Dylan Campbell

Rady School of Management at UC San Diego

“Dylan is driven, an effective relationship builder, and has strong emotional intelligence.”

Hometown: Pleasanton, CA

Fun fact about yourself: Deciding to pivot from the lab to the business world was relatively easy for me after completing one of my earliest assignments out of undergrad – testing human “bodily” samples for antimicrobial resistant gut bacteria.

Undergraduate School and Degree: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo – BS in Biological Sciences

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Hardy Diagnostics – Product Design and Development Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2022? Illumina – San Diego, CA

Where will you be working after graduation? Illumina – San Diego, CA

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Elected 2023 Full-Time MBA Cohort Representative & Rady School of Management MBA Ambassador – meeting and advising new and prospective students for the Rady MBA program

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of being elected as my MBA cohort’s class representative. I felt it was a real-world validation of my abilities to lead and build relationships with others.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I started as an intern at both companies I worked for following undergrad and graduate school, Hardy Diagnostics and Illumina. In both cases, I was able to convert those roles into full-time positions. At Hardy Diagnostics, I was involved in designing and developing new products for detecting and diagnosing disease caused by microorganisms. Now at Illumina, I work in Global Segment Marketing within their oncology vertical, helping to drive new product launch strategy and accelerate the adoption of next generation sequencing in oncology testing.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose to attend business school at the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego due to its proximity and connections to the biotechnology hub of San Diego. The life sciences have always been my passion – biomedical science, enabled by modern technologies, continues to uncover novel, fascinating ways in which we can improve human health for optimal well-being. So, attending a business school with deep connections to that community was a priority for me – and Rady/UC San Diego certainly fits that mold.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Magnus Felke – Magnus is a seasoned marketing leader at a major global medical device company. Learning insights into the biotech industry from a working professional was incredibly valuable to me and my classmates. Magnus is extraordinarily organized and enthusiastic about ensuring deep understanding amongst all his students. Throughout this class, he led insightful class discussions and created a space for us students to learn from one another. Further, his organization skills and lecture delivery were second-to-none. Overall, he is an exceptional professor and extremely kind person.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? MGT 430 – Biotech Industry, Structure, and Strategy taught by Professor Bain – This course was incredibly impactful, primarily due to the quantity and quality of guest speakers Professor Bain brought into the classroom. Professor Bain himself is a biotech executive and the guest speakers he hosted came from a variety of roles and industries across the biotech sector. I really enjoyed learning about the experiences of such esteemed professionals, being able to ask questions about their experiences or advice for my own career, and networking with the guests outside of class.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? I always enjoyed the various outside-of-class cohort social events that we’d organize. These social events – attending local sporting events, barbecues, bowling nights, and more – reflected the fact that our cohort was not very large compared to other business schools, which allowed for us to really get to know one another well and develop lasting professional and personal relationships.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? During my first year of the program, I wish I would have taken more classes with the part-time MBA cohort in the evenings and on the weekends. I’ve learned a lot from my classmates throughout the program, and earlier exposure to the other Rady MBA cohorts would’ve been beneficial.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I haven’t heard many myths, though I suppose the small class sizes might be perceived as disadvantageous. However, I enjoyed the smaller class sizes because it made meeting people a lot easier and allowed for more interactive and dynamic class discussions.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? San Diego is one of the most desirable cities to live in the US for a reason! From the beautiful weather, picturesque beaches, variety of communities and cuisines, and ever-growing global hub of innovative technology and biotechnology companies – what is not to love?

What surprised you the most about business school? It was how quickly I was able to apply the skills I learned through lectures and coursework to the real world – both professionally and personally. Business school has really helped me build upon my financial literacy, which I’ve been able to leverage in everyday life.

What is one thing you did during the application process that gave you an edge at the school you chose? I performed several informational interviews with current students and alumni prior to applying to the program. These interviews helped me get a sense of the community at the Rady School of Management and gain a deeper insight into the coursework and expectations. I also spent a significant amount of time preparing and studying for the GMAT, which ultimately helped with admission.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Antonio González-Karg – Antonio is an incredibly intelligent and well-spoken individual. He brings a wealth of real-world knowledge in finance and venture capital to the classroom. His skills and experiences allowed him to contribute in-depth insights to class discussions and case studies. I’m eager to see what Antonio achieves in his career. ¡Te deseo lo mejor mi amigo! (I wish you the best, my friend!).

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1) I have been fortunate to have had very impactful mentors throughout the beginning of my professional career. With time and experience, I aspire to be a professional mentor myself.

2) As with many MBAs, including my fellow classmates, I ultimately hope to earn a C-suite executive position in my field. But, more meaningfully, my aim is to lead teams in delivering products and solutions that can have a significant impact on improving human health.

What made Dylan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2023?

“Dylan immediately stood out in my class. He is not only bright and intelligent, but also very thoughtful in how he engages with others. As an instructor, I believe that much learning happens when students engage and share knowledge with each other. By taking a nuanced approach and listening as much as talking, Dylan quickly gained the trust and respect of the other students and greatly advanced class discussions. He was always supportive and caring and especially during the team project.

At the end of the course, I asked Dylan if he would consider being a teaching assistant in the course in the following year which he happily agreed to. Unfortunately for me, Illumina, the global genomics leader offered him a full-time position after a summer internship. The company only accepts a small number of the best applicants and it speaks for itself that they offered him a position. I am very happy that Dylan found a career in the field that he is most passionate about and Illumina is lucky to have him.

Magnus Felke
Lecturer at the Rady School of Management

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE LIST OF MBAS TO WATCH IN 2023