Rinji Kassem

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

“I am passionate about sports, travelling, and improving access to healthcare for underserved communities.”

Hometown: Jos, Nigeria

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have traveled to 7 countries (USA, France, Egypt, South Africa, Swaziland, Kenya, and Ghana)

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Jos, Pharmacy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: PharmaSymbiosis Ltd, Key Account Manager

What has been your favorite part of Nashville so far? Why? It would be San Antonio Tacos (SATCO,) because they make the best food.  The Vanderbilt Campus is also beautiful. Of course, there is Broadway, where every day is a show.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The healthcare concentration is one of the best in the country. The personal scale due to the relatively small class size of the program was also an attraction for me.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Vanderbilt Owen? I have enjoyed the soft skill courses like Leading Teams and Organizations and Management Communication the most. I find these courses interesting because. as a business leader, your success will depend on how well you manage your relationships (up or down) and how effective you are in communicating your thoughts, plans, or visions. I have also enjoyed the “Closing Bell” a tradition at Owen where every Thursday, students and faculty and staff all meet and network over drinks.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I successfully launched two drugs into the market and coordinated an “Access to Medicines” project that reached and helped improve access for thousands of underserved patients.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? The friends I have made and the relationships I have formed so far have been my greatest accomplishment. I have expanded my network with amazing, brilliant, and kind-hearted people within a very short time, and it is more than money can buy for me.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I was at a point in my career where I needed to add new skill sets and tools to be able to compete at a global stage in the healthcare industry. I knew that for me to make the level of impact I wanted, I needed to be in a leadership position at the global stage, and an MBA was the best route to get there.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA program? Vanderbilt values authenticity, so I will advise any potential applicant to present their authentic selves through all aspects of their application.

DON’T MISS: MEET VANDERBILT OWEN’S MBA CLASS OF 2023