai 2.0 and how it helps marketers in health and wellness verticals make more personalized, analytical and actionable insight-driven campaigns. Read on to find out about the biggest challenges in the current COVID-19 influenced product marketing landscape....

Read More

Q&A with Fredrik Sundberg, Global Director Strategic Customer Relations at Cytiva

Media 7 | September 17, 2021

Fredrik Sundberg, Global Director Strategic Customer Relations at Cytiva, is responsible for working with the pharmaceutical industry to improve current workflows with innovative bioanalytical solutions. He also advises on R&D projects and business development activities. Fredrik is the author of several publications on drug discovery and biosimilar strategies. He is also a member of an EMEA Pharmaceutical Industry Expert Panel, and he lectures and discusses regulatory issues with government officials and health authorities....

Read More

Related News

MEDICAL DEVICES

IntakeQ Debuts Medical E-Prescribing Within its PracticeQ Platform for U.S. Healthcare Professionals

Businesswire | June 02, 2023

IntakeQ and its PracticeQ practice management system, which includes best-in-class customizable intake forms and software for healthcare, today announced the launch of electronic medical prescribing (e-prescribing) within its PracticeQ platform for clinicians in the United States. The new feature is made possible through a direct integration with ScriptSure Cloud ERX (ScriptSure) on the Surescripts platform. “Integrated solutions like e-prescribing help providers save time by enabling them to remain on a single familiar platform,” said Keith Pirkle, general manager of IntakeQ. “Our primary goal is to create a secure, integrated and affordable platform that any allied health or medical professional can use to help their practice succeed. This collaboration with an esteemed partner like ScriptSure affirms our commitment to elevating the standard of care through technology. Ultimately, alongside the clinicians we serve, we are elated to enable this integrated and enhanced capability that will do what matters most: deliver a seamless patient experience.” Integrated prescribing provides several benefits including Improved patient safety with a reduction in prescription errors and checks for medication interactions Elimination of CMS e-prescribing penalties Formulary compliance and reduced costs for patients Single-click access to First Databank (FDB) and Prescriber’s Digital Reference (PDR) drug information Saved time through direct integration in PracticeQ Validated and error-free prescriptions, including controlled substances Pirkle added, “Our customers help drive the direction of IntakeQ and PracticeQ’s continued evolution in relation to technology and partnerships. We never see our software as complete in an ever-changing healthcare landscape. Listening to our customers, advisory board and our employees is our north star and our inspiration for continued development and innovation.” ScriptSure Cloud ERX is a 10-time winner of the Surescripts network White Coat Award, and most recently, the recipient of the 2022 Surescripts White Coat Award™ for highest accuracy of prescription transactions. About PracticeTek PracticeTek is an alliance of innovative software solutions that deliver exceptional patient experiences, attract new patients, and make the business of healthcare easier for clinicians.

Read More

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE ANALYTICS

Marpai Launches Marpai Connect Platform to Predict and Help Modify Risk in Healthcare

PRNewswire | May 31, 2023

Marpai, Inc. an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered healthcare payer transforming self-funded employer health plans, is proud to announce the launch of its innovative platform, Marpai Connect. Marpai Connect, an AI and data-driven matchmaking platform, actively pairs health plan members with an array of value-based providers. Marpai Connect offers self-insured employers a way to reduce risk and cost associated with their healthcare spending. Marpai Connect will be a core part of Marpai's offerings within health plans that it manages for self-insured employers. It includes analytics to measure the impact of the value-based solutions over time versus the current trend. Marpai also intends to offer Marpai Connect to other healthcare payers starting in Q4 of this year. "We realized that chronic diseases are currently representing 41% of the cost across our book of business", said Lutz Finger, Marpai's President of Product and Development. To address those costs, Marpai Connect started to partner with the best value-based solutions for chronic conditions. As of June 2023, Marpai Connect will offer more new vendors. Edmundo Gonzalez, CEO of Marpai, emphasized, "There are amazing, evidence-based solutions that are very specific to a condition, like diabetes, but our clients need a portfolio of solutions covering all the cost drivers of a health plan. That's what Marpai Connect delivers." To monitor the cost drivers, Marpai Connect has created a new AI driven forecasting solution so that Marpai Connect clients can keep track of the reduction of cost. The cornerstone of Marpai Connect's distinctive approach is its use of advanced deep learning technologies, which enable the proactive identification and outreach of health plan members in need. "Marpai Connect is not just about reporting cost trends, rather we're helping plan members improve their health and this leads to savings for employers," asserted Mr. Gonzalez. Marpai Connect aims to create more quality life years for its members. "We have ambitious plans", said Mr. Finger. "We aim to grow our value-based-care network to cover more than 15 different disease states." The launch of Marpai Connect signifies Marpai's dedication to revolutionizing the healthcare industry. By harnessing AI and data, Marpai is transforming the landscape of self-funded health plans, providing a higher quality of care while effectively managing costs. About Marpai, Inc. Marpai, Inc. is an AI-powered Third Party Administrator (TPA) delivering health plan administration and services to employers that directly pay for employee health benefits (self-funded employer health plans). As a technology innovator in the $22 billion TPA sector representing over $1 trillion in annual claims, Marpai includes services beyond traditional TPA services that improve health plan value to members, and significantly reduce medical and pharmaceutical costs for members and the plan.

