Student Spotlight: Phyllis Lin, MBA Candidate 2015

Phyllis Lin             

Part-time MBA Candidate 2015

Field of work: Pharmacy

Graduate degree: PharmD from University of Illinois

Career Goal: To work in pharmacy managed care or the pharmaceutical industry

In pharmacy school, we had limited exposure to business education, especially when compared to the sciences and our clinical training. Having worked in several pharmacies, it has become clear to me how beneficial a business background can be in running a successful pharmacy.  The Director of Pharmacy where I work is a PharmD/MBA, and his business education really shines through his strategic planning. Taking MBA classes has allowed me to see different aspects of the pharmacy business I normally would not have considered.  I also wanted the opportunity to network and broaden my scope of business operations in the Healthcare industry.

I like the proximity to the Illinois Medical District, the diverse student population, and the erudite faculty at UIC.

Beyond meeting my wonderful classmates, I was also surprised at how open and accessible the professors are.  I enjoy learning from the professors’ wisdom and real-world experiences.  Not only that, they are always accommodating with office hours and working on problems one on one.

I really appreciate the HR Management class I took with Dr. Thompson. It was definitely a challenging class, especially coming from a non-business background.  This was the first time I have ever had to learn to assess HR problems and to write persuasively and succinctly.  I can already see a difference in the way I approach problems at work, however, so I know I’m learning!

Learn time management! As a part-time student with a full-time job, I am constantly making to-do lists for myself.  Also, make connections with your classmates; I have met several very interesting people in my classes that I might not have ordinarily met otherwise, and I have learned quite a bit from them.  The same goes with professors; they have a wealth of knowledge and are all too willing to share.

Lastly, try to apply what you have learned in class to your workplace.  Try to take concepts from class and apply them to make a difference in your workplace – your boss will notice!