Pearl Vyas

1. Why did you decide to do an Executive MBA and join RSM?

“After medical school I wanted to increase my circle of impact in the health care industry. I have a global health perspective with my innovation degree. At Philips, I focus on how we bring medicine and technology come together in sustainable solutions, keeping consumer and health care in mind. I was using medical theory and patient insights to come up with great medical ideas but I didn’t understand how important a good business case was to bring my ideas into the market. I also wanted an international MBA programme to make me mobile and relevant in the long term. RSM would give me the business education and was the obvious choice with its huge network and international faculty and students.”

2. How is the EMBA experience affecting your work?

“Everything I’ve learned in the classroom seems to become relevant at work exactly in that week. My world is opening up. As for the time balance, well, I’d just been promoted to a new role within Philips, moved office to Amsterdam, moved in with my boyfriend, and started the EMBA – all in the same month. So the EMBA forces me to evaluate what is important to me and how to prioritise. Also, my employer, Philips, is very supportive in helping me to manage my work and adapt my schedule.”

3. How has the Personal Leadership Development Programme (PLD) affected you?

“I now have more confidence and awareness of myself. And I now listen better before I react. I’ve learned that it’s okay to take the back seat. We should believe in our teams, and follow the expertise of people around us.”

4. What has been the best part of the EMBA so far?

“Learning with a global perspective! The EMBA has pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’ve learned how economics work, and how you can make statistics relevant. I’m being pulled out of the medical bubble. I now understand how money works in an organisation such as a hospital. It’s really opened up my world.”

5. What is the biggest challenge of the Executive MBA?

“The first is managing time. And another challenge can be that not every conversation is about your industry. You have to dig sometimes but there’s always a key take away or lesson that can be applied in your industry too.”

6. How do you hope the RSM MBA helps you to be a force for positive change?

“I want to be able to affect positive health outcomes with smart and impactful innovation. Philips offers multifunctional roles and realises it needs to be more than a corporation if it’s reaching for positive health outcomes. I want to continue to be part of that thinking and grow within the organisation. RSM’s mission aligns really well with part of Philip’s strategy: leading by example.”

7. After the Executive MBA, what does the future hold?

“I would love to be able to be more engaged within the businesses of the health care industry. I understand the doctor-patient relationship and medical needs. Then ultimately I want to create more external engagement, and bring health needs to the forefront for the corporate world to act upon.”