Marina Foerster has been a manager in medical device sales and is a recent recipient of the DRI Foundation’s Women in BCM Scholarship. As a result, has earned her ABCP certification with DRI International.
What is your professional background? How did you get there?
I have been in a managerial role with a medical device sales agency for years. As our agency had been expanding, there seemed to arise new responsibilities that require new knowledge and training. I have always been motivated to expand, learn and add to my skill set.
What does DRI certification mean to you?
I know it will be difficult to describe my level of gratitude to DRI! DRI certification means new opportunities, new skills that I can implement in my current organization to add value; as well as a springboard to a new role, and new career! I am very thankful to DRI for such an amazing opportunity and support. It is absolutely incredible to have such a chance to receive new education of this level and supplement my current skill set. I am grateful to be a part of the community of such talented, driven and motivated professionals who inspire me with their knowledge and thoughtful support.
What made you interested in business continuity?
Of course in the light of current pandemic, one can’t help but realize the vital importance of business continuity. It has been brought to the forefront that urgent understanding of how underprepared many businesses were with the current business continuity plans they had in place.
Do you have any life experience that makes this field especially compelling?
Working closely with healthcare professionals on a daily basis – being prepared and having a plan B (“bail out” as we call it) is a part of my job. Every day I recognize how the same level of preparedness would greatly benefit the entire organization as a whole. How important it is to not only have business continuity plan in place, but also make everyone in the organization aware of such plan, practice it and review it on a yearly basis to ensure that it is still appropriate for the current structure and the needs of organization.