Read More

DIGITAL HEALTHCARE

CarepathRx Health System Solutions and Evernorth Health Services Forge Strategic Partnership to Enhance Specialty Care for Patients

PRNewswire | June 02, 2023

CarepathRx Health System Solutions, a CarepathRx company and portfolio company of Nautic Partners (Nautic), and Evernorth Health Services, a subsidiary of The Cigna Group announced a new strategic partnership and investment by Evernorth in CHSS. The strategic partnership brings together Evernorth's diverse specialty and care expertise with CHSS' robust pharmacy and infusion management capabilities, technology solutions, and health system relationships to improve, expand, and accelerate pharmacy care delivery for the growing number of patients with chronic and complex care needs. The CHSS and Evernorth partnership will deliver integrated specialty pharmacy care to CHSS' growing base of 600-plus hospitals, health systems, and physicians – helping diversify the services they offer to best support patients. This includes enhanced coordinated infusion services, virtual care capabilities, value-based care arrangements, and site of care flexibility. Evernorth's expansive suite of services, including Accredo's specialty care and pharmacy expertise and CuraScript SD's specialty medication distribution across 12,000 physicians, is highly complementary to CHSS' capabilities that help health systems expand in-house specialty pharmacies, infusion and polypharmacy services. "Forging deeper relationships with physicians and other specialty and infusion pharmacies – a critical point of care for people with chronic and complex needs – is a key priority as we work to increase access to care and improve affordability," said Eric Palmer, President and CEO, Evernorth. "Specialty care continues to be a focal point for hospital, health system, and physician partners, and our collaboration with CHSS is an important step in delivering on our commitment to bring them even more patient care services to improve overall outcomes." Together, over time, CHSS' and Evernorth's expertise will help enable simpler, faster connections to care for patients managing chronic and complex specialty conditions. As many of these patients need specialty or acute drug therapies, the partnership will focus on continuity of care for specialty drugs, management of infusion services across sites of care – from ambulatory to physician office to home settings – and value-based site-of-care strategies. The intent is to drive optimal patient treatment plans and deepen physician engagement, resulting in better patient experiences, more care extensions, and greater affordability. "At CarepathRx, we believe health systems, hospitals, and physicians play the most important roles in providing the best care to patients with chronic and complex diseases," said John Figueroa, Chairman and CEO, CarepathRx. "Through specialty and infusion pharmacy partnerships, CHSS has created a model for health systems to extend their reach to alternate sites of care and into the home. This partnership with Evernorth is truly unique and will accelerate CHSS' mission by creating payer-physician connections and leveraging Evernorth's specialty and care services." Centerview Partners acted as lead financial advisor and Cantor Fitzgerald is also acting as financial advisor to CarepathRx and Nautic. Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor to CarepathRx and Nautic. Greenhill & Co. acted as financial advisor to Evernorth. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Quarles & Brady LLP acted as legal advisors to Evernorth. About CarepathRx CarepathRx is transforming pharmacy care delivery for health systems and hospitals, delivering improved patient outcomes that drive clinical, quality, and financial results. Through the industry's most comprehensive, end-to-end hospital pharmacy care delivery model, CarepathRx is turning hospital pharmacy into an active care management strategy and revenue generator while providing support across the patient's complete healthcare journey. The company takes an enterprise approach, providing a powerful combination of technology, market-leading clinical pharmacy services, and wrap-around services that optimize pharmacy performance across the enterprise for fully integrated pharmacy operations, expanded healthcare services, improved ambulatory access, minimized clinical variation, and new health system revenue streams. Today, CarepathRx serves more than 25 health systems and 600 hospitals, with more than 1,500 employees nationwide.

