He landed the MSL role. Then he came back to help others do the same.
Greg Tinkler, PhD, joined our Aspire MSL Office Hours call last week.
But not to ask for help.
He came to give back.
→ He answered the tough questions: “How do I stand out with no MSL title?”
→ He unpacked the real learning curve of his first months in the field
→ He told our group what he wished he’d done sooner
Not long ago, Greg was an aspiring MSL showing up to calls, editing his resume, and wondering if this dream was really possible.
Now, he’s doing the job AND showing others what’s possible, too.
And that’s the part most people miss:
✅ It’s not just the role that changes you.
✅ It’s the way you see yourself, as someone who can lead, even without a new title.
This issue is about more than Greg’s win. It’s a blueprint for how to rise and then reach back, whether you're job-hunting, just starting, or ready to lead. Here’s what this means for you (real talk):
🔹 If you're trying to break in:
Most candidates do too much output and too little insight.
→ Document your process. What’s confusing? What have you figured out? You’re building future credibility now. Where are you getting stuck? Identify patterns and troubleshoot your job search.
→ Use Mira to practice explaining your story in 90 seconds. (Don’t wait until a live recruiter call to test it.)
→ Read this next: So You Want to Be an MSL?
You’ll learn the real must-haves vs. the noise and how to build traction in your MSL job search fast.
🔹 If you just got hired:
New MSLs often feel pressure to “prove themselves” fast, so they go quiet.
→ Don’t disappear. Schedule 15 minutes each Friday to reflect on what you’re learning and what questions you still have. This becomes gold for future interviews, mentorship, and growth.
→ Follow this roadmap to succeed in your first year. No one lays out exactly what you should be doing month by month. This blog post and the New MSL 1st Year checklist are gold.
→ Use Mira to role-play tough moments:
“How would you respond if a KOL challenges your data?” → Practice that now.
→ Bookmark this: Thriving as a New MSL
Tactical tips that go beyond “Just ask good questions.”
🔹 If you’re experienced:
→ Mentorship isn’t a soft skill. It’s a leadership signal. If you want to get tapped for stretch projects, start mentoring behind the scenes.
→ Ask your team lead one simple question:
“What do the new MSLs on our team need that I might be able to help with?”
→ Not sure where to start? Share this newsletter with someone new. That is mentorship.
If you want some help on your journey:
Because your growth doesn’t stop once you get the job.
It just begins to multiply.
Whether you're prepping to break in or preparing others to rise, we built tools to help you:
✅ Aspire MSL – Break in with strategy and support
✅ 0–36 Month MSL RISE Community – Figure out the MSL role fast
✅ LEAP Community - For mid-career Medical Affairs professionals
✅ Mira, your AI coach – Practice high-stakes moments on your schedule
TL;DR
→ One Aspire alum came back to help others. You can too.
→ Growth is faster when you document, reflect, and give back.
→ Use Mira + our free resources to build your next level, wherever you are.
You don’t need to be “there yet” to lead.
You just need to be willing to reach back and bring someone with you.
Start there.
Sarah, Patrina, Tom & Ralph
P.S. Ready to be the Greg on someone else’s journey? Forward this to a colleague, or hit reply and let us know how you’re giving back. We’d love to feature your story next.
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