KGI 2026 Volunteer Service Award Recipient
Stephen Chang ’08 still remembers the day that changed the course of his career.
As a student in Keck Graduate Institute (KGI)’s Master of Business and Science (MBS) program, he attended a campus event where Campbell Alliance — at the time, one of the only consulting firms recruiting at KGI — was looking for talent. He landed the job.
Now, nearly two decades later, he’s the one doing the recruiting.
For his sustained commitment to mentoring KGI students and strengthening the pipeline between the Institute and the life sciences consulting industry, Chang has been named a recipient of KGI's 2026 Volunteer Service Award.
A Career That Keeps Coming Back to KGI
Chang spent more than 15 years at Campbell Alliance, which rebranded into Syneos Health. He eventually became Chief Operating Officer of Consulting and one of the leaders of its Commercial Advisory Group.
After a stint at ClearView Healthcare Partners leading the Launch and Commercial Center of Excellence, he joined Red Nucleus, where he now serves as the General Manager of Global Commercial.
His work spans corporate strategy, new product planning, product launch, marketing strategy, commercial operations, data analytics, market research, and market access. But throughout his career, one constant has remained.
“Ever since graduating, I’ve been fortunate to go back to KGI on a nearly annual basis,” Chang said.
Stephen Chang at KGI’s graduation ceremony
Over the years, he has represented his employers at KGI recruiting events, given corporate presentations and “day in the life” talks, and interviewed students for consulting positions, hiring at least one or two students a year.
His involvement extends beyond formal recruiting. Students and alumni have reached out to him for help with case studies, securing jobs, and building their professional networks.
For Chang, that involvement is partly practical. He knows firsthand the value KGI graduates can bring to life sciences consulting. But it’s also personal.
MBS Program Director Steven Casper, a longtime KGI faculty member, was among those who left a lasting impression on Chang during his time as a student. Experiences like that, Chang says, make you want to give back once you’re on the other side.
Two Hats, One Mission
When Chang returns to campus, he sees himself wearing two hats: a corporate hat and an alumni hat.
The corporate hat means explaining what consulting firms look for in candidates. The alumni hat means offering something less formal: an honest perspective on what it takes to build a career.
Chang encourages students to think carefully about the relationships they’re building while at KGI and their own personal development.
“Are you the student that people want on their projects? Are you developing into the person you aspire to be?” he said. “That reputation and growth will matter when you enter the corporate world.”
Stephen Chang with his Team Master's Project (TMP) group
He also emphasizes communication and persuasiveness, which can be just as important as technical expertise. When helping students prepare for interviews, he takes the time to offer candid feedback and show them where they can improve.
Angela Cossey, senior director of Career Services and Chang’s nominator for the award, has seen this investment firsthand.
“He is always open to hearing the perspectives of others and has helped numerous KGI students launch their careers in life science consulting,” she said.
Expect to Be in Over Your Head
Chang says that graduates should expect to feel unprepared when they start their first job. That’s not a warning; it’s just the reality of working in the industry.
“Every job you get into, you’ll be in over your head at first,” he said.
The transition from academia to industry will be rocky. Projects move fast, every company has its own culture and expectations, and the pace of the work bears little resemblance to even the most demanding academic project.
What matters, Chang says, is not entering the workforce with every answer. It’s knowing how to adjust and find a solution when you don’t immediately have one.
“What KGI sets you up for is the ability to adapt to these situations much more effectively,” he said.
That philosophy also informs his advice about choosing a career. Chang encourages students not to lock themselves into a path too early. A first job may lead somewhere unexpected, and that doesn’t mean the original plan failed.
“KGI is the foundation that gets your foot in the door,” Chang said, “and the growth of your career comes from the industry experiences that you have.”
Paying It Forward
Chang’s commitment to KGI traces back to his own experience as a student. The alumni network was much smaller then, but he remembers recent graduates making an effort to build relationships with those coming behind them.
“The coaching and support that you get from KGI is uniquely special,” Chang said. “My goal is to propagate that among the next generations of students.”
He sees his continued involvement as a way of returning the support he received while also building lasting connections. KGI alumni can become colleagues, clients, and collaborators, creating a network that benefits both the individuals involved and the broader life sciences community.
Chang also served on KGI's Alumni Advisory Council during its early years, contributing to conversations about how to grow alumni engagement and what skills students need to thrive in the workforce.
Over the last two decades, he has watched KGI grow from the small institution he knew as a student into a diverse academic community with expanded degree programs and a far larger alumni base.
“It’s amazing to see,” Chang said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the school and its legacy and hopefully setting the foundation for the future, too.”