Meet Marc Fleming, PhD

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marc Fleming, PhD a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marc , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Over the years I have learned how to embrace being the only one in room. When you show up to an event or meeting and people ask if you are lost, or if they can help, leaves you feeling shocked and maybe angry. However, I learned to embrace it and oddly look forward to it. Realizing that I was not the one the problem and more importanlty, I am showing up in these places because my job title or my manager has the confidence in me to thrive in the environment. In my role, I am often the only one in the room. Life is too short to go around sad and angry, therefore, I embrace and accept the opportunity to represent and add value to my organization or any endeavor whenever giving the chance.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a pharmacy professor based in California, originally born and raised in Houston, Texas. With over 15 years of pharmacy practice and more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, I now serve as a tenured faculty member dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of pharmacists and researchers. I work closely with students in both our professional PharmD program and graduate studies, and I’ve found that supporting their professional growth and research development is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my academic journey.

Last year, I wrote a book titled No Regret College: A Guide to Choosing the Right Major and Maximizing Your Education. I was driven to write it after seeing far too many stories of student loan debt and career dissatisfaction. For many students, choosing a college major, and ultimately a career, can be overwhelming. It seems almost unfair to expect a 17-year-old to make such a life-defining decision. After attending six universities and earning four degrees across three different programs, I felt a responsibility to share what I’ve learned and help others make informed, intentional choices about their education.

I also focus on teaching others the power of building genuine relationships. While “networking” is the common term, I prefer to speak about cultivating meaningful connections. True relationship-building takes time, vulnerability, and consistency. Much of my success in academia has come not just from hard work, but from the relationships I’ve been fortunate to form along the way.

Whether through pharmacy, mentorship, or storytelling, my mission is to help people unlock their potential—and avoid regret along the way. Lately, I have been sharing advice on Tik Tok @professormarc, trying to help others navigate life and career.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

There are three key principles I emphasize that come from what I call the Fleming Five. These are:

1) Build relationships; 2) Perception matters—because perception is reality; 3) Kindness is key; 4)We’re all playing the same game—the game of life; 4) Maintain a positive attitude

Of all these, I cannot stress enough the importance of building meaningful relationships. If you look at the biography of almost any successful person, there’s usually a mentor behind the scenes who helped shape their path. Whether it’s in business, government, law, or sports, connections matter. Think about how many college football head coaches landed their roles because of the programs and leaders they were once part of. We all need someone willing to offer a strong recommendation or vouch for our character and potential.

Perception is another area where we often have more control than we realize. The way we communicate, how we present ourselves, even small details like showing up early—these all influence how others perceive us. And those perceptions can open or close doors.

Finally, I believe self-talk is one of the most underrated tools for success. If you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else? Positive affirmations—about your abilities, intelligence, and drive—can push you further than you imagined. In my own academic journey, I’ve achieved things I never thought possible: from television and radio interviews, to presenting research internationally, even sharing a stage at a national conference where a U.S. President was a special invited speaker. None of that would have happened without belief, preparation, and the power of the Fleming Five.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am eager to partner and collaborate with likeminded inviduals and organizations that want to help students achieve the optimal return on investment of their college education. Youth programs that need speakers or want to share my book with their members would be ideal. Lately, I have been working with a few local Avid Programs to share my story and inspire the next generation. If you are working with first generation students or high school counseling advisors, I welcome the opportunity to connect. My goal is to help as many people as I can achieve their goals, without regrets.

If you are wanting to partner or collaborate, you can reach me at my website, professormarc.com, email at [email protected], at Instagram at dr.marc_rx, Tik Tok at @professormarc.

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