What happens when you ask “why”—and then keep asking it?
From her early career as a dietitian to her current role leading medical communications at Parexel, Nichola Gokool has built her work around the belief that understanding the “why” behind people’s needs, behaviors, and decisions is the foundation of impactful communication.
In this episode, Nichola joins Kristen Sweeney to discuss how this belief has shaped her engagement with stakeholders across pharma.
Early in her career at a global FMCG company, Nichola was trained to relentlessly interrogate the people on the other side of the work—asking “why” repeatedly and using the insights she uncovered to shape strategy and messaging. Why does this information matter to patients? Why would a busy clinician engage with this content now?
On a personal level, Nichola’s “why”—the inspiration for her own career path—traces back to childhood. While supporting her mother after a diabetes diagnosis, she witnessed how the right communication reduced fear and enabled action.
Compelling communication, she explains, accelerates drug development and ultimately impacts patient lives. But that only happens when communicators persist beyond surface answers and uncover the deeper motivations driving behavior.
Expertly Said is a podcast on the art and impact of communication. Each episode features a conversation about how people connect with understand and influence one another.
Hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and follow along as we bring great ideas to the world, one conversation at a time.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. To find out more, read our privacy policy and terms and conditions.
