“Pharma is an evergreen sector”

Sanskriti Singh, a proud alumna of Apeejay School, Nerul, who spent 14 formative years on campus, is today embarking on a promising career in the pharmaceutical industry. With a dual postgraduate degree MPharm + MBA from NMIMS, she is all set to join Freyr Global Regulatory Solutions. In this exclusive conversation, she shares valuable industry insights and the role her school played in shaping her professional path.

Sanskriti, what inspired your choice of the pharmaceutical field?

I always had a strong inclination toward Biology. Thanks to my teachers, the subject truly came alive. Their passion influenced me deeply, and by Class 11, I knew I wanted to build a career around life sciences. While I attempted exams for medical and biotech, I chose pharmacy because it’s an evergreen, crisis-resilient sector. Even during COVID-19, pharmacies didn’t suffer layoffs. As long as people need medicines, pharma will thrive and that means helping society too.

Why did you opt for the MPharm-MBA integrated program?

During my B.Pharm, I realised that I didn’t want to limit myself. I liked both research and management. That’s when I discovered NMIMS’s unique three-year integrated program. It gave me the best of both worlds technical depth from MPharm and strategic, business-side exposure from the MBA. Subjects like cyber law, Python, and pharma technology broadened my outlook.

How is your dual degree preparing you for the pharmaceutical consulting space?

It’s intense. We cover two degrees in just three years. Imagine conducting full-scale MPharm research formulation, cell-line studies while simultaneously attending MBA lectures, making brand plans, and giving presentations. But this dual perspective is powerful. In pharma, even marketing must be backed by research. Consultants need both scientific accuracy and market strategy, and that’s exactly what this program gave me.

What qualities do you think are essential in this industry?

Discipline, research ability, and communication. Pharma requires rigorous documentation and regulatory compliance. You can’t fudge facts. Also, communication is key not just client-facing, but within teams too. If you can’t express your data, your work is incomplete.

Any message for students aspiring to enter this field?

Only pursue pharmacy if you’re genuinely interested, it’s not easy. Be prepared for self-driven work, especially during research. There’s no micromanaging; you must be disciplined. Think five years ahead. By the time you graduate, market needs will shift. Plan accordingly.