Corporate connection and networking breakfast helps Carey students build for what's next

The motto of Johns Hopkins Carey Business School is “build for what’s next” and an essential part of what’s next for graduates is to build a successful career. To help MBA students get their start and build their business connections, Career & Life Design at Carey collaborated with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca for a corporate networking and career connection breakfast, which attracted hundreds of alumni and business executives from the Baltimore-Washington region.

Sharing career advice 

To kick off the event, Carey Dean Alex Triantis invited a panel of AstraZeneca executives to share advice they followed during their personal career journeys. None of the panelists set to work in the pharmaceuticals industry or imagined they would have careers with AstraZeneca.

“I would say that my career journey is definitely a testament to not being so rigid and being very open to opportunities,” said Science Engagement Coordinator Kabria Barlow. Barlow started her career in the entertainment management business before joining AstraZeneca in 2022 as an administrative coordinator and then advancing to a communications position.

AstraZeneca’s Head of U.S. Insights and Analytics Jennifer Ng held analytical roles with Master Card and IBM before moving to the pharmaceutical industry. She stressed the importance of trying new things in building a career. “Don't be afraid of broadening your base,” she said. “I would just recommend you think about that and don't let other people define who you are.”

Beyond seeking opportunities, Vice President and Head of Lung Cancer Franchise Arun Krishna encouraged career-builders to take risks. “If you're not failing, you're doing something wrong,” he said. “You've got to be open, honest, and curious. That took me to a path where I moved completely from being a scientist to working with governments and policymakers.”

Marketing Director Danielle Moita-Robles agreed. “When I first moved from Brazil, I was only 17 and I didn't speak English. It was a big risk at the time and high chance for failure,” Moita-Robles shared. “I think that that was probably the best decision I've ever made in my life, and it's led to everything I've been able to accomplish,” she added.

Paying it forward

Shreen Ghaleb (MBA ’24) who now works for AstraZeneca in their commercial leadership development program, came to the event to support and encourage current MBA students. “I'm here today not only because AstraZeneca is here, but also because I love to pay it forward,” said Ghaleb. “When I was an MBA student, many people helped me. They took my calls, they met with me for coffee, and they were willing to extend a little bit about their story and how they got to where they are today, and I'll never forget that. And so, for that very reason, I'm here to do the exact same thing for all of the people that I know. I was in their shoes before,” she said.

Vijay Menon (MBA ’26) said the networking event was the perfect blend of professional development and personal connection highlighted by the power of the Carey MBA network.

“A standout moment for me was meeting an alumnus who, coincidentally, used to work in health care regulatory and compliance-just like I did before starting my MBA. He’s now a consultant, which is the career path I’m aiming for,” said Menon. “His advice wasn’t just theoretical; it reflected the realities of consulting work and gave me actionable steps for positioning myself effectively.”

Anika Mistry (MBA ’26) says she found new connections to build her start-up company that helps parents of neurodiverse children connect with personalized special education resources. She connected with another Carey alum working for a company that focuses on giving young adults with autism support. “I think that the career coaches and the faculty did an amazing job of pairing students up with someone who matches their career interests,” said Mistry.