Name: Sean Brusky

Brown Affiliation: grad '99

Company/School: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Position:  Manager, Business Development

Degree(s) Earned:

BS Biochemistry, Brown

AB Organizational Behavior & Management, Brown 

Contact Info

What is your educational background — advanced degrees do you have (if any) and are they a must for what you do?

My educational background consists of my Brown degrees (see above). A scientific background of some sort is very important to a successful career in pharmaceutical/biotechnology business development. I will also be pursuing an MBA this fall at Harvard Business School (Class of 2006). Most of my colleagues have MBAs and scientific backgrounds, a majority also have PhDs in Chemistry or MDs as well.

What positions did you hold before your current position (what other jobs led you to where you are now)?

Prior to Vertex, I was an Associate Consultant with Bain & Company in Boston. While at Bain I contributed to a number of management consulting projects in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences industry. The consulting experience helped me to develop my understanding of business fundamentals and analytical and organizational skills (excel, presentation, consensus building, competitive intelligence, etc.) which are critical to my current position at Vertex.

What are your favorite aspects of you job?  What are the drawbacks?

My favorite aspects of Business Development are the independent yet interdisciplinary nature of the job (travel, networking, interacting with scientists and senior management, contributing to corporate strategy and development, attending conferences, entertaining dignitaries from other companies, etc.). The drawbacks are the sometimes frustrating nature of deal making in the biotechnology industry. It takes months if not years of hard work to land strategic corporate partnerships and the success rate from prospecting to deal signing is as abysmal if not more so than the success rate of discovering a new drug and bringing it to commercial launch (1 in a 100 if that). If you don't have a strong stomach for failure and are someone who needs instant gratification, this is not a job for you.  

What advice do you have for someone who is thinking about pursuing a career in your area?

My advice would be to get experience in the sciences if you don't have any and likewise experience in managerial decision-making and financial analysis if those areas are not a strong suit. There are a number of networking opportunities in New England for people interested in meeting the movers and shakers of biotech business development. A couple of good resources are the Massachusetts Biotech Council and the Harvard GSAS Biotechnology Club. These organizations sponsor numerous events - many of which are open to the public - where you can meet people and learn more about the business of science. Getting a job in Business Development is all about networking. After all ... that's our job.

What do you look for in a potential job candidate/ what qualities are most important for someone in your field?

Potential job candidates (when positions are available - which is not often given the limited number of these openings at any given time) must be witty, smart, conversant, outgoing, deeply knowledgeable about the ins and outs of drug development, well connected in the industry, preferably have a science background (advanced degree) and/or an MBA, and fit with the culture of the company.