There is a kind of knowledge that no classroom can fully impart, an understanding of how industries truly function, how careers unfold, and what the professional world looks like from within. For students contemplating what lies ahead, such exposure can bring clarity, direction, and reassurance amid uncertainty.

That was the spirit behind Connect With Your Future: Pharmacy-Focused Session, which was held on April 15, 2026, at the Byblos campus, with a hybrid audience joining in.

Organized by the LAU School of Pharmacy Student Affairs Office in collaboration with the Career Guidance Office, the session brought together pharmacy professionals from Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and Sweden, many of them LAU alumni, who spoke candidly about how their careers took shape after graduation. Their experiences gave students a clearer vision of what lies ahead and a better understanding of how to pursue it.

“This event is an opportunity to explore different career paths and connect with professionals who have navigated their journeys with resolve and adaptability,” said Dr. Lamis Karaoui, assistant dean for student affairs. “It is closely aligned with our school’s strategic plan of fostering student success, development, and strengthening alumni engagement.”

Among the speakers was LAU alumna, Dr. Jennifer Kozayli (BS ’08; PharmD ’09), who expounded on consultancy and risk management. She described how the field has grown beyond traditional roles, noting that patient safety and risk management consultancy enable pharmacists to “leverage their clinical expertise to uncover system vulnerabilities, prevent harm, and translate insight into proactive strategies that strengthen safer healthcare systems.”

Dr. Kozayli spoke about what LAU instilled in her beyond technical training. “It taught me how to think, question, and lead,” she said, “and laid the foundation that empowered me to challenge boundaries, navigate complexity, and ultimately redefine my role in healthcare beyond the traditional path.”

Dr. Grace El Hawa, marketing director at AstraZeneca for the Near East and Maghreb region, followed with reflections on growth in the pharmaceutical industry. “The journey from field to leadership in pharma is not a leap,” she said. “It’s a series of intentional steps driven by learning, resilience, purpose, and the ability to communicate, develop, and impact.” She noted that a strong scientific foundation builds the confidence to pursue opportunities that may not always be immediately visible.

The session subsequently branched out to other aspects of the profession. Dr. Marguerita Saadeh (BS ‘16), epidemiologist at Parexel in Sweden, spoke about her work in public health, while Dr. Rita Habib (BS ‘12), regulatory affairs manager in the Levant and medical lead at Novo Nordisk, walked attendees through the regulatory landscape in the Levant.

Similarly, Dr. Khalid Abdel Dayem, senior manager of automation and informatics at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, highlighted the growing role of technology in healthcare systems and the use of artificial intelligence in pharmacy operations.

Bringing the program to a close, Dr. Hanine Younes, commercial training manager for Levant and Africa at Beesline and Dr. Marie Noelle Rahme, tech transfer manager at Benta Pharma Industries, brought perspectives from cosmeceuticals and pharmaceutical production.

For the student organizer and Professional Year 2 (PY2) student pharmacist Marc Abi Nader, the impact was immediate. He described the experience as a chance to connect his peers with professionals, who provided lessons learned from their careers, offering clarity and motivation as students consider their future in the field.

Jeanine Abboud, also a PY2 student and organizer, reflected on the level of engagement throughout the session. She noted how strongly students connected with the speakers’ journeys, adding that witnessing Lebanese pharmacists succeed on a global stage was particularly inspiring, reinforcing a sense of possibility and ambition.