Alumni Spotlight

Ryan Liermann

 

Program Manager
Hospira Corporation (Chicago, Illinois)
Class of 2005

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In 2003, Ryan Liermann, a scientist in Rockford, Illinois was looking for an MBA program that specialized in technology management. Liermann,who was a bench level scientist at Pierce Biotechnology, Inc. at the time, says "I couldn't find anything like what I was looking for from a bricks and mortar school."

"I couldn't believe it when I heard about Madison's program--it was the closest match to what I was looking for," notes Liermann, who spent two years, from 2003 to 2005, going to school and working full-time.

The program he says gave him the tools to succeed. "I learned first-hand the ins and outs of biotech management, what it takes to successfully bring products to the marketplace, and how to implement tactical, strategic approaches in business."

Within months of graduation Liermann began a new job as a program manager with Hospira in Chicago.

Commuting to Madison to earn his master of science in biotechnology degree paid off in many ways, including a boost in earning potential.

"Within months of getting my degree my salary increased by about 90 percent," he says. "It's just one of the benefits that came from following my hunch that this program was exactly what I was looking for when I was exploring options in 2003."

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