About
Name: Miika Ahdesmaki
Nationality: Finnish
Programme: Cambridge EMBA 2021
Education: MSc in Electrical Engineering; PhD in Computational Systems Biology
Current role: Director of Bioinformatics, AstraZeneca Early Computational Oncology
Industry sector: Healthcare
What is your professional and educational background?
I’m currently Director of Bioinformatics in AstraZeneca Early Computational Oncology. I have a PhD in Computational Systems Biology from 2007 and MSc in Electrical Engineering 2005.
What is the most exciting thing about your work?
Making a difference to people with cancer. Through my work and the work of my group we identify for example new targets to help future cancer patients with unmet medical needs.
What made you decide to pursue an Executive MBA?
Many of the senior people I work with and admire have MBAs and I felt that with all the organic growth I have had in management I needed to take that next step in formalising my management qualifications.
What attracted you to Cambridge Judge?
The best business school in the world and conveniently in the city I live in! I have also been mentoring startups through the programmes AstraZeneca have with the Judge so have seen up close the quality Cambridge Judge represents.
What are your long-term career ambitions?
Making a difference in improving the lives of people through more senior roles in pharma and potentially running my own startup.