Read More

MEDICAL DEVICES

IntakeQ Debuts Medical E-Prescribing Within its PracticeQ Platform for U.S. Healthcare Professionals

Businesswire | June 02, 2023

IntakeQ and its PracticeQ practice management system, which includes best-in-class customizable intake forms and software for healthcare, today announced the launch of electronic medical prescribing (e-prescribing) within its PracticeQ platform for clinicians in the United States. The new feature is made possible through a direct integration with ScriptSure Cloud ERX (ScriptSure) on the Surescripts platform. “Integrated solutions like e-prescribing help providers save time by enabling them to remain on a single familiar platform,” said Keith Pirkle, general manager of IntakeQ. “Our primary goal is to create a secure, integrated and affordable platform that any allied health or medical professional can use to help their practice succeed. This collaboration with an esteemed partner like ScriptSure affirms our commitment to elevating the standard of care through technology. Ultimately, alongside the clinicians we serve, we are elated to enable this integrated and enhanced capability that will do what matters most: deliver a seamless patient experience.” Integrated prescribing provides several benefits including Improved patient safety with a reduction in prescription errors and checks for medication interactions Elimination of CMS e-prescribing penalties Formulary compliance and reduced costs for patients Single-click access to First Databank (FDB) and Prescriber’s Digital Reference (PDR) drug information Saved time through direct integration in PracticeQ Validated and error-free prescriptions, including controlled substances Pirkle added, “Our customers help drive the direction of IntakeQ and PracticeQ’s continued evolution in relation to technology and partnerships. We never see our software as complete in an ever-changing healthcare landscape. Listening to our customers, advisory board and our employees is our north star and our inspiration for continued development and innovation.” ScriptSure Cloud ERX is a 10-time winner of the Surescripts network White Coat Award, and most recently, the recipient of the 2022 Surescripts White Coat Award™ for highest accuracy of prescription transactions. About PracticeTek PracticeTek is an alliance of innovative software solutions that deliver exceptional patient experiences, attract new patients, and make the business of healthcare easier for clinicians.

Read More

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE ANALYTICS

Marpai Launches Marpai Connect Platform to Predict and Help Modify Risk in Healthcare

PRNewswire | May 31, 2023

Marpai, Inc. an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered healthcare payer transforming self-funded employer health plans, is proud to announce the launch of its innovative platform, Marpai Connect. Marpai Connect, an AI and data-driven matchmaking platform, actively pairs health plan members with an array of value-based providers. Marpai Connect offers self-insured employers a way to reduce risk and cost associated with their healthcare spending. Marpai Connect will be a core part of Marpai's offerings within health plans that it manages for self-insured employers. It includes analytics to measure the impact of the value-based solutions over time versus the current trend. Marpai also intends to offer Marpai Connect to other healthcare payers starting in Q4 of this year. "We realized that chronic diseases are currently representing 41% of the cost across our book of business", said Lutz Finger, Marpai's President of Product and Development. To address those costs, Marpai Connect started to partner with the best value-based solutions for chronic conditions. As of June 2023, Marpai Connect will offer more new vendors. Edmundo Gonzalez, CEO of Marpai, emphasized, "There are amazing, evidence-based solutions that are very specific to a condition, like diabetes, but our clients need a portfolio of solutions covering all the cost drivers of a health plan. That's what Marpai Connect delivers." To monitor the cost drivers, Marpai Connect has created a new AI driven forecasting solution so that Marpai Connect clients can keep track of the reduction of cost. The cornerstone of Marpai Connect's distinctive approach is its use of advanced deep learning technologies, which enable the proactive identification and outreach of health plan members in need. "Marpai Connect is not just about reporting cost trends, rather we're helping plan members improve their health and this leads to savings for employers," asserted Mr. Gonzalez. Marpai Connect aims to create more quality life years for its members. "We have ambitious plans", said Mr. Finger. "We aim to grow our value-based-care network to cover more than 15 different disease states." The launch of Marpai Connect signifies Marpai's dedication to revolutionizing the healthcare industry. By harnessing AI and data, Marpai is transforming the landscape of self-funded health plans, providing a higher quality of care while effectively managing costs. About Marpai, Inc. Marpai, Inc. is an AI-powered Third Party Administrator (TPA) delivering health plan administration and services to employers that directly pay for employee health benefits (self-funded employer health plans). As a technology innovator in the $22 billion TPA sector representing over $1 trillion in annual claims, Marpai includes services beyond traditional TPA services that improve health plan value to members, and significantly reduce medical and pharmaceutical costs for members and the plan.

