Penn State alumna Alexa Dembek shares ‘the magical formula for learning’
“The future needs innovation, and … I absolutely believe that the [B.S./MBA] program that you’re in, connecting science and business, it’s the magical formula for learning,” said Alexa Dembek, chief technology and sustainability officer for DuPont and Penn State Eberly College of Science alumna. “I’ve seen scientists become amazing business leaders, but guess what I’m going to say next? Business leaders do not become scientists — it’s a one-way street. That doesn’t mean business leaders don’t learn science and respect it. But the reason I’m emphasizing this is the skill base that what you’re learning as a student is absolutely remarkable to be able to deliver innovation.”
Dembeck gave the keynote address about the next wave of innovation during an alumni dinner that culminated the Penn State B.S./MBA program's annual field trip to New York City, one of several professional development activities organized by the integrated undergraduate-graduate program.
Students in the B.S./MBA program graduate with both a bachelor’s degree in science from the Eberly College of Science and a master of business administration degree from the Penn State Smeal College of Business. In addition to providing a solid foundation in the sciences, the undergraduate portion of the program introduces students to business concepts, fosters skills in leadership, and builds work experience through multiple required external internships and cooperative positions. Collectively, these experiences prepare students to succeed as they pursue an MBA and beyond.
“I want all of you to think of who is the oldest person that you know and love. Get a visual in your mind. Now, think of the youngest person you know and love. What’s the world going to be like? What are the innovations that will be needed when the youngest person you know is as old as the oldest person you know and love? That’s impact. That’s making a difference,” Dembek said. “It’s doing it based on all those vital skills you have as you go out in the world as scientists and as business folks.
“When you connect these things together, that’s where value is going to come from. And I offer, at least for the next decade, it’s going to be at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and digital against all these big problems. … It’s your opportunity to be bold and think about the characteristics that are successful. It's a lot about learning. It’s about intellectual curiosity, strategic capabilities, and I’m telling you there is no one with better skills to do that than a scientist who has a business value mindset.”
During the early April trip, about 40 students in the program also met with leaders at Citibank’s headquarters, visited the New York Stock Exchange, and participated in a Q&A career discussion panel with B.S./MBA program alumni.
