Consultant Spotlight - May 2026

How long have you been with miLEAD? 

I joined miLEAD in October 2024, so it has been almost 2 years!

What is the focus of your research?

My most recent research investigates ultra-low-power integrated circuit design technique for implantable medical devices. This aims to resolve the bulkiness problem in hearing aids with a volume-constrained and power-constrained design while ensuring high performance.

What are your current career goals?

My interest lies in the intersection of semiconductors, healthcare, and commercialization. In the short term, I want to extend what I’ve been doing at miLEAD and pursue a career in consulting, learning how early-stage healthcare companies translate preclinical innovation into clear clinical, regulatory, and go-to-market strategies. Looking farther ahead, I want to have exposure to healthcare ventures to help implantable medical devices move from ideas to real-world use.

What roles have you played on projects? 

I was a consultant on three projects - two with external clients and one with a UM program.

What led you to seek out miLEAD?

When I joined the implantable device research project, I became curious about the process that could eventually bring my research to use in everyday life. I was particularly interested in the research commercialization process and what investors look for in early-stage ideas. At the time, I was still exploring whether my interests leaned more toward the technical side or the business side, so I wanted to find an opportunity at the intersection of both. I came across miLEAD during orientation and was fascinated by the opportunity to work hands-on with clients ranging from early-stage startups to well-established companies. I was also drawn to miLEAD’s well-structured professional development pathway and its strong alumni network across top-tier consulting firms. First and foremost, what appealed to me was miLEAD’s philosophy: as graduate researchers, we have the ability to learn anything, dive into any topics, and solve complex cases. I used to be hesitant to work with real clients whose expertise were outside of mine, but the time here has bridged this gap.

Since joining miLEAD, what skills have you been able to develop?

There are many things I can list here, but one of the most impactful things I have learned is market and competitive research. Through miLEAD, I have had access to market reports, industry insights, and tools that are typically restricted to the business school, and I really appreciate the opportunity to gain exposure to these resources. miLEAD also has very high standards for slide presentation and client communication, which has taught me a lot about how to translate technical concepts for a lay audience, both visually and in terms of content clarity. Externally, I have also had the opportunity to survey and interview industry experts, physicians, and KOLs in the medical field. Through those conversations, I have learned how to look at the bigger picture and synthesize different perspectives into valuable insights that can create meaningful impacts for our clients. The ability to combine data, technical details, and market perspectives into actionable recommendations has made me feel that I have grown a lot as a consultant.

What has been one of your most rewarding experiences thus far working with miLEAD? 

I would say the process of working on a project itself is very rewarding. As I dive into each topic, I learn more about the business model around it and become genuinely intrigued by the impact the work can deliver. My clients have included professors, doctors, industry experts, and even U-M PhD alumni who took their theses out of the lab and into industry ventures. It has been invaluable to work alongside people with such high impact in healthcare and commercialization of products. Through these experiences, I have learned a lot about their mindset and their journey in translating academic research into successful healthcare solutions, especially in the areas where my interests are aligned. I have also met many great colleagues through miLEAD, some of whom later became my teammates in major case competitions across the country and close friends. Beyond the project work, miLEAD is also very generous with workshops, professional development grants, and our swag is amazing!