Scholarship winner Rola Hamed rises in biotech leadership with the Carey Flex MBA

Three continents, four countries, and five languages—when Rola Hamed (MBA ’25) began her graduate studies, she brought with her a global perspective and an ambitious vision for her career. Hamed’s worldview is as dynamic as her professional journey, which reflects the curiosity and adaptability that define her approach to business and leadership.

Hamed’s commitment to excellence earned her Johns Hopkins Carey Business School’s Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board Scholarship, a merit-based scholarship awarded to outstanding students. She describes the distinction with both gratitude and humility. 

“I am very grateful to have received the Dean's Alumni Advisory Board Scholarship,” she says. “It has motivated me to continue striving for the highest standards.”

The balancing act of senior leadership

As Director of Business Development and Strategy at Banook, Hamed plays a key role in driving the company’s growth and long-term success. She identifies new market opportunities, forms strategic partnerships, develops business plans, leads teams, negotiates deals, and analyzes market trends.

“Ultimately, my goal is to drive the company's long-term success and enhance its market position,” she says.

Balancing such a demanding career with her academic commitments required discipline—a skill Hamed seems to have mastered. A self-described creature of balance, she begins each day with a ritual that grounds her. 

“A typical workday for me starts with a morning walk with my dog, Frida,” she says. “She is my 12-year-old Collie that I absolutely adore. Then I prepare my daily matcha latte and get set up at my home office.”

From her home, Hamed’s workday spans continents. She spends the first half of the day in meetings with colleagues in Europe before they log off for the day, then she immerses herself in work sessions and meetings with her North American clients. She frequently attends biotech networking events in Boston or Cambridge as well. 

Hamed sees both challenge and promise on the horizon in the biotech field, driven by the rise of AI and market volatility. 

“While AI poses a challenge by commoditizing fundamental insights, it also offers the opportunity for directors to leverage it for deeper, more sophisticated analysis and predictive modeling,” she says.

Likewise, she says, navigating market volatility is a challenge, but it also creates the opportunity to build agile business models that capitalize on disruption.

“Ultimately, those who can embrace these shifts will be able to turn challenges into a competitive advantage.”

Creating leaders who seize opportunities

Hamed’s forward-looking perspective reflects the analytical mindset cultivated during her time at Carey, as well as a bent for turning challenges into opportunities that is deeply rooted in the MBA experience.

“I was able to secure my current role thanks to the skills I acquired during my MBA,” Hamed says. “I am applying a lot of the knowledge I learned from my strategy, negotiation, business communication, and leadership classes. Surprisingly, I am more and more involved in financial conversations, so the accounting and finance classes came in handy.”

In addition to the flexibility of Carey’s MBA program, Hamed says she chose Carey because of the school’s reputation and her admiration for its mission.

“Several things made me choose Carey specifically,” she says. “First and foremost is the flexibility of the program, which allowed me to keep my full-time job and complete my coursework. Second, of course, is the name and reputation of Johns Hopkins.”

She adds, “Finding a program tailored to the health care/biotech industry was crucial to ensure the concepts I learn and apply fit in the context of the industry I work in. There is a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, innovation, and experiential learning. The school's curriculum is designed to equip leaders with the analytical skills necessary to navigate a complex, technology-driven business landscape. This is why it was the perfect fit for me and for my career goals.”

From global experiences to corporate leadership, Rola Hamed embodies the Carey spirit—innovative, analytical, and always ready to build for what’s next®