Get to know the customer: Meet Scott Marshall from Cencora

In our new series, “Get to know the customer,” Axway will focus on getting to the heart of the people behind our customers in an informative behind-the-scenes Q&A.

Cencora (previously known as AmerisourceBergen) is a global pharmaceutical sourcing and wholesale distribution corporation with a vast reach in over 50 countries and a 100-year record of success of extraordinary achievement.

By using innovation to improve everything from how drugs are acquired to how individualized healthcare is delivered in the arena of healthcare supply networks from manufacturer, provider, animal health, and distribution solutions, Cencora delivers right to the heart of healthcare and touches millions of lives daily.

Today, we profile Scott Marshall, Director of Application Delivery Services. Scott took time out of his busy schedule to provide interesting insights into his background and how it all comes together for a terrific customer experience.

1. Tell us something about yourself! What is your current role, experience, and background?

I have always been interested in computers, which led to an educational path of “Information Technology” which was a hybrid of technical and business learning. After 30 years of working in the industry, I have been lucky enough to work on many different technologies in many different roles with hardware and software.

I started working with Electronic Data Interchange systems and software back in 2015, and I have been focused on that area since that time.

2. How has your career grown since starting at Cencora?

AB is an amazing company that offers all the benefits of a large corporation but still allows you to work one on one with individuals and teams.

I have been able to work with a variety of technologies and feel like I grow and learn every day. Initially, I started in software development and a technical lead role, but I have grown to now function as an IT Product Owner for our EDI platform.

3. What does a day in the life of Scott look like?

My day is probably similar to many others — many meetings, hundreds of emails, and trying to manage ongoing to-do lists while keeping up with interruptions and any unplanned work.

Our EDI platform is a critical, tier-one system, so all of us will react immediately to any concerns or issues and always give priority to system reliability on top of anything else we’re working on.

4. What are your passions?

I believe your passions can change over time, or you go through phases when you pursue different ideas and goals. Right now, one of my work-related passions is how you can work more efficiently when you have a standard process around your team’s workflow.

If you design things correctly, you can do more with the same team and move ad-hoc interruptions into planned work that quickly moves the effort through a pipeline of activity.

I am also passionate about motivating team members and being available while providing constructive feedback that can allow individuals to grow and challenge themselves.

5. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.

I am definitely at a very junior level, but some people are surprised that I can speak and understand a bit of Arabic.

I learned it through my wife and her family and enjoy being able to learn a new language, but I still have a long way to go.

I currently live in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia, but people don’t often know that I am originally from Brooklyn, NY, and the Long Island area up until college. Over time, my accent has worn off, so people assume I am from Philly.

6. What is your all-time favorite movie, show, book, song, and why?

I really enjoyed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which speaks a great deal about the quality and how you can see the beauty in technical things that people normally don’t associate with art\beauty. Each time I read that book, I pick up something new to ponder.

7. What is the best advice you’ve been given?

“If you are going to work hard at something, make sure you are seen doing it.” I heard this quote in a networking meeting, and I always think of this to make sure I am communicating and sharing, which is often a key to the recognition that can be extremely motivating.

Thank you, Scott, for sharing your insights and wisdom with Axway.