Each week, JWMI profiles students and alumni in its new featured series “Winning Voices.” Learn about our diverse community and what sets our program apart from those who have experienced it. For more great “Winning Voices” content, click here.
Riyaz Ahmed Saboor
Senior Manager
Viatris Inc.
Program/Concentration: Jack Welch MBA Healthcare Concentration
PLEASE SHARE MORE ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL ROLE AND RESPONSIBLITIES.:
Apart from involving myself in technical work related to product safety and risk management at Viatris, I also lead a team of physicians performing similar duties. My main deliverables include:
- Ensuring on-time delivery of safety reports related to drugs that Viatris markets.
- Constant process adherence & improvement.
- Overall mentoring and nurture my team members to perform at their best.
WHY WERE YOU LOOKING TO GET AN MBA?:
The primary reason for seeking an MBA was to hone my managerial skills, gain experience in leadership and ultimately land an executive C-suite position with a highly reputable firm. I was also looking to expand my horizon to look at horizontal growth and move into newer healthcare domains, not necessarily restricted by roles in pharmaceutical companies or pharmacovigilance.
HOW HAS THE JWMI CURRICULUM HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?
At work, I have become more of a collaborative person, where everyone’s opinion matters a lot. I always seek feedback, so people feel a sense of belonging while participating. I also implemented the understanding of people management, i.e., the importance of setting clear and precise goals, setting expectations, and finally performing a candid year-end review.
HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE JOB, FAMILY, AND WORK? WHAT STRATEGIES DID YOU IMPLEMENT TO GET IT DONE?:
Maintaining a balance is not easy, and it takes a good amount of courage to go through the motions of completing a degree, especially if it comes to a significant amount of time after having been in college. It meant many sleepless nights, busy weekends, and missed family events. But in the end, the sense of achievement upon completing the course makes it seem all worthwhile.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM?:
This program made me overcome one of my biggest fears; recording myself on camera to complete assignments. The future is about creating easy-to-consume media, and true leaders cannot be made without developing this most needed skill.
DID YOU FIND THE CURRICULUM WAS IMMEDIATELY APPLICABLE? PLEASE EXPLAIN.:
Midway through the course, I cracked an excellent interview and landed a new position with which I began my leadership journey. It was extremely pleasurable to note that the JWMI way of thinking was already reflected in my words and actions, making it easier for me to slip seamlessly into the role of a team leader.
IN JUST A FEW WORDS, DESCRIBE WHAT “LEADERSHIP” MEANS TO YOU.:
Leadership involves constant learning, listening to every brain in the game, and inspiring people to establish goals and get into the relentless pursuit of achieving them. Also, leadership is about inspiring people and aligning them to the larger vision and mission of the organization.
PLEASE SHARE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS EMBARKING ON THE MBA JOURNEY.:
Don’t wait to take a call. This will be one of the best decisions you have taken. An MBA by your name is a feeling indescribable by words. It would be worth every minute given and every penny spent.
Connect with Riyaz Ahmed Saboor on Linkedin
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