Nayancie Matthews has a B.B.A. in International Business. She currently works in the Emerging Markets team at Pfizer.
Interviewer: Prinaka Suresh (Naka)
Interviewee: Nayancie Matthews (Nayancie)
Naka: Tell me more about your position and role at Pfizer.
Nayancie: After graduating from Baruch, I was in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. I realized very early on that I liked the financial piece of the work that I was doing. I transitioned over to Pfizer where I got the opportunity of combining all the skills that I had learned at Baruch, and some of the finance courses and things that I really love such as social impact and equity. So currently in my role at Pfizer, I work within the global supply chain team specifically in the international supply chain. Within the supply chain team, I helped to launch Pfizer’s product portfolio in emerging markets – these are typically countries that are considered low or middle-income countries. We launch all our products all across the world so that patients have access to vital medicines that they typically would not have the opportunity or access to. For me that’s very important because it’s really bridging the gap between equity and social impact and as someone who is born in the eastern Caribbean and grew up in South America, I often see the disconnect between medicine and access to medicine especially because when I was young, my mother would have to bike me to the nearest health center or hospital because it wasn’t accessible. So for me, it’s very important to provide access for college and healthcare — affordable healthcare– to patients who typically would not have the access to vital medicines, or vaccines, or anything that they need to ensure that their health is the best.
Naka: That’s incredibly meaningful work that you’re doing. Did you always know that this was the path that you wanted to head down while you were an IB student?
Nayancie: I did not… While I was at Baruch, I was very heavily focused on the finance piece. I am a person who strongly loves to be connected to the work that I do. So anytime I do something, I always think to myself like — Can I relate to it? Can I see the value in it? — That’s typically how I make a lot of my decisions. So when I first graduated Baruch, I was like ok, let me get all the technical skills that I need in order to be really successful… But eventually I found that I am really just a social impact person who loves the technical piece of the work. So while I was at Baruch, I did take some of the supply chain classes within IB but I was also taking finance classes… I think all these intersections within the IB major allowed me to choose the path that I did, and it also allowed me to adapt very easily to a new environment. Typically, you wouldn’t think of supply chain and equity even in the same sentence. While I was in college, I didn’t think that supply chain could bridge the gap between equity and healthcare… so all these courses allowed me to build these transferable skills such that when I did realize that I wanted to pivot, I could easily pivot to supply chain language, as well as the finance language… and the strategy pieces from my own personal experience.
Naka: Would you say that your Goldman Sachs experience allowed you to transfer more smoothly into this job? Were there any transferable skills from that first job — since the roles are different?
Nayancie: It wasn’t the exact same role. I do think that there were a few things at least on the professional development side and the technical side that I learned at Goldman — whether it was about managing your time, others’ expectations, knowing what to do in the first 90 days when you start a job, and how to bring the best value to a team. I think that my experience at Goldman Sachs gave me a bit of technical experience but it also taught me that I need to bring value wherever I go – The question: ‘how am I able to bring value to any team/organization’ is really important. So when I was doing a lot of the work at Pfizer, I constantly thought to myself ‘Ok what transferable skills can I bring over’… whether it is building a pitch deck for strategy, content, building financial analysis and knowing what are the things that they are really going to look at, and how I can make sure — maybe there’s an organizational gap or something— how am I bringing the best value to my team. And that’s how I thought about it.
Naka: That sounds amazing. How did Baruch/Weissman Center support you in your journey, particularly in bridging the gap as you began your career? Are there any resources you would recommend to current IB students?
Nayancie: When I was Baruch, a lot of the clubs and organizations helped me think about what I liked and didn’t like. I was a part of 55 Capital and Financial Women’s Association, both which helped a lot in the professional front especially for a career in finance. I actually ran a national fiscal policy campaign when I was at Baruch, focused on healthcare and equity. I think that also allowed me to transition very easily into the career. I do remember that I also used the fellowship office… Valeria Hrimnak was absolutely incredible in helping me get scholarships for education abroad, and other scholarships too. She was such a valuable resource because I had someone who on the inside kind of knows what people are looking for, and also was someone who could help me tell my story. So that was incredible.
Naka: Yes, of course. I understand that you were awarded the ‘Fund for Education Abroad’ scholarship. Could you share more about the scholarship itself and how it influenced your study abroad experience? Additionally, would you recommend it to current students?
Nayancie: Yeah, absolutely. I will preface that unfortunately I wasn’t able to use my fund for education abroad because the year I did win it, it was actually COVID. All the programs actually got shut down… but I was really excited to travel to Spain and see all the different things.. but unfortunately I did not get to do that.
Naka: I see. Well, we are reaching the end of the Q&A and I’ve got to ask… if someone is looking for a job at Pfizer/similar roles or companies, what would you say to students interested? Is there any advice you would leave them with for thinking about not just when they are getting a job, but also when they’re in college— what should they do?
Nayancie: Yeah, I can speak specifically for Pfizer. In getting a job at Pfizer, they have a lot of early talent programs that basically bring early talent into the organization. Pfizer is really making a stride to ensure that they are retaining early talent, especially diverse talent. One of the programs that they have for early talent is called the ‘Breakthrough Fellowship’. It’s an awesome, amazing program. There’s also others such as the rotational programs where you can rotate between different departments at Pfizer for 2 years and then you can decide on what department you like and what work you want to do. Those are really excellent opportunities. I would personally take a look at those programs and look for people who have been through those programs. For example, if you are a junior interested in the Breakthrough fellowship program, just reach out to me on LinkedIn. Another thing I will say about Pfizer’s culture and environment is that if you reach out to someone online on LinkedIn or whatever it is, I’ve never seen any Pfizer person say no to connecting, or not respond. They are always open to connect and even connect you with someone. If you are not interested in supply chain and that person’s in supply chain, and you’re interested in finance (for example), they will always connect you. Even for me right now, there are so many people at Pfizer that are like ‘Ok Nayancie I see you doing this, this and that.. and I think you need to be here’. I think there are a lot of people who are sponsors or advocates for you very early on in your career, so never be afraid to reach out to people in the organization, especially alumni who work in the organization.
Naka: Just a quick follow up, is there anything other than what you have already mentioned that you would think students should look forward to at Pfizer — any additional resources etc?
Nayancie: Yeah, I think students should definitely look forward to the employee resource groups. I actually co-started an employee resource group called the Black Emerging Talent Organization at Pfizer. Essentially what it is is bringing Black talent into the organization especially Black early talent and making sure that they are realized and visible within the organization, the talent is being retained, and that skills that they require for their careers are there, and what they need is there. So I definitely think that Pfizer has a lot of resource groups for early talent — there’s a Latino CRG that focuses on early talent with young Latino professionals and an early talent group called ‘OPEN’ essentially for the LGBTQ+ organization at Pfizer focusing on early talent. I think that there are so many resource groups that are so devoted and work to ensure that early talent within the organization get the visibility and access and recognition that they need in order to be supported and thrive in the organization. I definitely think that that is something to look forward to.
Naka: Well that sounds great. This wraps up the Q&A. This was very meaningful and I am sure will inspire students. As you mentioned, not every student is aware of this pathway during their journey, so highlighting it here will greatly assist in informing them about it. Thank you so much for your time, Nayancie.