Vision Monday’S Top Teaching Facility for Optometrists
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#HerStoryCOVER TOPIC NEW YORK—Coming up with a theme for this from a large pool of nominees named by VM read- • Innovators: Candidates are women who have Special Report year after year is no easy task. ers and in the following pages we profile their initiated new product developments or special Some of us on the editorial team have been profil- accomplishments in these roles: programs in the arena of marketing, technology ing optical’s Influential Women since VM’s Spe- or retail, who have spearheaded innovative cial Report began way back in 2003. The chal- • Executive Suite: Candidates are women who business ideas or enterprises. lenge is always the same: finding a theme that is hold positions such as president, VP, CEO, fresh and dynamic, like the Influential Women CFO, CMO, CIO or COO that guide their com- As you read through these profiles, we hope themselves. panies forward, inspire leadership among their you’ll enjoy their “stories” and come to know why After thinking of—and rejecting—several pos- teams and peers and achieve high performance. they are being singled out for this honor. They sibilities, we hit upon this year’s theme #HerStory, • Rising Stars: Candidates are women who are join a distinguished group of nearly 500 Influen- and it felt right. Because as writers, we all love “up-and-comers” in their careers and within tial Women whom we’ve profiled since 2003. telling a good story and this year’s crop of honor- their companies or arenas within the industry; Join the conversation about these Influential ees provided many opportunities to do just that. sharp talents who are on their way toward high- Women and other industry standouts you may So once again this year, we play the storyteller, er levels of responsibility and influence. know using the hashtag #HerStory. Please visit painting vibrant portraits of women in today’s • Mentors: Candidates are women who are team www.VisionMonday.com to review an alphabetical optical landscape—giving you an idea of what it’s builders, developers of talent, who via example listing of past years’ honorees and to read prior like in the worlds of vision care, retailing, manu- or education and training successfully influence years’ Special Reports. n facturing, distribution, dispensing and designing. others to learn and to grow in their business or –The Editors This year’s Influential Women were chosen professional acumen. #HERSTORY 46 EXECUTIVE SUITE WOMEN WHO HOLD POSITIONS SUCH AS PRESIDENT, VP, CEO, CFO, CIO, OR COO bets for the future, so that Johnson & Johnson helped internationally educated ODs transition to Laura Angelini Vision Care can continue to transform this indus- practice in Canada. She was the first woman pres- try and provide extraordinary patient experience.” ident of the Ontario College of Optometrists, and PRESIDENT received the Cobean Award from the Ontario Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. SHE SAYS… “I believe my responsibility is first to Association of Optometrists for outstanding contri- North America and Global Franchise people, the doctors, our Acuvue patients and our butions in education and regulatory work. Development Johnson & Johnson Vision Care employees, to She credits the unwavering support of her col- Jacksonville, Florida bring healthy vision to everyone, everywhere, leagues, staff and her husband and four sons, as CHOSEN BECAUSE… “What best describes every day.” essential to her success. “Anything can be accom- Laura is strong strategic thinking, energy and plished if you have the will to learn and work passion, and people focus. Laura always tries Susan Cooper, OD, hard.” to put people first, whether patients, doctors, customers or employees. She likes to bring FAAO SHE SAYS… “I am inspired by Winston Churchill’s the right balance of mind and heart, with the quote: ‘We make a living by what we get…we make a life by what we give.’” right combination of IQ and EQ.” PRESIDENT World Council of Optometry Laura Angelini joined Johnson Ontario, Canada & Johnson Vision Care in 2013, Jan Cory but has worked in the health CHOSEN BECAUSE… “She has enabled a care business for 24 years. Since constructive environment making the WCO PRESIDENT, U.S. joining Johnson & Johnson in more professional, strategic and responsive to Silhouette Optical, Ltd. Green Island, New York 1991, she has held positions of optometrists globally.” growing responsibilities across health categories, CHOSEN BECAUSE…“Jan is a highly engaged in mature and emerging markets. After a success- Susan Cooper, OD, is president leader. One who inspires, challenges and ful career in Europe, she moved to the U.S. in of the World Council of Optom- motivates her team, to achieve both personal 2012 as VP global strategic marketing for Ethicon, etry