Sustainable Solutions

Xu Simon, MBA ’15 was just 5 years old when she got a chemistry kit from her parents and “fell in love with the process of science.” She went on to earn a PhD in biophysical chemistry and molecular structure from MIT, in part, she says, to give her credibility as a woman in the field of science. But it turns out that there’s a lot more to the science hierarchy. So, in 2014 she enrolled in the Bentley MBA program to pave the way and get folks to really listen. 

“Regardless of your education level, you can contribute to science,” Simon says. “But the higher the degree you have, the more likely people are going to listen to you — particularly when you say something that is not what they expect. I wanted my ideas believed and thought a PhD would be enough to do that, until I discovered that’s not the way the world works when it comes to having all the skills necessary to do good science in the workplace.” 

After earning a PhD, Simon completed a fellowship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was placed in the U.S. Department of State’s diplomatic anti-chemical weapons office, working with diplomats to provide a scientific perspective for government decision-making. That’s when she recognized a large gap between the goals of scientists who value careful and thorough investigation and diplomats who need quick information to make impactful decisions. Through this experience, she identified the need for people who can understand and facilitate the transition between thoroughly understanding science and using science for public benefit. This served as a catalyst for Simon to change her own career formula with a Bentley MBA.  

“I saw my options as twofold: I could either work my way around the disconnect between scientists and decision-makers, or I could go back to college and get an MBA so that I could have the tools I need to make the connection myself,” she recalls. “It’s a commonsense degree to understand how the world works. That’s why I chose to go the MBA route.”  

After completing the MBA, Simon accepted a role as executive vice president of research and development at Fluid-Screen before joining Enozo Technologies as principal microbiologist, where she tested less toxic solutions to combat salmonella, E. coli and other pathogens. The company created a technology to transform water into ozone, replacing toxic chemicals like bleach and ethyl alcohol for sanitizing and cleaning in industrial and home applications.  

She built a lab from the ground up to provide the science behind Enozo before shifting to the business side, first as chief technology officer and then in her current role as chief operating officer.  

“There’s a lot we’ve done behind the scenes, and now we’re shifting to large-scale manufacturing,” says Simon. “We’re ready to tell the world.”

BUILDING SYNERGY

Simon’s MBA cohort included a scientist with a background similar to hers along with professionals with technical backgrounds in fields such as information technology and healthcare. She says she gained a more in-depth perspective from those with non-technical experience.  

An “aha” moment of the MBA, Simon adds, focused on planning and design. “The MBA emphasized how the design process is critical to create products that will benefit society and matter to the world. Scientists can sometimes get so focused on creating equipment that performs an exact procedure that they forget about the end user.” 

During her time at Bentley, Simon became familiar with the university’s Center for the Integration of Science and Industry, which was established in 2012 to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries for public benefit. After completing her MBA in 2015, she joined the center as a research associate professor studying representations of industry in introductory science textbooks. Simon’s career trajectory reflects the powerful interaction between good science and good business.  

“I’ve noticed that when I combine the PhD in science with the MBA, they produce strong results in both disciplines and allow me to have a much bigger impact because I can take science and help bring it to market in innovative ways that will have broad impact,” says Simon. 

As she shifted from doing research and development at Enozo to identifying target markets and ensuring regulatory compliance, Simon applied that design-minded approach. She says one of the biggest challenges of introducing and getting consumers on board with a new product or service is education. A prime example is Enozo’s lack of fragrance: Since ozone doesn’t naturally have a strong smell, Enozo doesn’t leave the perfume fragrance that many people associate with a clean, sanitized surface.  

Simon spoke earlier this year at the Bentley Alumni Conference about the importance of leaders who recognize the values of others’ ideas and can help bring them to market.  

She was also a panelist at “Sustainability in Action: Transforming Business for a Better Tomorrow,” an event hosted by Bentley’s Executive and Professional Education Program. 

“When it comes to sustainability and technology, there’s often a hurdle getting past people’s assumptions into how the world can work better,” says Simon. “But potential is what makes science so exciting for me.”