Miko Malabute
Meet Miko Malabute, an ESTEEM alumnus from the Class of 2018. By completing the ESTEEM program, Miko became a Double Domer, having received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame. In his first role after college, Miko discovered that his professional passion was telling a story through data. He flourished when he was able to be creative and explore. He was then led to ESTEEM on the recommendation of a few. Miko discusses the impact ESTEEM had on him, as well as his career experience at Eli Lily, where he currently works as a Director, Field Reimbursement Platform and Operations.
ESTEEM: How did the ESTEEM program shape your perspective on innovation and leadership within science-driven industries?
Miko: ESTEEM gave us insight into what it’s like to work at a start-up: wearing multiple hats, being able to lead a team, effectively communicating with a wide audience ultimately in pursuit of finding a meaningful solution to the problem. Looking back, I believe at the heart of all these facets of the program—and what I believe to be true about innovation and leadership—is empathy. From my view, in order to be an effective leader,especially in an industry like ours, you need to lead with empathy. It is with empathy that you understand the true jobs, pains and gains of the patient; it is with empathy that you are able to work effectively across a cross-functional team; and it is with empathy that you always remember your “why” when approaching your daily work.
ESTEEM: Looking back, what part of the ESTEEM experience, such as a course, project, or mentor, had the biggest influence on how you approach your career today?
Miko: There were so many impactful facets of the ESTEEM experience that I am grateful for to this day, so it is hard to say which is the biggest! But I will say that “Design Thinking” has been a core principle in how I’ve tried to approach my career thus far. I firmly believe in leading through empathy -- both in how I interact with people and also in the work I produce. Looking back, this perspective is really grounded on the structure of design thinking -- and it is through the prism of design thinking that I try to navigate my own career: both in finding solutions within the ever-evolving US health care landscape, as well as strengthening meaningful connections within my network.
ESTEEM: Can you walk us through your career path since ESTEEM and what led you to join Eli Lilly?
Miko: I am passionate about helping people, and so naturally was very excited and honored for the opportunity to work at Lilly, and have been fortunate to be with Lilly since graduating from ESTEEM. I have had the privilege of a wide variety of experiences thus far,from leading a team responsible for analytics and reporting to evolving data-driven operational capabilities. While the work may have looked different between roles, what has stayed constant has been my passion for story telling, working in white space, and leading with empathy.
ESTEEM: What does your current role at Eli Lilly involve, and what kinds of challenges or projects do you find most rewarding?
Miko: I am currently responsible for helping evolve data-driven operational capabilities. As you can imagine, there are direct applications of the skills I’ve learned from ESTEEM. Being able to analyze data, synthesize it to tell meaningful & impactful stories, understanding the end user’s jobs, pains & gains—being able to work in a project that combines all these facets are simultaneously the ones I find continue to challenge me the most to grow but also the most invigorating and rewarding.
ESTEEM: How do you balance the structure of a large company with the entrepreneurial mindset that ESTEEM encourages?
Miko: I’ve often described my approach and experience thus far as being an “intrapraneur,”and I believe that’s helped me effectively navigate the dynamics of a large organization with the entrepreneurial mindset that the ESTEEM program taught us. A large portion of my work requires me to work with cross-functional teammates.At the end of the day, this means understanding and communicating effectively. All of these are core principles I’ve learned from the ESTEEM program.
ESTEEM: Is there a project or initiative at Lilly that stands out as especially meaningful to you, something that made you proud to be part of the work?
Miko: There are countless! But one that stands out thus far is the privilege I’ve had to lead a team responsible for reporting & analytics. The nature of the work (i.e., telling stories through data) was of course something that resonated with me; however, it was the opportunity to lead a team and amplify our impact through their growth that I am truly grateful for and has helped me be a better professional.
ESTEEM: Many ESTEEM students are curious about careers in pharma or healthcare technology. What advice would you offer them as they think about entering that space?
Miko: I’d strongly recommend students understand and practice articulating what are their professional passions, i.e., what aspects of a project or class truly excites you, and why? Our industry—and the health care environment in general—is constantly evolving, and so the type of work that is happening today may look different tomorrow. I always encourage people to practice articulating the aspects and characteristics of their professional work that they are most passionate about when networking, as I believe that these will continue to resonate with people no matter what form of work they’re manifested as.
ESTEEM: What qualities or skills do you believe will define the next generation of leaders in the life sciences industry?
Miko: Apologies if I’m sounding repetitive at this point, but I firmly believe it will be empathy that will continue to define the next generation of leaders. Technology will undoubtedly evolve, and surely the problems and challenges will continue to change. However, at the end of the day, it is all about working with people to find an impactful solution. It is my firm belief that in order to work effectively and drive impact, it will always come down to empathy: empathy for your teammates, your end users, and all the stakeholders involved in the process.
About the ESTEEM Graduate Program:
Over the course of this 11-month Master of Science degree (in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship) program at the University of Notre Dame, students from technical backgrounds are equipped with the skills and experience to launch new businesses, become innovators within large corporations, and be leaders of dynamic, innovative teams. Students are immersed in an entrepreneurial sandbox, where they get their hands dirty with entrepreneurship and innovation through a cutting-edge curriculum, a capstone commercialization project for an emerging technology, and outstanding out-of-the-classroom experiences.