NANYANG EXECUTIVE MBA

From Lab Coat to Leadership: Jeremiah’s Journey with the Nanyang Executive MBA

Jeremiah Decosta spent the first one-third of his career in technical, lab-based roles. However, as his responsibilities expanded over time – he eventually stepped into his present role of Vice President of Operations for Mirxes, a global leader in the biotech industry – he knew he needed to learn more to prepare for the new position. 

The Nanyang Executive MBA programme helped him integrate his technical expertise with the business management he learned hands-on from the course. This capacity-building has put him in the right place to take Mirxes to greater heights at a time when biotech startups like it are going public and being commercialised at historic rates. 

“Exponential growth” from the lab to the boardroom

Fresh out of a university degree in biological and biomedical sciences, Jeremiah threw himself into laboratory-specific roles involving genetic sequencing. In time, he moved up to roles that gave him greater responsibility over manufacturing, engineering, and marketing.

His experience eventually led to a leadership position at biotech firm Mirxes, known worldwide for miRNA-based diagnostics and products like Fortitude COVID test kit. Jeremiah realised he needed “quick exponential growth” as he had moved from “managing a function to many functions to eventually managing a business.”

Jeremiah noted that “the role has expanded very drastically from a very scientific technical role to a manager role to eventually company operations, which looks at the business, the people, and the technical aspects at the same time.”

He knew he wanted to take an MBA, and he favoured Nanyang Technological University as it was “tech-focused,” which was relevant to his biotech background. It would also allow him to “pick up fundamentals on business management.”

A few factors sealed the deal for Nanyang EMBA: even with a shorter period of 13 months compared with other MBAs, the EMBA’s hands-on time was the same as in different courses and just as intensive. The programme also involved travel and immersive learning in relevant locations.

Lessons from the classroom and the field

The hours of class discussion in the Nanyang EMBA helped him learn not just from his professors but also from his classmates.

“I learned from my 30+ classmates’ insights,” he said. “Some are top-notch experts already in their field, so I learn in-depth from them while we do the project work.”

He also found the international modules valuable and applicable to his context.

The UC Berkeley module, which he said has case studies on Silicon Valley startups, offered biotech examples that resonated with him. In contrast, Tsinghua module helped him see how best to manage technological advances like AI in a growing company.

Jeremiah found the most challenging module – financial accounting – to be one of the most relevant to his career.

“You do business strategy, but how do you know it is working?” he asked earnestly. “Financial accounting is the verification of your business strategies.”

Managing with a tech and business lens

The hard work and sacrifice have paid off in spades. Upon returning from his Nanyang EMBA programme, Jeremiah brought a new perspective and strategy to Mirxes.

For example, financial accounting helped him analyse innovations and other possible introductions to the company from a profit and loss perspective. At Mirxes, he recommended a scaled approach to integrating Industry 4.0 in their production process instead of going full speed ahead.

He noted that “the Nanyang EMBA helped him stretch the project in a more comfortable yet still relevant period so we don’t overburden the organisation’s cash flow.

“We paced ourselves. And today, we are already running an Industry 4.0 at a level that is just nice for our capacity,” he said.

Still, he looks to the future. “As the utilisation rate needs to increase due to increased demand, I will gradually add more modules to Industry 4.0 as well.”

With Mirxes refiling for an initial public offering this year, Jeremiah’s knowledge has come in handy. He said Nanyang taught him to read numbers and apply business strategies to showcase the company’s prospectus.

Synergising business and science

With this fresh perspective on biotechnology and management, Jeremiah said he was able to ensure “business continuity” for himself.

“With my EMBA, I didn’t come back to the office with the same portfolio; I came back stronger,” he said. “It widened my breadth and my horizon in managing businesses.” He underscored that “Before this EMBA, I had a more technical perspective. Today, while I still work with very capable scientists, I see myself making more business decisions while considering science synergised with commercial and financial models”.

He has since transferred his learnings to the rest of the rank and file – teaching company employees to read profit and loss statements, for example.

Besides work, Jeremiah has also made time to pursue corporate social responsibility projects in Bukit Gombak, working closely with community leaders in the neighbourhood.

Jeremiah said that Mirxes “strongly believes in giving back” – as a Singaporean company, he wanted “Singaporeans to first benefit.”

“We ultimately give back by offering our innovations and products to the underserved population, the grassroots and constituencies.”

About the Nanyang Executive MBA 

The Nanyang EMBA provides accomplished leaders with classroom knowledge and hands-on business experience to synergize technical expertise with business knowledge. It is especially relevant in a fast-changing technological global landscape.

Its part-time format integrates with work commitments, allowing focused time for work and EMBA responsibilities.

The flexible programme is 13-month long with the option to extend to two years to allow for exigencies.

Visit the Nanyang EMBA website or download the brochure to learn more about the programme and available funding options.

Download the Nanyang Executive MBA brochure

Click here to learn more about the Nanyang Executive MBA programme or contact us at execmba@ntu.edu.sg.