Shreya PAL, HEC Paris MBA Class of 2027
Age: 29
Hometown: Calcutta, India
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Amity University, B.Tech Biotechnology, India followed by Penn State University for a Masters in Biotechnology, USA.
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Senior Scientist, Biopharma industry, ViiV Healthcare-GlaxoSmithKline, 6 yrs
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I used to be a research scientist working in HIV drug discovery. I was fortunate to work on a molecule that went into clinical trials and has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people living with HIV. Through this experience I realized how deeply I care about creating impact in healthcare but also the next steps in the scientific career ladder did not align with my career progression to be able to influence strategy and bring innovations to patients faster. That realization led me to pursue an MBA, to bridge science and business and prepare for more strategic, high-impact roles in the biopharma/ biotech ecosystem.
The timing was right for me because I was planning to move to France so what better place to start my network from scratch and also help pivot to a different role in my industry than go to business school.
Why did you choose HEC Paris? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose HEC Paris because of its high-quality academics, strong alumni network and recognition in France, Europe and rest of the world. The biggest factor to choose HEC out of the other top schools I was accepted at was the warmth and energy I felt at every alumni event I went to, talking to alumni who had graduated recently or long ago, they all had great things to say about the program and the school. That gave me an idea of the strong alumni network of HEC. Secondly, not coming from a business background, I wanted a rigorous yet robust curriculum and to give myself time to grasp the different concepts and a 16-month program was best suited for those needs.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I am the only scientist in class with a biotech/biology background. Coming from a non-traditional background I soon realized my way of thinking about things is different. I think in some ways it’s good to be a fresher because someone who has spent years doing a certain thing may have a biased way of looking at it but I can challenge it more creatively.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I started learning French when I was 10 because my mom thought it would improve my future prospects. I fell in love with the language but moving to France was never on my radar. Fast forward a decade, I met my husband in the US who happened to be French and a year ago we decided to move to France. I’m so glad I speak French otherwise I would be so lost here (outside HEC), all thanks to my mom’s prescience.
Post-MBA career interests:
Venture capital in Biotech is something that really excites me because I can utilize my deep scientific expertise, growing business acumen at HEC and a global lens with my experiences in India and the US. I aspire to be a scientist turned strategist, helping founders translate science into investable ventures. I’m also interested in working in market access in biopharma at the intersection of science, policy and business to make treatments accessible to the people who need it the most.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Talk to as many alumni as possible to have a good understanding of the curriculum, campus life, etc. Speak to the MBA recruiters and MBA ambassadors. If you need a visa for your studies, attend webinars, etc. to inform yourself about it and stay on top of things.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would not change anything in my application but I would find out and apply to available external scholarships early, especially country specific ones.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GRE/GMAT. I am not a fan of standardized tests because they are not holistic indicators of a candidate’s potential. Initially the prep was difficult as I was not used to studying for tests like this, but practice and consistency really helped get a good score.
What is your initial impression of the HEC Paris students/culture/community?
The level/ quality of candidates is exceptional. Every single person brings a unique set of expertise and value to the table and it is just amazing to be challenged and grow in so many ways! The sense of community is really strong, be it among our cohort as a whole or among folks from the same country. We have cultural nights almost every week where students from a particular country or geography hosts the rest of the class to share their food, culture and traditions with everyone. We really get to have a global birds eye view of not just culture and traditions but also geopolitics and how that’s affecting different parts of the world differently.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I am an MBA Ambassador, Healthcare club ambassador as well as a Leadership fellow. I volunteered to an MBA Ambassador to be able to give back to prospective students and made them feel welcome into the community like I was. The reason for joining the Healthcare club was to be able to meaningfully contribute through my professional experience, to expose my cohort to opportunities in the field and also explore opportunities for myself. I applied to become a Leadership fellow (formerly TEC) because it’s a very unique mentorship program and I needed this catalyst to hone my leadership skills and work on my weaknesses.
What is one thing you have learned about HEC Paris that has surprised you?
The shift in my thinking. It’s an intangible outcome I recently realized. I was at a Biotech event the other day and after the panel discussion, I went to one of the speakers and was asking them some follow up questions regarding the feasibility of expanding the technology to developing/ lower-middle income countries, the challenges to innovation especially in Europe and the shift I see from the US where I spent several years before this, etc. Later that night, a Master’s student came up to me and said she was amazed by the questions I was asking and that she would have never thought of that angle and I thought to myself, neither would I just 3 months ago. Being in class with participants from all around the world, with diverse professional backgrounds and having conversations with them really expands your horizons in ways you could not have anticipated.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The learning curve has been steep but so rewarding. I am so excited about learning and developing my business acumen and then being able to apply it through programs like CDL (Creative Destruction Lab). Every single subject is very new for me and takes a extra hours of self-studying but I am enjoying it to the fullest.
