Consultant Spotlight - June 2022

How long have you been with miLEAD? 

I joined in October 2021, so I've been in miLEAD for about 9 months.

What is the focus of your research?

I study the compounding effects of electrical dysfunction in both the heart and brain. There are many disorders that lead to heart dysfunction; however, some also cause neurological dysfunction and the relationships there are often poorly understood.

What are your career goals? 

My current career goals are centered on the business decisions behind scientific progress so I am actively exploring careers in industry research, life science-focused consulting and venture capital.

What roles have you played on projects? 

I have been a consultant on two secondary research projects and just wrapped up a third for which I was a project manager. The first two projects were focused on market analysis and entry strategy while the third project was primarily centered around mergers and acquisitions analysis.

What led you so seek out milead?

I realized very early on that my long-term interests did not align with an academic career path; however, I was really unfamiliar with what other options were out there. Many peers and departmental alumni spoke about miLEAD as a really great opportunity for career exploration and professional development and so far miLEAD has really helped me focus my interests.

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

While in miLEAD I've definitely seen a lot of improvements with my organizational and time management skills by meeting team and client deadlines. My communication skills have also improved a lot from team and client meetings and miLEAD has been integral to me actively building upon my leadership skills. I've also gained brand new exposure to basic business principles and practices that I would definitely struggle to learn elsewhere in my PhD training.

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

It's been really rewarding jumping between distinctly different projects and carrying out meaningful research for clients. Hearing directly from clients about their excitement over work we did for them is a huge confidence boost for the entire team and seeing the consultants' work come together as a story for the clients is always amazing.