On September 28, 2026, the Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree program hosted its Pop Up: MBS Leadership Panel, bringing together six alumni for an open, honest conversation about the careers they have built since graduation. The evening was opened by Abbe Rosenthal, MA, PCC, Assistant Director of Corporate Engagement, Certified Executive Coach, and DYL Coach, who welcomed the panelists and set the stage for conversation about what an MBS degree can actually do for a career.
Events like these offer students a real-world perspective. With panelists from a range of concentrations, students could make career connections, earn a colloquium point, or continue the conversation with a panelist on LinkedIn.
From founding a company to navigating layoffs, hear the panelists share their pivots, setbacks, and breakthroughs that shaped their journeys.
Meet the Panelists
- Badal Shah, MBS’15, Drug Discovery and Development
Now the Founder and President of Neolytica, Shah came to Rutgers as an international student from India with a background in pharmacy. With the support of Dr. Silver, he secured an internship that he describes as his turning point, one that exposed him to the startup world and gave him the confidence to pitch and eventually fund his own company. Today, Neolytica has over 400 employees. His advice to students: step outside the safe 9-to-5 and take the risk.
- Nadine Goldman, MBS’15, Personal Care Science
Currently Senior Director of Regulatory and Quality at Pets+People Consumer Products, Goldman joined the program while working full-time at Revlon. The degree helped her understand how different parts of an organization work together and positioned her as a strategic leader in regulatory. Her biggest takeaway: having a growth mindset makes all the difference, especially in the face of unexpected setbacks like a layoff.
- Rajesh Israni, MBS’16, Biotechnology and Genomics
Executive Vice President of Regulatory, Biometrics and Medical Writing at Zentalis Pharma, Israni is a civil and mechanical engineer by training who has spent his career manufacturing drugs and vaccines. He took five years to complete his MBS degree while working full-time at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he was part of a five-drug new drug application and contributed to the first cure for Hepatitis C. His lesson: never take no for an answer, keep knocking on doors, because you only need one yes.
- Manessa Lormejuste, MBS’19, Personal Care Science
Founder and Scientific Advisor at her own consulting company, Lorm.co, Lormejuste spent a decade in the beauty industry, including time as a cosmetic chemist at L'Oréal, before making a strategic pivot into entrepreneurship. Driven by curiosity about how brands bring products from idea to commercialization, she delved into Product Development before launching her own consulting practice in 2024. She now enjoys the flexibility and creativity that comes with being her own boss.
- Simran Rekhi, MBS’20, Engineering Management
Vice President and Lead Product Manager at Citi in New York City, Rekhi joined the MBS degree program as a mechanical engineering consultant seeking business exposure. While enrolled, he pivoted to business analysis and later to product management. He also serves as a mentor in the MBS Externship Program, which connects students with leading companies and organizations to work on real, semester-long projects that build hands-on experience and industry-ready skills. Rekhi credits the degree for shaping the skills that helped him advance in the business space.
Product Experience Researcher at IFF (International Flavors and Fragrances), Wolff holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Rutgers and was introduced to the MBS degree program by a colleague while working as a lab technician. She took five years to graduate while balancing a full-time job and motherhood, changing roles and earning promotions along the way. She describes MBS as a stepping stone that taught her how to present herself and speak confidently with clients.
The discussion was followed by an open Question & Answer session, giving students the opportunity to ask questions directly and dig deeper into panelists’ journeys. The evening closed with gratitude and closing remarks from Rosenthal, who thanked the panelists for their time and candor.
The MBS Alumni Leadership Panel is just one of the many opportunities the MBS degree program offers for students to connect with professionals who have walked the same path.
To stay up to date on upcoming events, visit the MBS events page. If you missed the chance to connect with a panelist, it is never too late to reach out on LinkedIn.