Simmons Alum Shares Experience

Simmons School of Management Alumnus Amanda Wagner shared her story of why she chose to attend Simmons and how it has helped to further her career. Wagner’s story was published in the Simmons School of Management blog.

Wagner serves as the Senior Director of Product Planning & Program Management at Concert Pharmaceuticals and was selected out of 350 Boston professionals that were nominated for the honor of 40 under 40 due to her professional accomplishments and civil engagement.

Current MBA student, Audrey Markarian, interviewed Wagner. Read an excerpt from the interview below:

“What drew you to Simmons School of Management in particular?

There’s a lot of buzz right now about startup “incubators”, and I think of the Simmons School of Management as being an incubator for high-potential women. The size of the school allows for each student to get personalized attention and a challenging curriculum, while providing a supportive environment for exploration.

Secondly, I’m personally very interested in women’s impact on economics and healthcare, and Simmons is at the forefront of thinking about how women are shaping the business world.

Finally, the SOM has the advantage of being able to provide exceptional financial aid for promising candidates, and flexible schedules, both of which were important to me.

How did your experience at Simmons prepare you for your current role and how has your experience at Simmons affected your career as a whole?

Clearly I learned tactical skills in the classroom, and my experience in classes such as marketing and finance helped prepare me for the role that I have played at Concert. Simmons has also had tremendous value for me in terms of opportunities and relationship building. The Simmons network in the Boston area is strong, and my connection to Simmons has directly led to career opportunities.

Do you have any thoughts for perspective students?

The Simmons SOM has played a key role in my career trajectory, and they are doing some particularly innovative work in healthcare management. If you are a high potential candidate evaluating schools in the Boston area, I strongly recommend visiting Simmons, meeting some professors and visiting classes, and talking to admissions about the available programs and financial aid.”

regions: Boston

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