Alumni Spotlight - September 2024

How long were you a member of miLEAD? What positions did you hold?

5 years. Consultant, project manager, director of professional development, vice president, president

What was the most interesting project you were involved with while part of miLEAD?

Working with a high-security government client and helping them determine which avenue to pursue that best utilized their expertise and resources.

How did miLEAD help you obtain your current position?

Through my experience with miLEAD, I learned about what it was like working at a startup company. This experience was critical to me finding opportunities in that space and getting a job because I was aware of the environment that comes with working at a startup.

What is your day-to-day life like in your current position?

Most of my time is spent doing science: culturing neurons, planning/executing experiments, and going over data. I also am involved with bioinformatics and biomarker development to help identify new targets for our discovery team to pursue.

What did you learn through miLEAD that you apply to your current position?

I learned to be open to new opportunities. I took on projects and responsibilities through miLEAD by having an open mind even though it might not be my expertise. This helped me learn what it takes to succeed in graduate school and in my current position

What advice would you give to current or prospective miLEAD consultants?

If you’re interested in a specific career, do your research on it and make connections in that field. Informational interviews are crucial because for many fields, having a network is how you will learn about jobs. Spend some time developing skills related to making connections and understanding what is important to take the next step.