Alumni Spotlight: Janice Caprelian

Janice has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years, with a focus on the digital and marketing spaces. Previously, she served as Digital Operations Manager at Incyte, where she managed tactical and digital campaigns, providing innovative solutions to deliver meaningful content while also increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. Prior to Incyte, Janice was at Merck where she held Senior and Executive Sales positions, as well as Senior and Managerial positions that addressed topics from disruptive digital solutions to product marketing.

How has your learning been applicable in your current role?

One of the biggest challenges in my field is staying on top of things, if not ahead, in understanding how technology is evolving. The program helped guide me to think differently and ask all the questions needed when thinking about the quality and content. What are we serving up from a digital perspective that will be a pleasant experience for the end user without a negative impact? We’re trying to provide patients, providers, and caregivers with valuable information that they need in order to make important healthcare decisions. This class reinforced my ability to develop meaningful content that has expert, authoritative quality and provides timely information to various audiences.

What motivated you to pursue this program?

Merck offered this program for anyone interested and when I saw the opportunity, I jumped on it. I always want to learn and remain educated, which aligned with one concept instilled in me when receiving my Master’s: “What you learn today within six months is going to be outdated, and what is taught today could be out of style tomorrow.” I want to continue to pursue something that will build or enhance my skill set, which is exactly what this course did.

What was your biggest personal or professional gain from taking this program?

By taking the program, I was able to stay on top of new technologies and discoveries. Every time a new innovation came out, it seemed I had just learned about it in the course. I’m able to follow along and that is what’s important because it’s so easy to fall behind. I’m continuing to grow in an area that is continually growing, If I’m not growing and learning as much as I can, then I’m going to be the dinosaur. We’re never too old to learn.

What does the term “reinvent” mean to you?

I think reinventing is like asking, “How do I take what I already have and add to it or make it better?” I already have a marketing and digital foundation, but how can I take my experiences from one industry to the next and not only find the commonality, but also the opportunity to take those commonalities and explore them in that role? I’m continuing to build on the foundation, which is a way of reinventing myself.

What does the term “lifelong learning” mean to you?

Lifelong learning is imprinted on your mind based on something you’ve experienced, whether positive or negative, and the impact that experience will have on how you think, respond, or act. These past experiences will cause you to take a certain approach or think differently in how you might take on a challenge. Then when you run into a similar situation, you’re now armed with that past experience, allowing you to better respond. I see continued learning as a priority, and if I see an opportunity I’ll take it. It shows that you’re innovative and constantly moving ahead.

In looking back on your program experiences, what stands out to you?

What stood out to me the most was the caliber of the faculty. They were passionate about the topics, which made me passionate about the subject matter. You can tell they love what they do, and my commitment to learn from them allowed me to grow. Also, if I couldn’t find an answer to a question on my own, I was able to get feedback and understanding from the other participants in the program, which encouraged course dialogues and learnings from others. I really liked that shared opportunity.

What advice would you give to fellow professionals or colleagues that might not have considered this type of program?

I would absolutely recommend it – you should never stop learning. It’s very important, because that’s what is going to keep you cutting-edge in your job and in the job market if you want to grow. Rutgers really put together a program that is very focused on real-world jobs, challenges, and technology and teaches you how to evolve in a way that makes sense to your business and aligns with your strategy. I think anyone who is in the beginning, middle, or even towards the end of their career could benefit from this course. Even if you got your first job only six months ago, the Mini-MBA is a way to demonstrate that you are continuing to learn and sharpen your skills.