Strategic Management in the Life and Engineering Sciences - Student Profiles

Miles Gerson
Class of 2009
Most Recent Title: Executive Director, Diabetes Sports and Wellness Foundation
mgerson@wisc.edu

Miles is a second year MBA student in the SMILES Program. He graduated from Wesleyan University (CT) with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Neuroscience, focusing on the regeneration of brain cells.  He began his career as a high school biology teacher in Los Angeles before joining the legal team at Epic Systems Corporation, a leading healthcare software company, to manage immigration matters for Epic’s foreign nationals and research patent issues related to competitor products.  In 2005, Miles began his studies at the University of Wisconsin Law School, while simultaneously serving as Executive Director for his own non-profit foundation.  He joined the Wisconsin School of Business SMILES MBA Program, looking to apply his diverse background in high tech and biotech business development.

“For the past three years I have attended UW’s law school, focusing on intellectual property and food and drug law. My studies prior to law school, however, were almost entirely science.  I am pursuing a Joint JD/MBA at UW, hoping to apply these different areas of knowledge to biotechnology business development and strategic intellectual property asset management.  My ultimate goal is to be able to help guide and foster emerging companies in a socially responsible manner.”

Juanfang (Jennifer) Zhang
Class of 2009
Most Recent Title: Section Head - Business Development Team, Jusco Aeon China
jzhang37@wisc.edu

Jennifer is a second year MBA student in the SMILES program. She graduated from the Chinese Academy of Sciences with a master’s degree in Botany, and prior to that, earned her bachelor's degree from Wuhan University, China, with a major in Cell and Developmental Biology. She switched her career path to business by working with JUSCO, AEON China, a Japan-original international retailer, as a sales manager for three years. The position provided her the opportunity to work on sales team management, customer relationships and market development. She joined the Wisconsin MBA for advanced study in strategic management, looking forward to providing leadership in biotech-associated fields.

"SMILES is a perfect match for me because the strategic management training it provides specifically focuses on science-based business, which will help me to succeed in my future career."