Edition 60: Are You Worth 15 Minutes?

15 minutes.

That's all anyone is asking for. A KOL. A hiring manager. A potential mentor. A cross-functional partner who keeps saying "let's find time."

And yet, getting that 15 minutes (and deserving it once you have it)  is one of the hardest things in Medical Affairs.

This week, we're talking about it.

Quick Quiz: What's Your 15-Minute Value Score?

(Because who doesn't love a little self-assessment on a Friday?)

Q1: A KOL’s admin asks: "Why should they meet with you?" You say:

A) "I have some exciting updates on our data I'd love to share." 

B) "I know they are working on [specific gap in their area]. I have some insights that might be relevant to their patients." 

C) "I'm in the area and thought it would be great to connect!" 

D) You freeze and say you’ll bring coffee.

Q2: You have 15 minutes to prep for a KOL meeting. You:

A) Re-read your company's data slides. 

B) Pull 2 of their recent publications, identify one clinical question that connects to their work, and plan to listen more than you talk. 

C) Find their LinkedIn, see they went to the same university as you, and plan to open with that.

D) Pour yourself a coffee and hope for the best.

Q3: After the meeting, the KOL says: "That was actually really helpful." That means:

A) You delivered talking points smoothly. 

B) You gave them something that connected directly to a challenge they named. 

C) You were nice and brought nice slides. 

D) They were just being polite. (We love you, but stop thinking this.)

Answer Key: If you picked mostly B, you get it. That's the 15-minute standard. If you picked anything else, keep reading. This newsletter is for you.

For New MSLs: RISE Is Happening Next Week

You spent years earning the credentials that got you into this role. And then someone expects you to reach out to some of the busiest, most skeptical experts in medicine and convince them your 15 minutes is worth their time.

No pressure.

Our next RISE session, What Makes You Worth 15 Minutes, is built specifically for this moment.

We're going deep on: 

→ How to frame your value as an MSL (not just your product) 

→ What KOLs actually want from you 

Register here - Free for RISE members.

This is for new MSLs who are done winging it and ready to show up with real confidence.

For Teams: KOL Access Is Our Most Popular Training of 2026

We keep seeing it. Teams with phenomenal science knowledge who struggle to translate that into trusted KOL relationships.

The gap isn't the data. It's the approach.

Our KOL Access training is the most-requested program we've run this year. It goes deeper than "here's how to get a meeting." It builds the mindset, the language, and the strategy to become the MSL a KOL actually looks forward to hearing from.

If you want to bring this to your team:

 → Reply to this email
 → Or grab 15 minutes on our calendar

(Yes, we are very aware of the irony of scheduling 15 minutes to talk about 15 minutes. We embrace it.)

For Aspiring MSLs: 15 Minutes Could Change Everything

Here's the smallest career move for Aspiring MSLs that can be big.

Schedule a 15-minute networking call.

Not a coffee. Not a big informational interview. Just 15 minutes with someone already in the field.

In 15 minutes you can:

 → Ask two smart questions that show you understand the role
 → Learn something real about what an MSL does
 → Plant a seed that turns into a referral six months from now

We put together a guide on exactly how to do this - how to find people, what to say, and how to make those 15 minutes actually count.

Read: How to Network as an Aspiring MSL

And if you want more personalized help, reply to this email. We'll point you in the right direction.

Try This in Mira (But Make It Fun)

We know. We know. You've seen a lot of "try this AI prompt" suggestions lately

But this one's different. We want you to actually laugh while you use it.

Open Mira and type:

"I'm an MSL trying to convince a very busy, slightly skeptical KOL to give me 15 minutes. Roast my current value proposition and then help me make it actually compelling. Be honest. I can take it."

Mira will tell you the truth in the nicest possible way.

And if you're an aspiring MSL:

"I'm trying to get a 15-minute networking call with an MSL. Write me an outreach message that doesn't sound desperate, robotic, or like I copied it from a template — because I basically did."

You're welcome.

TL;DR — The 15-Minute Framework for Every Level

 → Aspiring MSLs: Schedule one 15-minute networking call this week. Yes, this week. Here's how.   
 → New MSLs: Know your value proposition before you ask for the meeting. Join us at RISE. 
 → Experienced MSLs: Your prep in the 15 minutes before the meeting determines the 15 minutes in the meeting. 
 → Leaders: If your team can't answer "why should a KOL meet with you?" without hesitating, that's the training gap. Let's fix it. Reply or grab time here. 

The KOL has 15 minutes. 

Are you worth them?  

We think you are. But you have to believe it first. 

In your corner always, 

Patrina, Sarah, Ralph & Jess

• On-Demand Workshop | The MSL Job Search Game Plan (For aspiring MSLs who want a structured, step-by-step approach to land their first role with confidence) with Sarah & Patrina
• On-Demand Workshop | Your 2026 Medical Affairs LinkedIn Glow-Up (For MSLs who want to optimize their LinkedIn presence, showcase value, and attract the right opportunities) with Sarah & Patrina