whose vision is “a world and company goals.” and was named president North America and where optometry makes high global franchise development for Johnson & John- quality eye health and vision Jan Cory cites Nick Caraway son Vision Care in September 2013. care accessible to all people.” from The Great Gatsby as an early Earlier in her career in 1994-95, Angelini launched The WCO’s mission, she explained, is to facilitate inspiration, who, in speaking 1-Day Acuvue in her home country of Italy, the first the development of optometry worldwide and to about advice he’d received from ever daily disposable contact lens, when she was the support optometrists in promoting eye health his father said, “Whenever you marketing manager for Italy at the time. through advocacy, education, policy development feel like criticizing any one, just Today, she leads the Johnson & Johnson Vision and humanitarian outreach. Under Cooper’s lead- remember that all the people in this world haven’t Care business and organization for North America ership, the WCO is organizing the 1st World Con- had the advantages that you’ve had.” as well as global franchise development, with gress of Optometry to be held Aug. 14 to16 in Some of Cory’s advantages have included sev- responsibility for global strategic marketing, global Medellin, Colombia. It will provide a forum to eral years spent in retail buying and the fashion insights and analytics, global professional affairs, share information, research and strategies accessories market, before joining the optical global sales training, sales force effectiveness and designed to improve patient care. industry in 1998 as vice president of department sales operations. Cooper has been in private practice in Ontario store sales for B+L. She then moved to Luxottica “Our industry is complex and very dynamic. We for 38 years, and is retired from the faculty of the when they acquired Ray-Ban and then to Viva see many transformations. We face a more chal- University of Waterloo. Her international focus International. At Silhouette International, it is her lenging marketplace … but a more interesting one began there with her role as director of the Inter- responsibility to assure they have a growing and as well. My greatest challenge is to make the right national Optometric Bridging Program that sustainable place to work while contributing to More @VisionMonday Facebook.com/VisionMonday JULY 20, 2015 VISIONMONDAY.COM #HERSTORY 48 EXECUTIVE SUITE WOMEN WHO HOLD POSITIONS SUCH AS PRESIDENT, VP, CEO, CFO, CIO, OR COO the well-being of their employees and community. tant professor of optics, and served as chief of oph- Geertz feels that her greatest challenge is to “In my first 10 months I am proud of the spirit thalmic prescription services and associate chief of stand out from the crowd. “I have chosen to build of teamwork I have brought to the organization, clinical services. She moved to Ciba Vision and my practices inside a corporate setting, and want looking to improve processes and prepare for became director of academic affairs, then took on to send a message to my patients as well as the growth,” she said. “I have a passion for building various management roles in marketing, clinical industry, that I am practicing full scope optometry. high performing businesses and teams.” trials and research. As an independent doctor working in a corporate “I believe this is a historical time to be a part of In 2008, she joined Visioneering Technologies setting, I have the ability to practice optometry in the optical industry as it’s part of the health care as chief medical officer and vice president of clini- its most wholesome form. I can advocate for my reforms,” Cory concluded. “There is nothing cal and regulatory affairs, overseeing the clinical patient by recommending the very best for them.” more talked about than the change the U.S. is fac- development of Visioneering’s NaturalVue 1 Day Her personal philosophy is the same in her pro- ing in this area.” Multifocal from its earliest stages to the final prod- fessional life as it is in her personal life. “I treat my uct ready for the market. patients, as I do my friends and family, with care, SHE SAYS… “It’s a vast industry with many work- respect and kindness. My business slogan reads, ing parts. Don’t be limited by what you’ve already SHE SAYS… “I am inspired by a quote from The ‘See why caring is contagious.’ I am thankful for done—stay open to new possibilities. Never stop Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot, in which a all of the wonderful patients I have had the plea- networking.” man looking at his life, asks ‘Do I dare disturb the sure to serve and care for over the years.” universe?’ It reminds me to strive for excellence and to never let the status quo be good enough.” SHE SAYS… “I am inspired by people who over- Sally M.