Henley Alumni Stories - stories from our community
Dr Payal Roychoudhury studied Henley's Executive MBA over ten years ago, but talks about how it impacted her career and how studying an Executive MBA at Henley was the perfect opportunity to strengthen her skills in business.
With more than 10 years of experience across the pharmaceutical and gene therapy sectors, I have built a career that combines deep scientific expertise with strong commercial and strategic leadership. Currently, I work for a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), where I play a key role in advancing a diverse portfolio of services, supporting clients from early-stage development through to commercial manufacturing. Throughout my career, I have led global partnerships and worked across a range of large and mid-sized international organizations, including AstraZeneca (Sweden), Lonza Biologics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Fujifilm Irvine Scientific, and Maxcyte. These roles have provided me with extensive experience in business strategy, stakeholder engagement, and leading scientific and commercial discussions with both internal and external partners across multicultural environments. Before undertaking the Executive MBA at Henley Business School, my career was primarily focused on scientific leadership. I served as a Scientific Lead and Study Director at AstraZeneca and Lonza, where I was responsible for advancing scientific programmes and bringing innovative assets into the organisation. While this technical foundation was instrumental in my professional development, I recognised the need to strengthen my business and strategic capabilities to progress further in my career. The Henley MBA provided exactly that opportunity. It equipped me with the business acumen, strategic thinking, and leadership skills needed to bridge the gap between science and business. The programme enabled me to broaden my perspective, contribute more effectively to organisational strategy, and take on increasingly commercial and leadership-focused responsibilities. Today, I continue to apply these skills in my current role, and I am also exploring the establishment of my own Contract Research Organization (CRO) in Scotland in collaboration with Universities in Glasgow. The knowledge, confidence, and strategic mindset gained through Henley have played a significant role in shaping my career journey and future ambitions.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a current student at Henley to inspire them in their career journey?
One piece of advice I would share with current Henley students is to fully embrace the experience and make the most of being part of a diverse cohort. Some of the most valuable learning comes not only from the course content but also from engaging with classmates from different industries, backgrounds, and cultures. Their perspectives can challenge your thinking and broaden your understanding of business beyond your own sector. I would also encourage students to bring real business challenges from their own organisations into the classroom whenever possible. Applying the concepts and frameworks learned during the programme to actual workplace situations is a powerful way to create immediate value and develop practical problem-solving skills. Finally, take the time to identify the modules that genuinely spark your interest. For me, Strategy, International Business, and Supply Chain Management were particularly impactful and have significantly influenced the way I approach business decisions today. These subjects not only expanded my knowledge but also helped shape my career development and leadership journey.
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