Everyone wants to go to Harvard or Stanford. For me, coming to BYU Marriott School of Management gives me the sense of the accomplishment equal to going to either one of those schools. BYU for me is not just a school. It is a place of transformation, where I have been looking for. To be a better manager, one must be a better person. I know the route to being a better person is by living high standards that will shape me into a faithful contributor to my employer, church, and community. I know there are many successful ethical individuals in business and I want to be the type of the person they are.
To me, management education is more an art rather than a science. Prior to coming to the business school, I had two things in mind -one to learn how to be a manager and to be a high performer; two to learn the skills to analyze complexity. If we truly believe that no management decision are completely wrong or right, then to minimize the loss and maximize the gain requires good analytical skills. At BYU, professors help us learn how to ask the right questions. Students through participation-centered learning participate in discussion and learning from each other. I believe it is during the time when we participate actively in discussion that we sharpen our skills in analyzing problems.
I have been so excited about BYU and the opportunities it offers to better understand myself, cultivate my inner self, and search for deeper meaning in my life. At BYU, my investment of time, energy and money have been well rewarded. I consider the study of business to be a noble pursuit, as business has the potential to improve the quality of life around the globe, shape leaders who can strengthen communities, and provide goods that would be unattainable without the help of large-scale organizations. In my opinion, the MBA program at Marriott School of Management trains students to become effective business missionaries – people who can transform, who can spread new visions, and who care about bringing the best out of people in making the vision real. I believe the program curriculum and culture will assist me in becoming an ideal business missionary.
Additionally, I believe my spiritual development and associated behavior implications is in line with the attitude and behaviors of students and faculty, who influence much of the structure and culture of BYU campus life. In return, the campus life they created enhanced my personality and behavior in the community. Being part of this engaging community, has made me feel comfortable to share and grow, to have a positive outlook about life and learn more about faith. Faith has had a great impact in my life; it defines my life’s purpose and in turn has increased my ethical decision making. It surrounds my relationships, daily living and challenges with a more optimistic outlook. Giving to the community, whether through charity work or donation has helped me better understand my purpose in life and given me a sense of human compassion. I realize the power of faith helped me to seek for that inner peace and most importantly trust in my ability to benefit those with whom I work as well as those people my efforts serve.
As I know that my past can be used to prepare me for the promises of the future, I hope to blend the two and truly utilize my education at BYU along with past experiences to grow intellectually. But I am continuing my desire to grow spiritually, socially and emotionally. I believe that the MBA program has an adequate environment encouraging my growth in these personal areas – bring out the best in me to influence and cultivate with the community I am involved in.
My own experience, as a foreign student, has taught me to never give up on my dream. My own experience, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has taught me general principles of life that will make me a more effective leader in every role of my life, whether be it an auditor, financial analyst, CFO, citizen or a mother. Above all, my time spent at BYU and Utah has guided me closer to my Heavenly Father, who provides the ultimate foundation in shaping who I am.
Susan Chen, Class of 2011, Finance
Interned at: Disney
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