Mixing Business and Science

Stephanie Gomez’s desire to help others attracted her to STEM careers at a young age. Now, as an MBA student at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Gomez is even more determined to bring those dreams to fruition. 

After working in the biotech industry for a few years, Gomez transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry with hopes of making a difference and operating in a team-oriented environment. Guided by her moral convictions, she searched for a company that aligned with her values. Gomez found what she was looking for when she accepted a 2018 summer position with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Philadelphia as a commercial pharmaceutical intern primarily working on making vaccines and medication more accessible to consumers.

“Customer focus is our number one value,” Gomez says. “Respect, integrity and transparency — those are all things that I try to live by as it is, so to have a company that wants that in every action you do is fabulous.”

Although Gomez was new to GSK, she was no stranger to the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining the company, Gomez collaborated with other pharmaceutical companies like Bayer and Pfizer to design equipment used in the delivery of consumer drugs. This experience enabled her to foster relationships with industry members, as well as help her define her career trajectory. 

“I saw a great opportunity that has a company culture that’s really about work-life balance, diversity and inclusion, which really drew me in and made sure that that’s where I should be,” Gomez says. 

Gomez received a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from Virginia Tech University in 2013. After completing her degree, she carried out research projects and other tasks for small biotech companies before enrolling at Maryland Smith in 2017 to pursue an MBA. Gomez structured her coursework to complement the skills she had accumulated and to prepare her to make the jump to bigger companies. 

“I made sure that my classes were heavy on data analysis and Excel, especially in the marketing space, and forecasting because it’s very turbulent, so I am very grateful that I picked my electives in those areas,” Gomez says. 

Gomez encourages other students to prepare for their careers accordingly by refining their skills, as well as by attending networking events and conferences to initiate dialogue with companies they are interested in. To Gomez, her work experiences are invaluable and have helped her thrive in a corporate environment. 

“That was great for someone young to get that exposure and that experience because now GSK is extremely grateful, especially in a corporation, to have someone who has the flexibility and experience in various areas,” Gomez says.

— Pablo G. Suarez, marketing communications writer at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

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