Meet Steve and learn more about his journey with Abbott.

Hey! My name is Steve Tsakoumakis (most people call me Steve). I was approached to consider an opportunity with Abbott back in 2001. Working for Abbott sounded like being on a different planet — a far cry from working as a biochemist in a safe environment of sexual disease testing! Not one to back away from any challenge, I decided to jump on my bike and go for a ride with Abbott. It has been an awesome ride ever since.

Abbott has been a vessel for me to undertake a wonderful journey. It has been a very eventful journey that has involved an immense amount of change, challenges and fun within various roles and departments. For those who know me best — these are some of my drivers. They are the things that I enjoy and truly believe are what drives Abbott’s success in a competitive environment.

My life at Abbott started in the Diagnostic Division where I was provided with opportunities to grow my sales territory to the next level. With guidance and assistance I managed to achieve some great success. While working in a team environment that felt more like a family — we were kicking huge goals and transforming Abbott Diagnostics into a leader. I also kicked a huge personal goal in completing my MBA. I was fortunate to work closely with the marketing team and they provided valuable information and assistance. This fuelled my desire and inspired me to move into a marketing role.

When the door opened, and I wedged it so that it would not close, I landed a role in the Abbott Diabetes Care marketing division. Armed with my sales experience and a qualification in marketing I was ready to unleash my creativity. The last few years have been like a roller coaster ride pushing boundaries and achieving some huge successes. One of these was the diabetes global awareness-building campaign which involved lighting up the Sydney Opera House in blue for World Diabetes Day.

My work with the Global Strategic Marketing team in organising events like the one above, plus being a test market for a number of market research projects put me in regular contact with an extended team beyond Australia. It was not too long before conversations started about potential roles in our global headquarters in California.

In April 2010 after selling the opportunity to our seven year old son – a slide show instead of a PowerPoint was used – my wife and I packed our bags and our son and headed to Alameda in California. I was taking up the newly created role of Manager, Global Training in Abbott Diabetes Care to help share best practice from around the world and to continue to foster our innovative spirit.

Abbott made the move 7,500 miles away pain free so that we could concentrate on the important things like where to live and which school our son should go to. We were settled quickly and so at home that rather than come back to Australia for our first Christmas, we instead flew to New York where we experienced a truly magical, white Christmas.

The opportunities and experiences that have been afforded to me and my family by Abbott are second to none. Every day I think how lucky I am to work for an organisation that doesn’t see geographical boundaries as a barrier to career progression. The experiences I’ve had are mind blowing and it makes me want to provide as much value back to Abbott as it has given me.

No matter where I am in the world, I am driven by the vision of advancing science to help people live healthier lives. My passion is to transform science into caring, by providing ways for people to manage their health. It is this commitment that focuses on what matters most, improving life.

I thank Abbott for giving me the opportunity to have practised this over the years and on different continents. I look forward to further challenges and opportunities with Abbott that will allow me to grow and expand my beliefs and allow me to participate in my other passions: family, cycling, motorbikes and classic cars!