Allen On

What is your personal and professional background?

My background is completely business-focused. However, after working with some of the innovation teams at Johnson & Johnson, I came to realize how limited my thinking and problem-solving skills were. My solutions were always based on a balance of speed, efficiency and cost but never on the user-end of our products. That realization led me to look at design schools in order to really build out that part of my professional toolkit and shift the trajectory of my career.

Why did you choose USC’s Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology?

I chose this program for two main reasons. First, the combination of design, business and technology essentially checked all the boxes that I wanted. It allowed me to learn a topic I was weak at (design), learn more about something I’m really interested in (technology) and use my business background to contribute to my group’s success. 

Second, the online nature of the program was very appealing to me, especially as a father of two young children. Being on the East Coast, I’m able to have dinner with my family, put the kids to sleep, then head to class. Also, I believe that working with virtual groups is more realistic of the current business climate. Although I sit in New Jersey, my entire team is based in Europe and I interact with them primarily via email and teleconferences.

What are your career goals?

My main goal is to use design thinking to improve the lives and experiences of Johnson & Johnson patients and consumers. It’s a pretty lofty goal, but the health care space is ripe for this type of change. Whether it’s going to the emergency room for stitches or learning that you need a knee replacement, receiving medical attention can be a very stressful time. Being able to spend my career improving upon that experience both on the product and the service side would be extremely fulfilling.

In what way(s) do you believe this program will help you to achieve your career goals?

I truly believe that, at the time, my MBA allowed me to pivot into an industry that I was passionate about — and USC’s online master’s program will allow me to shift to a role within that industry that will continue to fuel the fire. Being able to speak to teams in their own languages and having a more well-rounded problem-solving toolkit will help me wherever my career takes me.   

What is your favorite aspect of the program so far?

Without a doubt, the engagement with my class. When I was in undergrad, I primarily interacted with other business majors. During my MBA, it was a mix of business people and engineers. Despite the relatively small cohort size, there is a huge amount of variety in the program from both an age and a background perspective. Through six weeks of online courses and the weeklong Residential, I’ve already picked up a ton from my peers and look forward to continuing to learn from their experiences.

Did the Residential factor into your decision to attend this program?

Speaking candidly, I would not have signed up for the program if it weren’t for the Residential. What the Residential offered was an opportunity to meet the people behind the webcams, drive home the content that we’ve been learning and feel like we’re a part of the Trojan Family.

What is the most memorable part of this Residential experience?

It was on the second-to-last day, and we had just finished our last dry run of the day. The presentation was locked down, the glue on the model was drying and the team opted to make a pizza run. The people really do make the program, and being able to spend time socializing with my group and learning more about them was my favorite part. 

What is one thing you did not know before coming to this Residential? How will it help you in your coursework going forward?

In theory, I understood how the spaces of design, business and technology came together. What the Residential offered was the opportunity to see how they all connect in a real-life example. Getting that hands-on experience will help me connect the theories learned in the classroom to my job and improve my performance in both areas.