Ana-Maria Visoiu-Knapp

Kelley Direct Online MBA Program, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business

“Focused on impact while blending leadership prowess, corporate strategy passion, investor savvy, and biotech program management finesse.”

Age: Old enough to have wisdom through experience, young enough to shape tomorrow.

Hometown: I’m a third culture kid originally from Romania, and currently living in Manhattan, NYC.

Fun fact about yourself: I’ve combined my passion for adventure with leadership and curiosity by vowing to have the discipline and the community to run a marathon every decade, with my last one completed in Honolulu, Hawai’i in 2014 and my next in Wawayanda State Park, New Jersey in 2024.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Master of Public Health, Emory University; Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of South Florida

Where are you currently working? When I’m not working full time at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in development program management, I serve in the capacity of managing director at Golden Seeds, a nationwide investment firm with a focused thesis on getting capital to high-growth women-led business ventures across B2B Enterprise Technology, Healthcare, and B2C Consumer Services and Products.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Throughout my career, there has been a recurring theme. I’ve consistently sought out opportunities to lead and cultivate culturally and professionally diverse teams; take on complex challenges with an eye to how the granular level details impact the big picture; and continue to collaborate and innovate on better ways of doing business. I am proud to have lived and worked on three continents, most notably leading a pioneering team in Zambia to execute Johnson & Johnson’s groundbreaking HIV-1 Vaccine Efficacy Clinical Trial. I’ve also navigated the intricate worlds of state and national governments, collaborating with entities like the Department of Defense and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), while working in Mozambique; partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) while living and working in Hawai’i; and championing impactful policies for disease prevention on Capitol Hill while living in D.C. Today, I am proud to be at Regeneron, a leading biotechnology company bringing life-saving medicines to patients. With my passion at the intersection of science and business, I am excited for my current and future path while building my resilience muscle and looking for ways to partner, collaborate, and constantly improve.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? My decision to join Kelley Direct was influenced by several compelling factors. First, KD’s consistent recognition as the Number #1 Online MBA Program by U.S. News & World Report assured me of its academic excellence and quality. Second, I was drawn to the hybrid learning approach offered by KD, which includes valuable in-person experiences such as global immersions and networking events, enriching my MBA journey beyond virtual classrooms. Third, the caliber of professors at Indiana University, known for their dedication, competitiveness, and esteemed reputation, was a significant factor in my decision. I sought a program that prioritized meaningful student-student interactions and student-teacher interactions through academic advising, office hours, and access to career services coaches, all of which KD provided. Additionally, KD’s AACSB International accreditation, akin to Ivy League standards, solidified my confidence in the program’s academic rigor and potential for personal and professional growth, ensuring a substantial return on my investment.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? The program is named Kelley Direct, not Kelley Online for a reason. To that end, my favorite part of being in the Kelley Direct program is the direct immersive experiences, in the classroom and outside of the classroom. Given the global footprint of the Kelley Direct program, I have had the opportunity to come together, virtually and in-person with Kelley classmates and alumni from all over the globe. Similar to traditional in-person MBA programs, I competed in on-campus business case consulting competitions and completed in-residence programs where I delivered strategic recommendations for enhanced revenues to local businesses. Moreover, I seized the opportunity to gain firsthand insights into corporate challenges specific to diverse regions by traveling to Ireland and Singapore as part of two additional in-residence programs.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? The best and most enriching surprise has been the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds among my classmates and faculty members. Collaborating with individuals from different industries, cultures, and functional backgrounds has broadened my horizons and exposed me to new ideas and ways of thinking.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? Primarily, the comparison between the in-the-classroom undergraduate experience and that of the online hybrid MBA – alongside a full-time corporate job – boils down to a paradigm shift. As an undergraduate, academics was the front and center priority for me, whereas now I am integrating multiple responsibilities of equal importance. The hybrid MBA experience allows for this seamless integration with ongoing responsibilities, unlike traditional education where life may need to be put on hold. I must say, this dynamic demands a high level of time management, organization, and resilience, as I balance work, family responsibilities, and personal commitments. Mostly, I am thankful for the unique opportunity to apply learnings directly to real-world situations, enriching the learning experience immensely.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? My best advice for thriving in an online MBA program is to be hyper intentional about the ways you engage, absorb, and utilize your learnings. Cultivate a sincere curiosity in getting to know your classmates and professors, as these relationships can be invaluable. If possible, seize opportunities for international travel associated with your MBA. The experience can significantly broaden your global network and perspective. Engage actively in student associations and seek out chances to leverage your existing network and experience to add value to both your peers and your school, outside of the classroom. Lastly, look for every opportunity to synergize your case study learnings with your day-to-day work for a richer experience, at work and in school.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? My MBA education has been instrumental in my current roles. In biotech, it has helped to enhance my strategic mindset, analytical skills, and business project management – which are directly applicable to my job demands. Similarly, in my work with startup ventures, it has helped to bolster my insights into entrepreneurship, valuations, market dynamics, and various business models contributing significantly to my effectiveness to perform due diligence and analyze deals for investment. Importantly, I have continued to hone my leadership abilities, enabling me to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and effectively adapt to change and dynamic landscapes.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Actually, I applied for and got the promotion into the next level position at the start of my MBA. This was a pivot from operations into strategy. Next, I am looking forward to how the MBA will continue to shape my career, allowing me to hone my skills for greater impact and opportunities.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential program? I pursued an online hybrid MBA program because I wanted to continue working full time and apply my learning in real time. The online MBA allows me to integrate daily synergies across school, work, and other professional engagements; apply business best practices directly to my work; and balance my existing responsibilities effectively.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: I wouldn’t want to dissuade anyone from making this worthwhile investment in themselves. And it is very much a personal journey. Personally, I have found my course workload to vary anywhere from 15 to 40 hours per week. While this has varied by course, the time commitment is substantial and I have chosen to see it as important for my growth and skill enhancement.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I would love to think that I have a solid recipe for how I will get from A to B to C. And the reality I have come to understand, both from personal experience and from spending time with countless active and retired business executives, is that “the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray”.  Now, this does not excuse me from having a plan. I am a huge believer in having clear targets to avoid missing opportunities.

So, my thoughts on this question are two-fold. (1) As a lifelong learner deeply passionate about leadership, I am driven to have impact and advance important work at the intersection of where business meets science and technology, fostering growth and leadership excellence in myself and in others. I want to be working on the right things, for the right reasons, and to the best of my abilities. I want to consistently challenge myself and the people around me to be trailblazers in an industry that makes a positive contribution in service to individuals, companies, and society.

(2) As a recent experienced MBA, I am constantly looking to surround myself by, and be in collaboration with, people with similar aspirations. I am actively working on building experiences that offer “the next challenge” with increased scope and responsibilities, allowing me to implement the full range of my abilities and potential.

Through this approach, my near- and long-term goal is to be a leader in my field in a position to drive transformative change as part of a larger shared mission to leave a positive mark on our world for future generations to come. More concretely, I want to be in a position to help the organizations I serve to identify synergies and form partnerships for value creation not available in equity markets.

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