Only two years ago all eyes, M.B.A.s included, were glued to the Internet. By comparison, other industries looked tame. But my passion is health care, biotechnology and genomics. And, thanks to the Human Genome Project, it’s back in vogue. I wouldn’t have believed it 10 years ago, but genomics, the study of an individual’s unique set of genes, is almost a household word now.
I believe that biotech and genomics companies are critical to the future of drug development and health care. These companies are in the process of creating revolutionary drugs for diseases like cancer and AIDS. More and more new things are being discovered about genes, which will result in better drugs and diagnostics. The work itself combines people with diverse abilities-lab-coated biologists and chemists mingle with computer programmers and mathematicians, engineers and business people. There is no doubt in my mind that these fields will transform health care.
What do I want? To help build, with this rich combination of people and technologies, a company that will change the world by improving health and extending lives.
I want a position where I can develop new markets and products and make them become a reality. I want to enjoy the company of the people I work with and learn from them, too. In the last three months I’ve met with roughly 80 industry executives, venture capitalists, Stanford alumni, former colleagues and friends in the industry. In each meeting, I have either reestablished an old relationship or forged a new one. But as of today, I have no formal offers of employment and more than $70,000 in business school debt. What, I ask you, is an M.B.A. to do?
Tomorrow: How will I pick my next job?
