The option of pursuing a Master's in Public Health and a
Rutgers MBA was the "perfect fit."
NEWARK,
N.J., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After
graduating from Cornell University, Daphni Sawyer worked in
healthcare for more than two years before she decided to
pursue an advanced degree. In May, she will graduate with two
master's degrees from Rutgers.
"I had two-and-a-half years of experience working in the
healthcare industry and I wanted to pivot to healthcare
administration," Sawyer said. "I felt
that having a Master of Public Health and a Master of Business
Administration were critical to my career path. An MPH opens you up
to a multitude of positions in healthcare while an MBA is important
for leadership roles."
Sawyer described Rutgers Business
School's dual degree program option as "the perfect fit"
because it allowed her to do the Full-Time MBA Program and
earn a Master's Degree in Public Health at the same time.
As a New Jersey native,
Sawyer knew about the strong reputation
Rutgers had in the state and noticed
Rutgers Business School's ranking by Fortune as
No. 1 Public Full-Time MBA in the Northeast. She was also attracted
to Rutgers Business School's sharp focus on pharma, biotech and
healthcare.
Want to learn more about what the Rutgers Full Time MBA
Program offers? Attend an online info session at noon on
Thursday, May 9.
In high school, Sawyer was
interested in social justice, and she recalled that during her
high school's career day, one speaker, a political figure, told
students the best way to encourage change is to involve yourself in
policymaking. She earned a bachelor's degree in policy analysis and
management at Cornell and gravitated to
healthcare policy courses. In college, Sawyer also founded The Blue Room, a club to
help students struggling to find mental health
resources, which sparked her interest in healthcare.
After graduating, Sawyer worked in
care management at the University of
Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson
University hospital systems, helping patients access
community resources that could improve their health outcomes.
Entering the MBA program without a business background,
Sawyer quickly discovered the
foundational courses in accounting, finance and economics got her
up to speed. More importantly, the courses incorporated
experiential learning. "I felt like the classes exposed
us to real-world experiences. It wasn't just theory,"
said Sawyer, 28, who also served
as president of the Black and Hispanic MBA
Association.
In a consulting course, Sawyer
relished working with other students to provide input
to developers working to bring streaming-platform
companies to New Jersey. "It was great exposure to an industry
I did not have experience in," she said. "Having the opportunity to
thoroughly research this industry and to network and build
connections with the developers was a wonderful opportunity."
Farrokh Langdana, the dean's
Professor of Business who teaches MBA students, described
Sawyer as one of the all-stars in his
macroeconomics class. "She is the quintessential example of
someone who combines inherent intelligence with hard work and sheer
dedication," said Langdana, who is also director
of Rutgers Executive MBA Program.
"From her questions in class, it was clear that she had delved into
the subject matter, that she had really examined all aspects, all
sides of the issue."
Rutgers helped Sawyer land a full-time job. Companies are invited
to campus to speak to students, and Sawyer was most excited to meet with large pharma
companies such as Pfizer and Merck. The program led to Sawyer being selected as an MBA Finance
Summer Intern in summer 2023 at
Merck, working with the company's vaccines group to help
standardize processes for vaccine forecasts.
The internship led to Sawyer
securing a full-time job in Merck's MBA Finance Rotational Program,
which she will start in July. The two-year program gives
participants the chance to spend time in different areas within the
pharma giant.
Sawyer credited her professors and
Rutgers Business School staff, for providing mentoring and
networking opportunities, and always being willing to answer
questions. "They're all invested in your growth so they're always
willing to help and lend a hand," she said.
Sawyer's long-term goals also
involve Merck. "In five years, I would like to be working for
a cross-functional team on a high-impact project at Merck in a
leadership role to help the company reach goals that positively
impact their bottom line," she said. "This would be the perfect
opportunity to challenge myself and increase my skill set."
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SOURCE Rutgers Business School-Newark and New Brunswick