Jason Gaines

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College

“A loyal, selfless servant leader with a focus on excellence.”

Hometown: Cheverly, MD

Fun Fact About Yourself: President Obama was my undergraduate commencement speaker and connected with our entire ROTC commissioning group prior to the ceremony.

Undergraduate School and Major: Morehouse College, Biology; Mercer College of Pharmacy, PharmD

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Eli Lilly and Company, Associate Director—Business Development

What has been your first impression of the Tuck MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Tuck story so far. The Tuck values—personal, connected, and transformative—are embodied in each Tuck MBA student and alumni. There is a common theme to always lend a helping hand in the Tuck community. Recently, I was grabbing dinner with a couple classmates at a local Lebanese restaurant and a Tuckie (T’93) spotted our Tuck gear from across the room. Without any hesitation the alumni came over, engaged in conversation, and offered to be a resource in any capacity possible. Fast forward a few weeks, and I encountered the same alumni during Tuck Reunion Weekend where we shared stories about our experience and further developed our bond.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The Tuck MBA offers a unique opportunity for each student to develop personally and professionally through the Tuck Compass Personal Board of Advisors (PBA). Alumni advisors and experienced non-Tuckies come together to provide a student with guidance on navigating the MBA experience, along with personal and professional development goals. These engagements are not simply a check-in. It’s a series of meetings with structured goals and the space to challenge the student beyond their comfort zone. The entire purpose is to grow beyond one’s limits by leveraging their PBA’s experience and wisdom. To date, I have nearly a fully constructed board who has begun to help me think differently about experiences to obtain for future biopharmaceutical executive leadership.

What excites you the most about coming to live in Hanover? What is the one activity you can’t wait to do? Skiing! I’ve steered clear of winter sports most of my life, but told myself that I’d step out of my comfort zone and pick up one winter sport while at Tuck.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Dartmouth Tuck? The Tuck First-Year Project (FYP), is a required course in which teams of five Tuck students apply learning from their entire first year to complex, real-world issues of strategic importance for a client. FYP is a chance to do a deep dive into my industry and function of interest (health care, finance) while obtaining frequent client and faculty mentorship.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Navigating the complexities of launching a blockbuster brand

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? Health care investment banking

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA program? Develop a deep understanding of Tuck’s mission, vision, and strategy. Be able to communicate how your story and experiences represent each of the aforementioned elements. Be very clear on your why an MBA, why now, and why Tuck. It’s one thing to say you want a Tuck MBA, but what will this degree do for you personally and professionally? More importantly, what contributions will you bring to the special Tuck community?

DON’T MISS: MEET DARTMOUTH TUCK’S MBA CLASS OF 2026