Meet Megha Reddy,
Staff Scientist
Johnson & Johnson
Your Penn degree/major/year of graduation:
B.S. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, May 2005
Masters, Biotechnology, December 2005
What career paths were you considering as a senior at Penn?
Research and Development – Pharmaceuticals
Research and Development – Consumer Products
What was your 1st job after graduation?
A Senior Scientist in the Oral Health RD&E group at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products.
Name one thing you wish you knew as an undergraduate at Penn.
Networking is so important. It’s critical to begin establishing your network early in college. This could include professors, people in industry, peers, etc.
How did you get to where you are now?
I’ve been with the same company since I graduated. I begin as a Senior Scientist and was recently promoted to Staff Scientist. I have been diligent in not only my technical projects, but I have also immersed myself in Johnson & Johnson culture. For example, I am very active with United Way and our Credo team. Being involved in various groups and organizations is important even after college.
At what point do you feel you decided on a career direction? As an undergraduate or later?
I believe I established my career direction as an undergraduate, specifically during my senior year. I had done two internships in the Consumer Products industry and decided that it really suited me. I liked the fast pace of consumer and I liked the idea of being exposed to the entire spectrum of product development (from conception to execution).
What is the one course you took at Penn that has helped you the most?
The one course that I highly recommend is Engineering Entrepreneurship. That class really opened my eyes to the idea of owning/running my own company. Before that class I had high goals for myself, but after taking the class I set my sights even higher.
Did you go on to graduate school?
Yes.
If so, what degree did you pursue?
I submatriculated into the Masters of Biotechnology program at UPenn.
How did this help your career goals?
The classes I took gave me great exposure to “industry.” What I learned was very practical and less theory. It also helped me gain a better understanding of the “biological” side of things. This has been immensely useful in Oral Health research.
What can a recent graduate expect in this field starting out?
Consumer Products is very fast paced. It is not unusually to get products out on the market in less than 2 years. There is a lot of opportunity to move between RD&E groups as well, so you can get a broad exposure to many areas. The majority of projects also allow you to interact with different functional groups such as Marketing, Quality, and Regulatory.
What do you do day to day?
My day is split between doing research on the computer, some laboratory experiments, and many meetings. My group does a great job of carving out time for brainstorming sessions. This is probably the most fun part of my job…thinking of new products ideas, new technologies, and new ways to solve problems.
What kind of environment do you work in?
Consumer Products is very diverse. We work with people from all over the world, since we are a global company.
How often do you collaborate with others as a team?
Very often! It’s so important to know how to work together on a team.
If you were to hire someone to work with you today, what would be most important factors in your hiring decision?
Being passionate.
How much of your lifestyle do you think is dictated by your work?
I try to maintain a pretty good work-life balance. Most days are pretty standard hours. However, when special projects or presentations come up, then I will put in extra hours. Overall the company is very accommodating. There is flexibility in work hours.
Where is your field going in the future?
J&J Consumer is really looking to branch out into emerging markets. It’s exciting to learn about all the consumer insights we are getting to better understand how to develop products specific to other parts the world.
How did a Penn education prepare you for your career or current job?
Penn provided me with many opportunities to become involved with activities outside of my Major classes. I enjoyed taking classes such as Nutrition, Sign Language, etc. I also had the opportunity to take leadership positions in SWE and AICHE. It’s important to be very well rounded and often times the skills you learn outside of the classroom are just as important as the technical skills you gain.
Megha’s Recommended Links:
http://www.jnj.com
