Gabrielle Simmons

Boston University, Questrom School of Business + School of Public Health (MPH Dual Degree)

“Purpose-driven biopharma consultant committed to people, the planet, and expanding global patient access.”

Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa

Fun fact about yourself: My favorite animal is the elephant. I studied elephant ecology in high school and now fundraise by running marathons for Team Elephant, supporting land preservation and conservation efforts through a charity called Wild Tomorrow.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Cornell University, B.S. Biology & Society

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Chemonics International, GHSC-PSM

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? Merck

Where will you be working after graduation? Merck, Commercial Development Leadership Program

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Avenir Management Partners Global Health Strategy Fellow (Part-time inaugural fellowship)
• Alfred C. Harcourt Scholar, Academic Honors
• Health Sector Management Club – President
• HLSC (Health & Life Science Conference) – Director of External Affairs
• Student Government Representative – First-year representative
• Forte Fellow
• Link Day Volunteer (Non-profit one-day consulting MBA initiative)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? The achievement I’m most proud of during business school was helping bring the Boston University Health & Life Sciences Conference (HLSC) back in person after a six-years of being virtual. Founded by MBA students in the Health Sector Management program, the conference promotes collaboration and dialogue in healthcare. In 2025, our student team revived it under the theme “Policy, Progress, and Possibilities,” rebuilding the event from the ground up—securing sponsors, recruiting speakers, and coordinating logistics. I’m proud we restored a platform for connection and impact at Questrom, showing how a committed team can drive meaningful change.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One professional achievement I’m most proud of was developing a new supplier training program for African suppliers at the Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management Project (GHSC-PSM). Some regional suppliers struggled with large-scale government procurement, limiting local sourcing. As strategic sourcing lead, I created a program clarifying GHSC-PSM’s objectives and processes, and delivered it in person in Mozambique and Malawi to strengthen relationships. By addressing operational barriers through small process improvements, we increased procurement from African suppliers by 20% and advanced more equitable regional supply chains.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Boston University’s Questrom School of Business for its Health Sector Management and Social Impact tracks—a rare combination that aligns with my career goals in global health R&D and access. Each track builds a tight-knit community, offering not just intellectual growth but lasting connections with fellow students. While many schools offer healthcare or nonprofit electives, Questrom provides in-depth study of both. These tracks reflect the school’s commitment to Questrom’s mission-driven leadership. Through them, I applied management tools to global health and nonprofit challenges, making Questrom the ideal place for my MBA.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Drugs, Devices and Diagnostics taught by Rena Conti. The class focused on how to define value and strategic questions in biopharma commercialization. What made the class particularly impactful was learning how to apply NPV models to drug development. The practical application made the material both intellectually engaging and highly relevant to my career goals in global health R&D. No.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA event was Link Day, Questrom’s annual pro bono consulting intensive where student teams tackle real challenges for nonprofits. Link Day was meaningful because it let me connect with other students, alumni, and faculty while applying my MBA skills to support organizations making a tangible impact in the Boston community. I felt lucky to contribute assets that advanced my nonprofit’s goals, exemplifying Questrom’s commitment to service and positive change.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? Looking back on my MBA experience, I wish I had done more to ease the first-semester stress. Programs move so quickly, and the early weeks can feel overwhelming. I would have started a “Bagged Dinners” initiative—providing meals for classmates each week—to create small moments of relief. Beyond reducing stress, it could have fostered earlier connections and stronger relationships across the cohort, helping build community and support at a time when everyone was navigating new challenges and heavy workloads.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The most impactful case study I encountered in business school was the Merck Global Pricing case. It provided a detailed background on the history of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and Merck’s partnerships with industry, funders, and governments to improve global access. The case was particularly relevant given my future employer, but its lessons extend far beyond this context. It highlighted how strategic pricing, collaboration, and thoughtful partnerships can drive both business and social impact. The biggest lesson I took away was the importance of learning from past experiences—insights that will guide me in future product launches and endeavors.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I loved most about Boston is how it perfectly blends personal and professional life. As a runner, I enjoyed exploring the Charles River in every season, and the city’s diverse, welcoming atmosphere made it easy to feel at home. At the same time, Boston offers unparalleled healthcare, biotech, and venture capital networking, along with a vibrant calendar of academic and industry events that enriched my MBA experience.

What business leader do you admire most? Bill Gates. I admire Bill Gates for his awareness, dedication, and values. He recognized he was in the right time and environment to develop the source code for the first PC and matched that with relentless dedication to coding. His impact extends beyond Microsoft—through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he has addressed critical global health and social challenges, showing how business success can be leveraged to create meaningful societal impact.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? One way my business school has integrated AI into the curriculum is by incorporating in-class assignments where we conduct research using AI platforms. After gathering information, we present it with sources, and professors guide us in correcting any inaccuracies. From this, I’ve learned—and continue to refine—how to efficiently fact-check AI-generated content while leveraging its ability to accelerate research, balancing speed with accuracy in decision-making.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The MBA classmate I most admire is Cynthia Salazar. Her positivity, curiosity, and ability to bring people together while being unapologetically authentic are qualities I deeply admire. She invests 100% of herself into every task she undertakes and won’t take no for an answer—if a process isn’t efficient or a club doesn’t exist, she creates a better one. Working with her on the Questrom Grad Council, I witnessed her passion for the school firsthand, which mirrors the dedication she brings to her career pursuits. Cynthia’s energy, authenticity, and persistence make her an inspiring presence in the program.

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

1. Lead a global therapeutic product launch – bringing innovative therapies to the global market, including low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), while collaborating with local teams to deliver medicines to patients in need at accessible prices.

2. Fund a global health innovative therapy – partnering through public-private collaborations to align on target product characteristics, and support the sourcing and funding of breakthrough inventions that address critical health challenges.

What made Gabrielle such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Gabrielle Simmons joined the Health Sector Management Program (MBA) at Boston University Questrom School of Business in August of 2024, though I remember first meeting her in my office during admitted students’ weekend in March of 2024. We discussed her career aspirations and how she could best take advantage of graduate school. I remember thinking she was exactly the type of student that makes me enjoy my role on the faculty and leading this program. She expressed nuanced thoughts and questions about global access for medicines. She is curious, tireless, smart, entrepreneurial, and committed to ensuring people receive the medicines they require.

Upon arriving at Questrom, as predicted, she poured her energy and commitment into both her courses and the Questrom community. I noted her efforts to connect with other faculty during office hours as well as guest speakers from industry. In her second year, she was a driving force on the leadership team of the Health & Life Science conference. Additionally, she was selected as President of the HSM Club from her peers. As President, along with a student leadership team, she orchestrated activities for other students and served as the sole student representative of the HSM Program Development Council, sharing her input in meetings to further strengthen the program. Amid all this, and to gain further experience in her area of interest, she found time to work for Avenir Management Partners, a consultancy that works in the intersection of biopharma, global health, finance, and public/sector delivery.

What makes her stand out is her indefatigable commitment to her studies, the Questrom community, and her pursuit of a purpose-driven career in life sciences. After her first year of graduate studies, she secured a coveted internship at Merck. In a testament to her contributions there, she received a full-time offer to return to Merck upon graduation and participate in their prestigious Commercial Development Leadership Program.

I am immensely proud of Gabrielle, not just for her academic accomplishments but for her contributions to the student community and her immense dedication. Gabrielle is a star, and I will be watching her career in the years ahead. I am confident that healthcare will be better because of Gabrielle.”

Ned Rimer
James E. Freeman Lecturer
Faculty Director, Health Sector Management Program
Master Lecturer, Management & Organizations
Boston University Questrom School of Business

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