Purpose in Progress: From the Lab Bench to Global Project Leadership

A scientist turned strategist using her MBA to lead with confidence and impact - across borders and beyond the lab.

• Name: Dr Jennifer La
• Current Role: Senior Manager, Bioanalytical Sciences Strategy Office - CSL Limited
• Program: Part-Time MBA, Melbourne Business School
• Cohort: 2023 - 2027 (in progress)
• Notables: PhD in Medicinal Chemistry (Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University); Supported process development for COVID-19 vaccine project at CSL

Leading discovery and innovation

For Dr Jennifer La, science has always been about creating possibilities. “I’ve always loved the idea of doing something that no one has done before,” she says. “To be on the forefront of human scientific knowledge, pushing boundaries, creating something new - that’s what drew me in.”

After completing a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at Monash University, Jennifer joined CSL, Australia’s leading biotherapeutics company, renowned for its research and innovation. There, she found the perfect environment to turn ideas into impact. “What excited me most was how science in industry can move from the lab bench to something tangible - something that can change lives,” she explains.

That drive for progress runs deep - shaped by her family's story. Jennifer's parents arrived in Australia as refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia, determined to give their children the opportunities they never had. “I was born here, but I grew up surrounded by their resilience,” Jennifer reflects. “Watching them build a new life taught me that progress isn’t inherited - it’s created.”

It’s a philosophy that has shaped every step of her journey, from the lab bench to global project leadership.

Why Melbourne Business School

As Jennifer’s technical career evolved, so did her ambition. “As I progressed in my career, I took on more managerial roles which meant extending my skillset from science into team leadership”, she recalls.

Encouraged by colleagues who were MBS alumni, she explored the Part-Time MBA and immediately saw alignment. “The flexibility suited my life, and the quality of the teaching was obvious from day one,” she says. “More than anything, I wanted to understand how science connects with value - how strategic decisions translate to real-world outcomes.”

For Jennifer, MBS offered not just learning, but language -the ability to bridge the precision of scientific research with the perspective of strategy.

Inside the MBA Experience

Balancing a global project leadership role, family life, and study is no small feat - but Jennifer finds it energising rather than exhausting. “I thought study would feel like another chore,” she admits. “But every class leaves me inspired. You see real-world applications everywhere.”

Subjects like Data Analysis and Strategy have given her new tools to make clearer decisions and to lead teams with greater intent. “The MBA gives you frameworks that make complex problems simpler,” she explains. “It’s helped me shift from being operationally focused to being strategically focused.”

The experience, she says, is as much about people as it is about content.

“It’s a place where ambition feels shared - where people want to see you succeed.”

From Scientist to Strategist

Halfway through the program, Jennifer has already felt a clear transformation. “The MBA has certainly assisted me to move into my current role,” she says. “Without it, I wouldn’t have had the confidence, or the language, to step up.”

Now a Senior Manager in CSL’s Global Bioanalytical Sciences Strategy Office, Jennifer works cross-functionally with teams across Europe and the US, shaping projects that influence decisions and help create impact for the organisation. “It’s a very strategic role, and I draw on my MBA every day,” she says. “It’s empowering to know your voice matters - to walk into a meeting and contribute not just technically, but strategically.”

Balancing a global role with life at home, including raising two young children, has only strengthened her appreciation for structure and clarity. “The MBA teaches you how to prioritise, communicate, and keep sight of why you’re doing what you are doing.”

Leading with Purpose

Looking back, Jennifer’s proudest moments weren’t defined by achievement alone, but by the growth and purpose they inspired.

During the pandemic, she worked on a COVID-19 vaccine program, helping compress a six-year development process into just six months. “Even though the vaccine didn’t make it to market, it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my career,” she says. “Everyone came together with a shared mission - to protect lives.”

Her five-year PhD journey in Medicinal Chemistry at Monash University taught her endurance and precision - lessons she now applies to leadership. “You learn how to problem-solve under pressure and stay curious,” she reflects. After completing her doctorate, Jen backpacked through more than twenty countries, gaining a broader perspective on people and cultures that would later prove invaluable in her global role.

Across every chapter, Jennifer’s achievements reveal a balance of scientific rigour and human insight - leading with both logic and empathy.

For Future Students

Jennifer’s advice for future students is simple and real. “Be intentional. It’s a big commitment, so set up the right support systems - at work and at home. Communicate early, stay organised, and don’t forget to look after your well-being.”

But she also urges students to enjoy the journey. “The people make it. You’ll build connections that last well beyond graduation. And you’ll find yourself energised by the ideas, the debates, and the diversity of experience around you.”

Beyond the office, she values how the program has influenced her outlook on life.

“You come to MBS to grow,” she says. “But you also find something bigger - a new way of seeing the world, and yourself within it.”

Made. Not born. – Personal Interpretation

For Jennifer, Made. Not born. isn’t just a tagline - it’s the story that’s shaped her life.

Her parents arrived in Australia as refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia, rebuilding their lives from almost nothing. “They had very limited schooling opportunities,” she shares. “Growing up, I watched how hard they worked to create a new life and stability for our family. It taught me that nothing is given, everything is made.”

That experience shapes the way she approaches both leadership and learning. “Education was a privilege my parents didn’t have, so I don’t take it for granted. Every opportunity - from my PhD to the MBA - is something I’ve had to earn, and something I use to create an impact.”

For Jennifer, Made. Not Born. is a reminder that progress is intentional. “Leadership doesn’t just happen - you make it. Through discipline, learning, and the willingness to keep growing,” she says. “It’s about using the opportunities you have to do better, be better, and give back.”

From parents who began again on Australian soil, to a daughter leading global scientific discovery, Jennifer’s story proves that what’s made with purpose can inspire generations to come.