How I See Myself Engaging In And Contributing To Team Fuqua

Growing up, my parents taught me that in order to go far in life, I needed to learn from the people around me - from my bosses and colleagues to my classmates. Inadvertently, these people became my extended family, still are, and we have learned, laughed and grown up together. That is why I am constantly looking for opportunities to create “mini families”. I have worked and met with many Fuqua alumni, with diverse interests and careers, all of whom have kept close connectivity to the alumni network, and am drawn to their collaborative spirit and sense of community. Team Fuqua is a great family and I want to be a part of it.

I changed success to grow and I plan to be deeply involved with the Duke MBA Consulting Club to achieve my short term goal of becoming a management consultant. Participating in events such as the “Consulting Symposium” and the “Turning the Internship into a Full-Time Offer.” as well as case interviews, mock interviews and workshops will help me practice the skills I’ve learned in class as well as build my professional network to prepare me for my summer internship as a management consultant. When I am a 2nd year, I want to give back to my classmates, leveraging my experience during the summer and my background in talent consulting, by helping them prepare for case interviews, lead workshops. Under the auspices of the consulting club, I would like to organize a trek to Shanghai, Beijing or Hong Kong through “Week-in-Cities.”; an opportunity for my non-Chinese classmates to learn more about the cultural nuances and explore career options for expats.

Furthermore, given that I will eventually return to Asia, deep involvement in the Asian Business Club will provide frequent access to Fuqua alumni working in the region. As a leader within the club, I’d love to organize a conference that focuses on the future of globalization given technological disruption (i.e. AI and Advanced Robotics) and rising nationalism. Among our industry speakers could be Dr. Harry Lee (Chairman of TAL Apparel), who not only built the largest garment manufacturer making clothes for brands such as Brooks Brothers, but introduced wrinkle-free shirts to the American consumer. This will allow my classmates and me to deepen our knowledge of the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape that will affect how we work, connect, trade and live in the future. I will to leverage my connections at my current and previous employers as well as the global Duke Alumni network to bring thought leaders and industry luminaries to the talk in the school. Having worked at Russell Reynolds for four years and completed four internships while at Drexel, I value “learning by doing” – experimenting, making mistakes, and gaining self-confidence. That is why participating in the Fuqua Client Consulting Practicum and case competitions such as the “Deloitte National MBA Case Competition” is so important to my growth. These first-hand learning opportunities will help me hone my strategic and analytical skills, and inspire action by developing compelling, board-level communications. The fun part – getting grilled by a panel of experts to “push us to our limit”. Entertainment (or shocking!) value aside, experiences like these that will give me a taste of what to expect as a management consultant for a firm such as McKinsey or BCG.

In my role at Russell Reynolds, I have screened and interviewed countless senior executives across a wide spectrum of industries. Through listening to senior leaders reflect on their success, challenges and regrets, as well as analyzing their profiles, I have gained a macro-view of the talent trends and key competencies across a variety of senior leadership roles. This has given me a view on “what good opportunities look like” and potential “career traps” to avoid. I would like to share this experience by volunteering at the career management center, working with the seasoned career counselors, to guide them to make the right short term career choices that puts them on a path to achieving their long term career goals.

Apart from the various career-related development opportunities, I look forward to immersing myself in a new culture. I attended international schools growing up, college in the US, worked in three countries, and currently work in an office where six languages are spoken including French, Romanian, and Polish. I enjoy being the “cultural interpreter” to those around me – helping my Western friends navigate the culture and city of Hong Kong while helping my Asian friends understand the nuances of Western social norms. Coming from Malaysia, a country that has struggled with racial tension since the country’s independence, I have an appreciation for the challenges and tensions that they need to make in order to be a prosperous society. That is why I can’t wait to go to South Africa as a part of the GATE program. Networking and interacting with locals and businessmen alike will give me a better understanding of the unique history, culture and legacy of the country, as well as the struggles and opportunities of operating a business in South Africa.

I look forward to having a lot of fun during my time at Fuqua. Being a major foodie, I will use my time there to taste and dissect dishes from local culinary establishments, such as The Original Q Shack’s famous Chile Rubbed Beef Brisket, that I can then attempt to re-create and share with friends at the Duke Culinary Club and at events like the International Food Festival and Iron Chef competition.

Also, I love to ski and have been to the slopes in Niseko and Poconos – I find the mad dash down a slope and the sense of achievement upon reaching the bottom of the mountain complete and utterly exhilarating. I can’t wait to go hit the slopes at the Appalachian Ski Mountain with the team at the Fuqua Ski & Snowboard Club. Last but not least, having attended a college with a weak basketball culture, I’m excited about the Duke ritual “camp out” event I have heard so much about, seeing Coach K in person, forming a team with my classmates, and participating in the activities to win a chance to see the legendary Blue Devils play and win. Comment by Stephanie Liu: Also, bringing a lot of funI have now met and spoken to many Fuqua alumni in APAC and in the US. All have kept close connectivity to the alumni network, with diverse interests and careers. I know I can be a good addition to Team Fuqua and want to be a part of this highly talented and welcoming crowd, and more importantly, contribute to it.