Jasper Isip

Why DeGroote?

As an applicant with a non-traditional background in healthcare, DeGroote became my undisputed choice when I read in its vision statement that the school intends to be a global leader in healthcare management. This is a testament that the school is expanding its social impact beyond traditional business landscapes, which is evident through its impressive alumni roster.

Why an MBA?

Even if I received several awards in a short period of time in pharmaceutical sales and marketing, I need to have a formal education to solidify the amorphous sales and marketing experiences I learned in my job into concrete and holistic business concepts that will enable me to become a well-rounded leader in the pharmaceutical industry. An effective business leader should have a macro view of the business, in my case the need to be exposed to concepts such as finance, accounting, HR, strategy and others, to address potential problems beyond the realm of my specialization.

What surprised you about DeGroote?

The diversity of experiences, whether professionally and culturally, is what makes the class learn beyond the academics of an MBA. It opened my curiosity towards other businesses, such as consulting, hospitality, insurance, digital health, and logistics, where I don’t have a prior knowledge. Also, I was quite surprised with the accommodation of professors and fellow students to assist me in understanding accounting and finance since I don’t have a formal business education.

What piece of advice would you give to anyone considering doing their MBA at DeGroote?

Look at the specializations because it shows the expertise of a business school, and DeGroote definitely has the expertise beyond the traditional specializations of an MBA.

What has been the highlight of your DeGroote experience so far?

The Integrating Project and Pitching in for Charity case competitions enabled me to push my boundaries and lead the financial analysis in those projects even if I don’t have any accounting/finance background. This showed that DeGroote provides you the tools and training to excel outside of your expertise.

Aside from being an MBA Student Ambassador, what other extra-curricular activities have you been involved with while at DeGroote?

• DeGroote Leader

Tell us one fun fact about you!

I managed a cryptocurrency-based gaming guild that helped 200 financially-challenged individuals earn money during the onset of the pandemic.