Ken Termini Basketball

After a distinguished career in the pharmaceutical industry and achieving great success as a high school basketball coach, Ken has focused on helping college student leaders leverage their experiences during entry-level job interviews.

Early Career in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Ken Termini graduated from Penn State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. He started his professional journey at Revlon, where he worked for two years before moving to Forest Pharmaceuticals. Over the next 27 years at Forest, Ken worked through various sales and sales management roles, gaining a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical and healthcare landscapes.

Ken’s performance and leadership were quickly recognized at Forest Pharmaceuticals. He won all three of the company’s significant sales awards: Rookie of the Year, Representative of the Year, and Sales Manager of the Year. These early accolades highlighted his strong sales skills and ability to excel in a competitive industry. Ken continued to distinguish himself as he progressed in his career, showing an ability to manage complex customer relationships and navigate evolving industry regulations.

Basketball Coaching Success

Alongside his career in the pharmaceutical industry, Ken Termini also found success in high school basketball. His coaching career, which spanned several years, allowed him to apply his leadership and team-building skills in a new context. As a coach, Ken was committed to developing young athletes on and off the court.

Ken’s teams achieved significant success under his guidance, and he became known for instilling core values such as teamwork, discipline, and leadership in his players. His coaching philosophy was not just about winning games but about shaping the character of his athletes. Many of his former players succeeded in their personal and professional lives, often citing the lessons they learned from Ken’s mentorship as key factors in their success. His coaching was a testament to his ability to lead, motivate, and develop talent, which extended beyond basketball.

Shifting Focus to Leadership in Public Policy

In 2002, Ken transitioned to Forest Pharmaceuticals' corporate office, leading the State Government Affairs Department in a new role. This promotion marked a shift from sales to public policy, where Ken used his leadership skills to navigate the complex intersection of healthcare regulations and business interests.

In 2005, Ken’s role expanded further when he was asked to create and lead the Federal Public Policy & Government Affairs Department for Forest Laboratories. During this period, which coincided with the critical implementation phase of the Affordable Care Act, Ken’s experience in both sales and policy was instrumental. He was responsible for overseeing the company’s relationships with federal policymakers and ensuring that the company’s interests were represented during significant regulatory change.

Ken’s leadership in public policy was key to helping Forest Laboratories navigate this challenging regulatory environment, and his ability to bridge the gap between the business world and public policy made him an invaluable asset to the company.

Retirement and New Focus on Student Leaders

Ken Termini set a personal goal to retire by 50, and he accomplished this objective. His ability to retire early resulted from a lifetime of planning, hard work, and disciplined financial management. Ken often credits the guidance he received early on in his life, specifically advice from a friend’s father to divide his life into thirds—spending the first third learning, the second, third working, and the final third enjoying the fruits of his labor and pursuing passions.

After retiring, Ken shifted his focus to helping others. He now works with college student leaders, helping them leverage their experiences in interviews for entry-level jobs. Through this new focus, Ken uses his wealth of experience in leadership and mentorship to help the next generation of professionals navigate their career journeys.