Under the tutelage of Jim Tobin, the government relations director, Juraschek quickly realized how much he had to learn. In 1989, Juraschek took over the position and became Becton Dickinson's one-man government affairs department. I spent January and February making calls on congressional offices and getting a feel for what it takes to function effectively there. I developed an understanding of what is required to be an effective government affairs professional. One of his biggest challenges now is helping members of Becton Dickinson's management team focus on public policy issues that affect the company.
Most managers concentrate on the financial aspects of their businesses.
That's their job. I deal with issues that may take years to resolve. Political change is an evolutionary process. Juraschek uses several approaches to energize employees and managers around important issues such as FDA modernization and product liability reform. He has developed a grassroots network of people who are interested in public policy matters that affect the company and the industry.