Phyllis Chen is a part of the current ESTEEM Class of 2025. She takes the time to share her experience coming to ESTEEM after working for two years post-college, and why she made that choice. Phyllis states, “I always had an interest geared toward healthcare. I left for a bit to work in business, but realized that where I really want to be is at the intersection of healthcare, medicine and innovation. So that was the experience I was looking for coming into ESTEEM.” As someone new to Notre Dame, Phyllis talks in detail about how friendly and welcoming the community has been, the resources students have access to, and her experience being matched to her capstone project.

Prior to joining ESTEEM, Phyllis received a B.S. in Neuroscience from Boston University. She then spent almost two years working as a Business Analyst. Phyllis’ success and growth in ESTEEM demonstrates how the program is a good fit at any career stage and can support the advancement of entrepreneurship and innovation skill sets. Phyllis’ advice to potential students? “If you're a curious individual who wants to make an impact, I would look into the ESTEEM program because it's the exact setting that will teach you the tools in how to do so.”

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.

To learn more about the ESTEEM Graduate Program or to apply please go to our website.

Originally published by ESTEEM at esteem.nd.edu on March 21, 2025.