Jennifer Dominic, BSc Bioscience graduate, was the first in her family to attend university. Her success is highlighted in a new Universities UK campaign.
In less than ten years since graduating from Canterbury Christ Church University, BSc Bioscience graduate Jennifer Dominic has not only forged a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. She is also helping her company set a strategic direction to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM, and has set-up a social enterprise to support fellow STEM graduates achieve their career goals and deliver dynamic impact to the healthcare and life science industries.
From starting as a Clinical Trial Assistant, to being Chief of Staff and now leading a successful marketing team for a large pharmaceutical company, Jennifer’s career path has been remarkable, but not surprising. Everyone who has studied or worked with her has seen her determination, drive, resilience, and fight. Characteristics that have been evident since she moved to the UK from Nigeria as an 11-year-old.
I didn't realise until recently that my life experiences have been an advantage, not a disadvantage. My journey has had a powerful effect and built a drive in me, a resilience. It’s only been the last five years that I started to really own and understand that. There's a lot about my journey and the adversity that has shaped me; taught me how to make the most of opportunities and led to how I show up as a leader and manager.
Jennifer Dominic, BSc Bioscience graduate
Jennifer’s University story in not your typical A-Level, apply and accept journey. Despite having lived in the UK since the age of 11, a change in immigration rules at the time of applying to university meant that she was considered an international student. Unable to accept her place as she couldn’t afford international fees, she also couldn’t apply for international bursaries as she was already living in the UK. She was caught in a system that didn’t recognise the position of young immigrants.
“For me school and getting an education was really important.” Jennifer continued: “Education was a beacon of hope. I just knew that if I did well then hopefully the outcome would be really good and a ticket out to what I hoped would be a much better life, not just for me, but for everyone around me as well.
“When I realised I couldn’t go to university my dream was quenched. But I took a year out, worked, saved, and discovered that Canterbury Christ Church were one of a handful of universities offering a fee waiver to support students from challenging backgrounds.
“I had secured my place, but it was still obviously really challenging. I had to financially support for myself, my living expenses, as I still couldn’t access student loans. Like others in similar situations I constantly had to explain to my peers why I can’t go out; why I need to work; why I can’t take the unpaid internships to help gain the necessary industry experience. Like in my school days, my priority was just to get through the degree and get a good grade and I'd worry about the professional life after.”
University is the beginning of doors opening. When you cultivate those opportunities properly, you make your university experience more than just a paid-for experience. It has a bigger value than anyone could think of. My lecturers were always very helpful and put their necks out to help me because I asked. I always tried to make the most out of every opportunity, to gain credibility and university gave me those opportunities. It set me up for success.
Jennifer graduated in 2016 with a First Class degree and is now Senior Marketing Manager at MSD, a premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. She specialises in oncology and cancer therapeutics, managing a team of people from apprentices to associate directors to ensure that patients get access to innovative new medicines in the UK.
She is also helping to set her company’s strategic direction for diversity, equality, and inclusion by founding and co-leading the League of Employees of African Descent globally for her company, as well as sitting on their Europe and Canada DE&I Council.
Jennifer said: “I play a role in guiding our senior leaders on what our direction should be from a representation standpoint. As a business we set out to develop medicines and vaccines, so it is really important that the people who work in our business represent and reflect the society we're trying to help. How those lived insights feed into our designs, research and trials and how we talk to pharmacists and doctors of different backgrounds.”
Although Jennifer says she is “living her dreams” it hasn’t stopped her thinking of others and recognising that STEM graduates and colleagues need support to help progress in their careers.
A few years ago, she stared Wenite to offer knowledge, experience and grow a supportive community to help people develop their careers.
“When I first started Wenite it was a passion project, making sure we came together to share information and support each other. About three years later I registered it as a social enterprise and the goal now is to equip people with ten years or less industry experience on the opportunities that exist.
“From February this year we will have an Academy with two cohorts, one for graduates and one for early professionals, where we hope they will gain soft skills, confidence and a better understanding of different roles and opportunities within industry. In time they will become change agents and continue to elevate others in their journey as well.”