Janice Victor, M.D.

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

“A tenacious vibrant and fair individual committed to life-long learning and progress. I am purposeful about fitness, fun, family, and financial investing/economic enhancement.”

Age: 48

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida – I attend Kellogg’s EMBA campus in Miami, FL.

Family Members: Agnes (Mom), Kishma (sister), Solace (niece)

Fun fact about yourself: I was born on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. I enjoy travel and appreciate the appeal of varying cultures, foods, and customs around the world. I have visited every continent at least once. My fun thing to do is enhancing others’ food dishes to palatable perfection.

Educational background: 

• Duke University, Department of Anesthesiology Division of Pain Medicine – Interventional      Pain Medicine Postdoctoral fellow (2005)
• UMDNJ Department of Anesthesiology–Specialty training in Anesthesiology (2004)
• Wright State University, School of Medicine — Doctor of Medicine (1999)
• Temple University, Bachelor of Arts, Majors: Biology (1994)

Where are you currently working? Premier Spine and Joint Pain Management as an Interventional Pain Management Physician and Global Anesthesia Services as an Anesthesiologist

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: While participating in Kellogg’s EMBA program, my primary extracurricular focus was on staying healthy and fit to maintain the endurance needed for a work/school/life balance. I continued to be a member of Junior Achievement’s circle of wise-women, volunteering for the United Way, and spending time with my family.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school?  I am most proud of my continued commitment to staying healthy and continuing an exercise fitness routine while embracing the learning of new concepts amidst a personal battle with an autoimmune disease and providing patient care during a global pandemic.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career?  I’ve spent 20 years practicing clinical medicine in two specialties (anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine) in addition to 12 years of prior academic preparation. Currently, I am most proud of taking the leap to go to business school while embracing new business ideas and developments outside of clinical medicine that utilizes different skills and understanding.  As I move toward the second phase in my professional life, I am passionate about assisting people in finding purposeful financial independence.

Why did you choose this executive MBA program? After a 20-year career as a physician, it was extremely important to me to attend an institution that had an excellent academic reputation, global platform, and focus on diversity and inclusion.

What did you enjoy most about business school in general? New learning – I enjoyed interacting with people who were in different professions, from varying backgrounds while learning new terminology and concepts. I have had the benefit of formulating new and sincere friendships that will last a lifetime.

What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work?  In addition to learning to embrace new concepts and information, I also learned the power of a network. As a specialized physician, one’s network is not as much a focus. However, in the world of business, I have clearly seen the importance of having one that is so interconnected. As I move forward in my career, I am glad to have added Kellogg, its students, and its alumni to my circle.

Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family, and education? Attending my MBA required creativity that allowed flexibility in my demanding work life to attend classes. Specifically, I recall one week that I attended 2 electives – one in Chicago, one in San Francisco, mixed with 12-14 hour shifts in New York City. It was a lot of traveling and balancing on my behalf. But it was worth it!

What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? My advice to a student would be to reflect internally and make sure you know why you are getting an MBA. The understanding of your ‘WHY’ leads to a richer experience.

What was your biggest regret in business school?  Not having gone sooner. I enrolled in business school desiring to make professional and life changes after 20 years in a different career.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire?  This is a choice between two people. Peter Czmielewski and Giulliano Lopresti. Peter is congenial, caring to everyone, open, resourceful, hard-working, supportive and fair.  Peter lives in a world filled with possibilities. I have told him on many occasions that I am glad he is my EMBA classmate.

I admire Giulliano for his, extreme intelligence, discipline, persistence, well-roundness, successes but mostly for his innate HUMILITY, INTEGRITY and KINDNESS. He is always encouraging and willing to share his insight. Giulliano exemplifies a true leader and the kind of person we should all hope to be.

They both exemplify what is the true personification of Kellogg: ‘High impact and low ego’.

“I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I started my first business and my accountant sent me my first set of financial statements and I had no idea what to do with them. It took me a decade, and a lot of life lessons learned, before I made the decision to  attend business school.”

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal?  My goal is to inspire others to live their life purpose while achieving their desired success. I hope to inspire people to remain kind and open to others and to embrace the diversity around us all.

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?  As someone who earned her respect, humble, hard-working, and someone they could connect with at any time in the future.

What are the top two items on your bucket list?  I don’t have a bucket list. As I am inspired, I take action. Life is short….why put things off.

What made Janice such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2020?

“Dr. Janice Victor is a compassionate leader whose voice in the room is consistently one of reason, curiosity, and tactical empathy. From the way she engages with her peers, always offering additional support to clarify concepts, to her willingness to literally and figuratively raise her hand to offer perspective on complex topics, Janice is someone whose “we” is always bigger than the “me.”

It’s easy to forget that in addition to Janice being an outstanding student in the classroom, she returns to her community to serve as an anesthesiologist. I remember when we were all leaving San Francisco after a long week of classes, and she calmly stated that she would be in surgery the next morning. Her ability to be present, and focus on what matters, is evident whether that is in a one-on-one conversation or the way she is able to manage her multiple professional and personal commitments.

What I also love about Janice is that she is always trying to get better. She is self-aware, mentioning how quickly she speaks before we had even met, and then asking for feedback openly and earnestly. She is the perfect candidate for recognition for a “best and brightest” award, and I would love to see her receive this important accolade.”

Suzanne Muchin
Clinical Associate Professor of Communications

DON’T MISS: THE FULL LIST OF THE TOP 100 BEST & BRIGHTEST EXECUTIVE MBAS OF 2020