With a background that includes starting his own digital marketing agency, co-founding a non-profit, working part-time as an EMT with the fire department, and launching an online coffee company, Spencer Rohatynski brings an admirable combination of drive, creativity, and dedication to the Samba Scientific team.
Embracing New Opportunities
Spencer discovered his passion for strategic marketing and client relations while double majoring in multimedia journalism and public relations. After wearing many different hats, he’s now ready to fully commit to business growth and high-level strategy, enjoying the new challenges of marketing within the biotech and life science space as Samba’s Business Development Manager.
Throughout his career, Spencer has figured out what it takes to achieve success in a fast-paced market.
“I think the biggest, most essential quality for a strong marketer is adaptability and an open perspective. The market is constantly changing, constantly growing. What could be popular and ‘the trend’ and important today could be completely different tomorrow,” he explains. “I always tell people that you can’t be stuck in your ways. If you want to grow and succeed, you need to be able to change.”
Being able to pivot, embrace new tools and strategies, and think outside of the box are key for staying ahead in a competitive, ever-evolving space. The dynamic nature of the biotech industry requires flexibility, which in turn can drive creativity. Spencer encourages his clients to remain open to adjusting algorithms, changing advertising platforms, and finding new ways to reach their audience.
Up for the Challenge
According to Spencer, what excited him the most about finding Samba was the intelligence within the team. “Being able to work with experts of specific trades within the life science and biotech industry is really such a gift because, not only does it allow us to offer the absolute best to our clients, but it encourages me to continue my growth and my learning. I think you become who you surround yourself with.”
While his background hasn’t been in the lab or the clinic, Spencer is excited to continue to learn more about advancements within the biotech industry. He’s looking forward to continuing his growth and taking on new challenges, and he believes that having subject matter experts working alongside him provides endless opportunity for new ideas. Being able to collaborate with team members who have extensive educational backgrounds is something that Spencer really appreciates about Samba.
“In the past, when I’ve seen clients work with agencies, they’ve been assigned to account managers who were typically pretty generalized. While on occasion they might be somewhat familiar with the industry, more oftentimes than not, they were just a marketing manager. At Samba, the account managers are experts in the field with PhDs in specific areas – when clients are assigned account managers, they get to work with someone who 100% speaks their language and knows exactly what their product is.”
Identifying Industry Strengths and Weaknesses
In the time Spencer has spent getting to know the biotech industry, he’s noticed that companies often do well with creating content. In this space, he notes that it’s incredibly important to inform and educate people, and a lot of companies are good at creating enlightening content that makes complex themes more accessible.
However, achieving compelling content that connects and resonates with the target audience can be an area of weakness for some life science companies. “There’s room for improvement in terms of personalization and engagement. Oftentimes, you’ll see an overarching, general marketing strategy, and a lot of companies could benefit from and improve on their personal approach.”
While it may be tempting for some to reuse a strategy that proved successful in the past or for another company, effective marketing isn’t a one-size-fits-all scenario. Spencer believes that focusing more on tailored and engaging experiences for a specific audience can drive a deeper connection that leads to a longer, more sustained business relationship.
A Passion for Positivity
Spencer is motivated by his heart. He was one of the founding members of a now national non-profit, Fleece and Thank You, which came from a shared idea to provide support for children undergoing long hospital stays with handmade blankets and personal video messages. Although he’s taken a step back from the non-profit space, this sense of compassion has stayed with Spencer as he’s entered into his role at Samba.
“I care about people, and I like to make a difference and do things to be positive and help others.” He finds fulfillment in positive business relations, and he’s passionate about helping clients meet their goals and connect with their audience, especially in a market that leads to transformative therapies and research breakthroughs. “In this space, the audience is somewhere in the life sciences, biotech, or medical industry, so we’re truly helping and making a difference.”
Outside of work, Spencer enjoys playing video games, staying active in his community, and spending time with friends and family. He’s motivated to continue his personal growth physically and mentally, so he spends time in the gym and plays sports when he’s not helping at the fire station, socializing at a cocktail lounge, or embarking on adventures in a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
If you’d like to learn more about Spencer, you can connect with him on LinkedIn. If you’re interested in supporting Fleece and Thank You, visit Fleece and Thank You to see how you can further their mission.
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