Jennifer Peoples

“Curious and driven problem-solver with a love for science and adding joy to tough situations”

Hometown: Livermore, CA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am allergic to dogs but want one more than anyone I know!

Undergraduate School and Major: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, B.S. in Biochemistry

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Research Associate, Biomarin Pharmaceutical

What makes Seattle such a great place to earn an MBA?

Seattle’s thriving industry presence across technology, healthcare, aerospace, retail, and biotechnology offers an amazing setting for students to obtain their MBAs. Students have access across these industries to companies they are interested in and can partake in networking opportunities with large potential for internships and job placements. The proximity to these industries and companies also allows for impactful real-world learning experiences that will enable students to get a better sense of what it would feel like to work in a specific company or industry. Along with all the professional benefits, Seattle has the most beautiful scenery and access to nature that can’t be beat!

Aside from your location and classmates, what was the one key part of Washington Foster’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you?

A large factor that brought me to Washington Foster’s MBA program is the smaller program and class size, paired with the motto of “Learn By Doing”. Having an undergraduate experience that was similarly focused on small classes and applied learning experiences was a very positive experience for me that I knew I wanted to replicate in my MBA program. The intimate setting at Foster allows you to really get to know your peers, especially in all the wonderful applied learning scenarios that take place.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Washington Foster?

The course I have enjoyed the most at Foster so far is Corporate Finance. Coming in with zero knowledge or education around finance, I was really scared for this course and felt that it would be utterly foreign to me. However, the professor’s ability to explain the content on a level that was easy to understand and engaging for everyone in the room, no matter their background, was amazing. Throughout the course, I realized that Corporate Finance was just a new application of the math foundation I already possessed, and by the end, I was able to think deeper around the implications and strategy of financial decisions in a way that I would not have predicted beforehand. I never thought I would say it, but I can’t wait to take more finance classes!

Washington Foster operates off a philosophy of We>Me. Give us an example of how you’ve seen that among your classmates so far.

In your first year at Foster, you sit on a different team of 5-6 peers every quarter in order to replicate that of a corporate business team. On these teams you work together and collaborate in order to complete group assignments, presentations, case competitions, and real-world consulting projects. So far on my teams, everyone has been extremely empathetic and encouraging towards individuals coming in with non-business backgrounds. I have found that my peers are more willing to help me learn and succeed than ever before, and it has been a great experience towards the We>Me philosophy.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

My biggest accomplishment in my career so far occurred in my final year of work at Biomarin Pharmaceutical. I was able to present a large bulk of my scientific research at a multi-national conference on behalf of my company, which was not common for associate-level employees to do. This work was novel within my field, and at the conference, I gained positive recognition from the Head of R&D for a major competitor. Advocating for my ability to deliver on behalf of my company and getting positive feedback from such a high level were huge wins for me.

Describe your biggest achievement in the MBA program so far:

My biggest achievement in the MBA program so far has been receiving positive feedback from my first-quarter team following our final case competition. We had a great experience working together, and it was very encouraging to hear that they enjoyed the team as much as I did.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

My best memory thus far from the MBA program was the celebratory brunch that my first-quarter team got after our final case competition presentation. After a whole week of heads-down work and some late nights, we walked into a diner near campus and saw five other Foster MBA teams, all with the same idea of celebrating their first-quarter wins over a meal together.

© Copyright 2025 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.