The 1982 graduate of the Rawls College of Business gave her advice to STEM MBA hopefuls.
The Rawls College of Business' STEM MBA program welcomed Lota Zoth, CPA, to speak during the STEM MBA Speaker Series, sponsored by the Texas Tech Alumni Association.
Approximately 25 STEM MBA students and several Rawls College of Business faculty and staff members attended Zoth's presentation, where she offered career advice and detailed her vast experience in STEM-related fields.
Throughout the presentation, Zoth, a 1982 Texas Tech accounting alumna, spoke about the core competencies she felt were pivotal for students who want to succeed in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industry. She later opened the floor to a question-and-answer session for students to learn more about her path to success.
“For me, whenever I was at Texas Tech, it was very rare for me to talk to anyone who wasn't an accountant,” Zoth said. “By them hearing from someone who has STEM experience, I feel I was able to help students think about things differently as they go and start their careers. I wanted to share some of my insight and wisdom that I've learned throughout my career, which I hope will benefit them.”
Zoth's 30-year career spans a variety of roles with Ernst & Young, PepsiCo, Sodexho and PSINet. Most recently, she served as CFO for MedImmune, a publicly traded biotechnology company, from 2004 to 2007.
Upon exiting the corporate world, Zoth became an active board member with several STEM-related companies. These companies include:
- Hyperion Therapeutics, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering life-changing treatments for orphan diseases
- Aeras, a nonprofit product development organization dedicated to the development of effective tuberculosis vaccines to prevent the disease across all age groups in an affordable and sustainable manner
- Orexigen Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of obesity
- NewLink Genetics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel immunotherapeutic products to improve treatment options for patients with cancer
- Circassia Pharmaceuticals, a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of a range of allergy immunotherapy product candidates.
“It was an honor to have Lota Zoth speak to our STEM MBA students.” said Mary Frances Weatherly, director of the Rawls College's Graduate and Professional Programs. “Her background and experience in industries from healthcare to biotech gave our students a clear example of how business and the STEM fields can intersect. Her outlook on how jobs will be emerging for students with a STEM and business background helps illustrate how our STEM MBA students will have an advantage in the marketplace.”
The speaker series occurs six times throughout the year and features STEM graduates who have succeeded in business. The STEM MBA program, which launched in the summer of 2014, is a master of business administration degree designed specifically for students with an undergraduate degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics discipline.
For more information about the program, visit the STEM MBAwebsite or contact Mary Frances Weatherly at mary.weatherly@ttu.edu.
