Filippo Petralia, Full-Time MBA ’09

Filippo received a M.S. in Molecular Immunopathology from the University of Milano Bicocca in Italy.

Why did you want to return to school and get an MBA?

I wanted to gain expertise on how to manage biotech companies. Before joining the Rady School I worked as a general manager for an Italian biotech startup, but all I learned in college was science-related. Running the company was a tremendous learning experience, but I was clearly lacking key business notions. I quickly realized I needed rigorous training to acquire management expertise. That's when I decided to get an MBA.

Why did you choose the Rady School?

I moved to San Diego about a year before joining the Rady School. When I chose which schools to apply to, I decided that one of the key attributes the school must have was close proximity to a strong biotech region. I looked at schools in the Bay Area and in Boston, but soon realized that the ideal school for me was only 10 minutes away from home. The Rady School is extremely well connected with the biotech community in San Diego, not to mention the high quality courses offered, with professors with past or current C-level experience in biotechs.

Why did you choose to attend business school in the U.S. rather than Europe?

I personally believe that, generally speaking, the quality of MBA programs in the U.S. beats out those in Europe. Moreover, not only did I want to learn management, but I also wanted to start building my biotech network. What better place than the U.S. to do that?

You have a very scientific background, both academically and professionally. What do you see as the advantage for a scientist getting an MBA?

There are not many people effectively combining both scientific expertise and the ability to think rationally as a businessman. Scientists with an MBA have a tremendous advantage in the biotech sector.

Are your responsibilities in your new job different from those in your old one? How does your Rady MBA help you in your new role?

I am currently a consultant for Life Technologies, one of the largest biotech companies in the world. My Rady MBA has helped me tremendously. First of all, because I got this job through Rady’s MBA Career Connections office. Second, I use skills that I gained in courses like marketing, research for marketing decisions and corporate finance, as well as the ability to write an effective business plan, which I learned in the Lab to Market course series.

Anything else you’d like to share?

The MBA has been a tremendous learning experience. I believe that the true value of the Rady MBA is its faculty, with professors rivaling those at top-tier universities (mainly because they all come from prestigious schools), who are incredibly easy to go and see to ask for clarifications or anything else. This accessibility is, I believe, uncommon and makes the Rady MBA truly special.