Alexander George, Weekend MBA 2025
When I began my Weekend Executive MBA at Fuqua in the summer of 2025, I thought I knew a fair amount about the health sector. As an engineer in pharmaceutical manufacturing and operations, I had spent the past eight years learning about and navigating this complex and highly regulated industry.
Or at least – I thought – a pretty respectable portion of the industry. I knew that there were significant gaps in my knowledge of the commercial and financial divisions of drug makers, and that health insurance companies, hospitals, and health systems played a crucial role in healthcare. That’s why I came to Fuqua and why I was pursuing the HSM Certificate. I wanted to broaden my knowledge, deepen my perspectives on the industry I loved, and meet smart, talented, and affable people. But come on, the HSM certificate is only a few extra courses and a final project; how much more could there really be to know?
As it turns out – a lot. And HSM really does squeeze it all into those few extra courses and final project. My education in the program was top notch both academically and culturally and prepared me well for a transition to a career where I apply the concepts I learned almost every day.
Where the HSM Program Shines
The HSM program brings together students from a diverse array of ages, backgrounds, careers, and healthcare experiences ranging from none to pharma industry veteran to “has been a physician expert on a Congressional policy briefing panel.” The curriculum of the program leans into the strength of its students, taking a holistic approach to the health sector in the US and abroad that considers each of the key players: drug manufacturers, healthcare providers, hospitals and health systems, insurance companies, and – of course – the government. Each HSM course focuses on exploring the intricacies of a particular aspect of the sector, how these players interact, and the motivations and incentives that drive their behavior. At every opportunity, students were brought into discussions to share their experiences and ask questions.
As a WEMBA student, I found the interactions between my classmates and the resulting discussions equally as valuable as the course material. A large proportion of the class was actively working in the health sector and there was often at least one person who had direct experience with the topic or case study we were discussing. An endocrinologist debated the dynamics of GLP-1 weight loss therapies with employees of one of the major
GLP-1 manufacturers and a former employee of a large health insurer. Students with medical device and diagnostic manufacturers shared advancements in health informatics at their companies while physicians provided real-world examples of where such advancements had succeeded – and failed – at their health systems. Friendly sparring between professors and expert students gave depth to academic concepts and tied them to an actionable reality. Where else but HSM would I have been exposed to these interdisciplinary and multi-industry discussions? It is the program’s superpower; an emergent benefit that cannot be overlooked.
How My Time in HSM Helps Me Today
Following my graduation from Fuqua in 2025, I left the world of manufacturing and operations and began working as a management consultant focused on the life sciences. In the year that has passed, I’ve completed projects in drug pricing, market access, brand and portfolio strategy, and other areas in which I had exactly zero prior experience before starting my journey at Fuqua. It is no coincidence that these are exactly the topics – amongst countless others – explored in the HSM coursework. The HSM program gave me a holistic perspective across the healthcare industry that was instrumental in my obtaining the role in the first place and was the basis of my initial success.
In fact, my HSM journey did not end following my graduation. I completed the final part of my HSM curriculum, a paper exploring a strategic opportunity for drug makers to improve their corporate decision-making, as an alumnus. The flexibility of the HSM program in allowing alumni to complete coursework was critical in my ability to complete the certificate while balancing recruiting, starting a new job, and the various rigors of daily life. Writing my paper after I had completed my career transition was even more valuable than if I had completed it as a student, as it allowed me to directly incorporate my new experience into the final product. Even a year after donning my cap and gown, HSM continued to grow my knowledge. As a whole, the program created a strong foundation upon which I have been able to build during my venture into a new side of the biopharmaceutical industry.
Most important, however, are my classmates. The community of professionals across healthcare and non-healthcare industries who complete HSM every year is truly fantastic. It has been amazing to see where my fellow Fuquans have taken their careers and personal lives in the year since we graduated. Together, they embody the ethos of the health sector: to save and improve lives. I am proud to call them friends and I cannot wait to see how they continue to make a difference in this large, complex, often-frustrating, but always fulfilling industry.
*Alex was in the WEMBA class of 2025, and came back to complete his HSM certificate in 2026.