Alumna Spotlight: Lake Forest MBA Graduate Dr. Alina Fernández

Dr. Alina Fernández, MD, MPH, MBA, is an alumni of Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. She is an accomplished medical professional and currently serves as Vice President of US Pharmacovigilance for Lundbeck LLC. Additionally, Fernández is an alumna of the Lake Forest Leadership MBA program. She recently sat down with the school’s Lake Effects blog to take part in a Q&A about his experiences.

Fernández explained to Lake Effects how she applies the principles and skills she acquired through her MBA program in daily business practice.

“Having worked in the private sector for some time, I adopted a global business approach as an executive; I use the skills every day. When I started my career, business was more localized but our sector (like all other sectors) has moved to global business practices with external stakeholders, through networks and in development.”

“In the healthcare field, it was a slow transition but when I came into the private sector, I began to work more often with foreign offices. My current employer is headquartered in Copenhagen and I am located in the US affiliate, and business practice includes understanding social and business cultures that differ from our own. It has been very valuable.”

Lake Effects asked Fernández what she valued most from her time at LFGSM.

“I loved the diversity in the classroom; having students who were from various industries (manufacturing, marketing, technology & information services, banking, telecommunications, etc.). I learned a lot from the faculty but also through the work I did with other students, from all sectors. I was studying with people from entirely different business sectors, but we shared a common theme and function, regardless of the corporations that we worked for. The leadership skills we were there to [refine were] really universal among the students. So basically having the opportunity to learn from students as well as the faculty was very rich and meaningful experience for me.”

She was also asked to give some advice to prospective MBAs looking to advance in the pharmaceutical sector.

“For someone who comes from a science background without experience in accounting, finance or microeconomics, the exposure to that in the MBA program was [valuable] for me. It validated some of the skills and knowledge that I gained through my work experience, because now when I am dealing in finance, my work is viewed with a certain amount of respect, given the fact that I have completed my MBA.”

She added: “It takes real commitment to acquire your MBA when you are working full time. It is a lot to handle, but you are also showing your employer that you are capable, and ready for advancement and promotion.”

You can read the full interview here.

regions: Chicago

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