Roberto Rosenkranz decided to get an MBA after his PhD in pharmacology and toxicology out of pure interest in the field, not to advance his career. But while working at Syntex (later purchased by Roche) his extra degree caught the attention of the CEO, who asked Rosenkrank to head up new product development. Since then, Rosenkranz has held just about every position in the business side of pharmaceuticals, and started his own pharmaceuticals company, Roxro Pharma, LLC, in Menlo Park, Ca.
The pharmaceutical industry is a natural home for someone with a head for both business and science, he says. Rosenkranz believes his MBA helps him "build a bridge" between the people in marketing and those working in research – who are "very, very different." For instance, scientists worry about which products work, while sales people spend sleepless nights thinking about what sells. "By having both degrees, you can be ...
