Graduate Program in Health Management

Career Options- Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Testimonials

Ben Wilson, MBA/MPH 96
Director of Healthcare IT
Intel Digital Health

What did you do before coming to Berkeley?

I was a Senior Marketing Communications Specialist at TakeCare Health Plan.

Were you focused on the entrepreneurship track upon joining the program?

No. I wanted to be a health plan executive.

How did the MBA/MPH program help you prepare for a self-guided career?

The public health curriculum helped expand my knowledge of healthcare systems and policy. Also, it continues to provide me with credibility with a broad range of healthcare audiences, but particularly with clinicians. When selling new concepts, credibility is extremely important.

The MBA program is where I gained the nuts-and-bolts skills I needed to develop a business plan, evaluate opportunities, present to investors and develop financial models. Most importantly, it was in an entrepreneurship class where a light went off that said I was an entrepreneur and this was something I truly had a passion for.

What kinds of activities did you undertake during your time at Berkeley to identify opportunities and to develop potential ventures?

During my second internship I helped to launch a electronic medical record start-up. I had to lead the company's sales and marketing efforts, write a business plan and present to venture capitalist to raise money. That company still exists today.

I also wrote two other full business plans with teams in two entrepreneurship classes. Each time we developed plans for healthcare ventures. Additionally, I participated in Lester Center activities