Read More

DIGITAL HEALTHCARE

CarepathRx Health System Solutions and Evernorth Health Services Forge Strategic Partnership to Enhance Specialty Care for Patients

PRNewswire | June 02, 2023

CarepathRx Health System Solutions, a CarepathRx company and portfolio company of Nautic Partners (Nautic), and Evernorth Health Services, a subsidiary of The Cigna Group announced a new strategic partnership and investment by Evernorth in CHSS. The strategic partnership brings together Evernorth's diverse specialty and care expertise with CHSS' robust pharmacy and infusion management capabilities, technology solutions, and health system relationships to improve, expand, and accelerate pharmacy care delivery for the growing number of patients with chronic and complex care needs. The CHSS and Evernorth partnership will deliver integrated specialty pharmacy care to CHSS' growing base of 600-plus hospitals, health systems, and physicians – helping diversify the services they offer to best support patients. This includes enhanced coordinated infusion services, virtual care capabilities, value-based care arrangements, and site of care flexibility. Evernorth's expansive suite of services, including Accredo's specialty care and pharmacy expertise and CuraScript SD's specialty medication distribution across 12,000 physicians, is highly complementary to CHSS' capabilities that help health systems expand in-house specialty pharmacies, infusion and polypharmacy services. "Forging deeper relationships with physicians and other specialty and infusion pharmacies – a critical point of care for people with chronic and complex needs – is a key priority as we work to increase access to care and improve affordability," said Eric Palmer, President and CEO, Evernorth. "Specialty care continues to be a focal point for hospital, health system, and physician partners, and our collaboration with CHSS is an important step in delivering on our commitment to bring them even more patient care services to improve overall outcomes." Together, over time, CHSS' and Evernorth's expertise will help enable simpler, faster connections to care for patients managing chronic and complex specialty conditions. As many of these patients need specialty or acute drug therapies, the partnership will focus on continuity of care for specialty drugs, management of infusion services across sites of care – from ambulatory to physician office to home settings – and value-based site-of-care strategies. The intent is to drive optimal patient treatment plans and deepen physician engagement, resulting in better patient experiences, more care extensions, and greater affordability. "At CarepathRx, we believe health systems, hospitals, and physicians play the most important roles in providing the best care to patients with chronic and complex diseases," said John Figueroa, Chairman and CEO, CarepathRx. "Through specialty and infusion pharmacy partnerships, CHSS has created a model for health systems to extend their reach to alternate sites of care and into the home. This partnership with Evernorth is truly unique and will accelerate CHSS' mission by creating payer-physician connections and leveraging Evernorth's specialty and care services." Centerview Partners acted as lead financial advisor and Cantor Fitzgerald is also acting as financial advisor to CarepathRx and Nautic. Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor to CarepathRx and Nautic. Greenhill & Co. acted as financial advisor to Evernorth. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Quarles & Brady LLP acted as legal advisors to Evernorth. About CarepathRx CarepathRx is transforming pharmacy care delivery for health systems and hospitals, delivering improved patient outcomes that drive clinical, quality, and financial results. Through the industry's most comprehensive, end-to-end hospital pharmacy care delivery model, CarepathRx is turning hospital pharmacy into an active care management strategy and revenue generator while providing support across the patient's complete healthcare journey. The company takes an enterprise approach, providing a powerful combination of technology, market-leading clinical pharmacy services, and wrap-around services that optimize pharmacy performance across the enterprise for fully integrated pharmacy operations, expanded healthcare services, improved ambulatory access, minimized clinical variation, and new health system revenue streams. Today, CarepathRx serves more than 25 health systems and 600 hospitals, with more than 1,500 employees nationwide.

Read More