Meet Anna Lisa Somera — an alumni of the Liautaud Graduate School of Business. She holds an MBA/MPH, which she earned in 2006. After earning a BS Biology and Anthropology and a MS Cellular Biology from Loyola University and Rush University, respectively, and entering into a career in Biotechnology, Somera decided to switch things up and pursue a graduate business degree.
At UIC, Somera took up a concentration in entrepreneurship and currently works in the Venture Capital and Consulting field as an independent consultant to several life science start-up companies and venture capital firms
UIC Business recently sat down with Somera and asked her a few questions about her experience and her MBA. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
Why did you return to school to obtain your Graduate Business Degree?
Having worked in biotech and university labs for a number of years, I wanted to get a better understanding of the business behind science. I wanted to explore what was out there for me beyond the lab. To be more marketable, I knew I had to build up a background in business and I obtained that from UIC Liautaud.
With so many schools to choose from in Chicago, why did you choose UIC Liautaud?
UIC’s value, location, connections and breadth of programs made it an easy decision to go to business school here.
How has your UIC Liautaud experience influenced your career to date?
Things that I learned in the classroom, activities that I participated in and connections that I made throughout my Liautaud experience have made me more confident and knowledgeable in what I do today. I used to think I was limited to a career in science, but my Liautaud experience proved that I could do so much more.
Now that you’ve graduated, what advice do you have for prospective UIC Liautaud students?
I would advise current and future UIC Liautaud students to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them while taking classes. Playing the student card has its perks such as making connections, doing internships and participating in activities such as business plan competitions.